Masons Although a Great Deal

Masons

Although a great deal of mystique surrounds the Freemasons, relatively little is known about the Prince Hall tradition. As the preeminent African-American lineage of freemasonry, the Prince Hall tradition offers a wealth of potential for scholarship. This research will help elucidate the history, traditions, and missions of Prince Hall Masonry, including the impact of the Prince Hall Freemasons on American history, world history, and on the Masonic fraternal organizations as a whole.

Intended Audience

The intended audience for the research paper will be readers unfamiliar with freemasonry in general, and especially Prince Hall Freemasonry. Moreover, the research will help dispel myths about the social and political functions of freemasonry. I am conducting this research both as an objective scholar but also as a member of a Masonic lodge who can offer qualitative evidence gathered from fellow members as well as keen personal insight.

My research questions include the following. First, why did the Prince Hall tradition emerge, and how did race impact its development? Second, what, if any, impact has the Prince Hall Masonic tradition had on freemasonry in general? Third, what impact has the Prince Hall Masonic tradition had on the communities and societies in which it thrives? To find answers to these core research questions, I will explore the rich history of the Prince Hall tradition starting with biographical data on Prince Hall himself. Moreover, I will acquire information on the rites, ideologies, and philosophies of the Prince Hall tradition but also of freemasonry in general. Methods of gathering data include primary sources and secondary sources. Primary sources will include historical records related to freemasonry and Prince Hall freemasonry. Primary sources will also include interviews with members of Masonic lodges as well as case studies and personal anecdotes.

Preliminary Thesis: The history of Prince Hall masonry parallels American history, and race relations in particular.

Prince Hall and over a dozen others of African descent were initiated in 1775, a year before American independence and during the war. Although recognized as members of the fraternity, Prince Hall and his fellow African-Americans were not permitted to perform official Masonic rites such as initiation ceremonies. In 1784, the Grand Lodge in England granted Prince Hall an independent charter and thus, the African Lodge tradition began. Prince Hall freemasonry thrived alongside its white counterparts, offering the black communities of the United States, Canada, and the West Indies opportunities for fraternization and service. The existence of Prince Hall masonry parallels racial disparity and disunity in former European colonies. At the same time, Prince Hall freemasonry also illuminates some of the more clandestine social organizations that bolstered black communities. Therefore, this paper will place Prince Hall freemasonry within its historical and sociological contexts.

This research will also explore and refute anti-Masonic viewpoints such as those espoused by evangelical Christian organizations. Many anti-Masonic perspectives address race relations and target at Prince Hall freemasonry in particular. For example, Ramey suggests that Prince Hall masonry is filled with dangerous and "deadly deceptions" that has contributed to the oppression of African-Americans.