Prince Hall African Lodge #459 Charter

PRINCE HALL AFRICAN LODGE #459 CHARTER - (1784)

AFRICAN LODGE CHARTER #459 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS

TO ALL AND EVERY our Right Worshipful & loving Brethrens we, Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard &c.&c.&c Acting Grand Master under the authority of His Royal Highness, Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland &c.&c.&c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorably Society of Free and Accepted Masons, sends greeting:

KNOW YE, that we, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well-beloved Brethren,PRINCE HALL, BOSTON SMITH, THOMAS SANDERSON, and several other brethren residing in Boston, New England, in North America do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the title or denomination of the AFRICAN LODGE, - to be opened in Boston aforesaid, and do further at their said petition, hereby appoint the said PRINCE HALL to be Master, Boston Smith - Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge; and for such further time -- as shall be thought proper by the Brethren therof, it being our will that the appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the Lodge, as shall be consistant with the general laws of the society, - contained in the Book of Constitution; and we hereby will and require you,the said PRINCE HALL, to take special care that all and every the said Brethren are or have been regularly made Masons, and that they do observe, perform and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of Constitutions;and further, that you do, from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that purpose, an account of your procedings in the Lodge, - together with all such rules, orders and regulations, as shall be made for the good government of the same, that in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us,or our succesors, Grand Masters, or to Roland Holt,Esq., our Deputy Grand Master,for the time being an account in writing of your said procedings -- and copies of all such rules, orders, and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, toget- -her with a list of the members of the Lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected, towards the Grand Charity. Moreover, we hereby will and require you, the said PRINCE HALL as soon as conventiently may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.

Given in London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 29th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784

"By the Grand Master's Command, R. Holt, D.G.M."

"Witness Wm. White,G.S."