This House resolution recognizes Prince Hall for his life and actions in the late 1700s and early 1800s. It says Prince Hall was a free Black man in colonial Boston, led abolitionist and activist work during the Revolutionary era, and helped form a separate Black Masonic lodge in 1775 after being denied membership in an all-White lodge. He was chosen as the lodge's leader, called the "Worshipful Master," and is called the "Father of Black Freemasonry." The resolution notes the lodge later was named African Lodge No. 459, that Hall and the African Lodge worked on citizenship, education, and economic advancement for Black people, and that Hall petitioned the Massachusetts government in 1777 to abolish slavery and in 1788 to protect Black sailors from being kidnapped and sold into slavery. It also notes a 1787 committee led by Hall drafted a "Boston Plan" proposing resettlement to Africa. The resolution thanks and recognizes Prince Hall for these contributions.
The text of this resolution records the House of Representatives' recognition and thanks for Prince Hall's contributions described above. No publicly available information on whether the resolution creates any changes to laws, programs, or government funding.
No publicly available information.
The sponsors and the resolution present Prince Hall as an important Revolutionary-era activist and Masonic leader. They highlight his role founding the African Lodge, his petitions to the Massachusetts legislature on slavery and sailors' protection, his leadership in drafting the Boston Plan, and the lasting influence of organizations tracing their roots to his lodge.
No publicly available information.