Recognizes Prince Hall as Revolutionary Era activist and founder of "Prince Hall Freemasonry."

SCR105

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 105

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 24, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� BENJIE E. WIMBERLY

District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)

SYNOPSIS

���� Recognizes Prince Hall as Revolutionary Era activist
and founder of �Prince Hall Freemasonry.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A
Concurrent Resolution
recognizing the life
and legacy of Prince Hall.

Whereas,
Prince Hall was a
Revolutionary Era activist and free Black man who lived in colonial Boston,
Massachusetts, circa 1735 to 1807; and

Whereas,
Freemasonry is a
fraternal organization and oath-bound society devoted to liberty, fellowship,
and moral discipline; and

Whereas,
Prince Hall was
drawn to Freemasonry because of its ideals surrounding liberty, fellowship, and
morality and applied for admittance to an all-white Masonic lodge in Colonial
Boston; and

Whereas,
In 1775, after
being denied admission by the all-white Masonic lodge, Hall and 14 other free
Black men formed their own Masonic lodge; and

Whereas,
Hall was elected as
the leader, or �Worshipful Master,� within the newly formed African Lodge #1,
later renamed African Lodge No. 459; and

Whereas,
Because of his role
in founding the African Lodge and his subsequent election as leader, Hall is
known as the founder of �Prince Hall Freemasonry;� and

Whereas,
In the year
following Hall�s death, several African Lodges in the Northeast organized
African Grand Lodge #1; and

Whereas,
To honor the legacy
of Prince Hall and his role as their founding father, African Grand Lodge #1
changed its name in 1847 to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge; and

Whereas,
�Prince Hall
Freemasonry� is recognized as the oldest continuously active organization
founded by African Americans in the United States; and

Whereas,
Prince Hall�s
legacy continues to influence the 5,000 lodges and 47 grand lodges that trace
their lineage to the original African Lodge #1; and

Whereas,
In addition to his
role in founding the first African Masonic lodge, Hall advocated for the
expansion of rights for African Americans, demanding public education for
African American children and asserting that tax dollars should not be withheld
from African American families; and

Whereas,
In January 1777,
six months after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Prince Hall
petitioned the Massachusetts government to abolish slavery and proclaiming that
Black people should be granted the rights set out in the Declaration of
Independence; and

Whereas,
As Worshipful
Master, Hall drafted the Boston Plan in 1787, a plan for African Americans to
return to Africa, to liberate themselves of the conditions of slavery and
unequal status in American society; and

Whereas,
Hall, along with
other lodge members, again petitioned the Massachusetts government in 1788 to
advocate against the kidnapping and sale of Black sailors into slavery; and

Whereas,
Hall�s work
advocating for the abolition of slavery and equal rights has cemented his
legacy as a prolific activist of the Revolutionary Era and the fight for
justice for African Americans; now, therefore,

����
Be It
Resolved
by the Senate of the State of New
Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

���� 1.��� The New Jersey Legislature
formally recognizes the legacy of Prince Hall and for his contributions as a
Revolutionary Era activist and Masonic leader, and his lasting impact in the
African American fight for justice.

���� 2.��� Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to The Most
Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution recognizes and
honors Prince Hall, a Revolutionary Era activist and the founder of �Prince
Hall Freemasonry.�

���� Prince Hall was a Free Black
man who lived in Colonial Boston, Massachusetts circa 1735 to 1807.� In 1775,
after being denied membership by an all-white Masonic lodge, Hall and 14 other
free Black men formed their own Masonic lodge, African Lodge # 1, later renamed
African Lodge No. 459.� Soon after the founding, Hall was elected the leader,
or �Worshipful Master,� within African Lodge #1.� Because of his role in
founding African Lodge #1, and his leadership role within the lodge, Hall
became known as the �Father of Black Freemasonry.�� In the year following
Hall�s death, several Northeast African Lodges formed the first African Grand
Lodge.� In 1847, the African Grand Lodge changed its name to the Prince Hall
Grand Lodge to honor Hall�s legacy.� Today, more than 5,000 lodges and 47 grand
lodges can trace their lineage to African Lodge #1.� �Prince Hall Freemasonry�
is recognized as the oldest, continuously active organization founded by
African Americans in the United States.

���� In addition to his role in
founding the African Lodge, Hall is known for his advocacy for the abolition of
slavery.� In 1777, Hall petitioned the Massachusetts government to abolish
slavery in proclamation that African Americans should be afforded the rights
laid out in the Declaration of Independence.� In 1778, Hall, as Worshipful
Master, presented a plan to the Massachusetts government to allow African
Americans to return to Africa in consideration of slavery and other hostile
living conditions within the United States.� In 1788, Hall again called upon
the Massachusetts government to protect Black sailors from being kidnapped and
sold into slavery.

���� Alongside his work for the
abolition of slavery, Hall continuously fought for the expansion of rights for
African Americans. �Hall called for the extension of public education to
African American children.� He argued that tax dollars taken from African
American workers should not be withheld from African American families.

���� Prince Hall�s advocacy work
has cemented his legacy as a prolific Revolutionary Era activist, especially as
it relates to the fight for justice and equal rights.