1777 – Prince Hall Founds the First African Masonic Lodge in America

On June 14, 1777, Prince Hall and 14 other free Black men formally established African Lodge No. 1 in Boston after being denied admission to existing Masonic lodges. Hall, a Revolutionary War veteran and abolitionist, sought to create a fraternal order that emphasized education, community leadership, and civil rights for African Americans. This move laid the foundation for what would become Prince Hall Freemasonry, a powerful institution in Black communities across the United States and beyond. The organization played a crucial role in advancing civil rights, literacy, and mutual aid during times of intense racial discrimination. Hall’s Masonic tradition eventually expanded globally, particularly in the Caribbean and parts of Africa, where it served as both a moral and political organizing force. Prince Hall’s legacy remains a symbol of resistance, self-determination, and intellectual fraternity within the African diaspora.