Resolution Honoring Prince Hall
WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that the members of City Council of the City of Chicago are hereby informed of the life of the dedicated humanitarian and abolitionist, Prince Hall, a man who advocated for the rights and education of the entire Black and enslaved community; and
WHEREAS, In 1775 Prince Hall founded the African Lodge of the Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons of Boston, Massachusetts, the world's first lodge of Black Freemasons and the first society in American history truly devoted to social, political and economic improvements; and
WHEREAS, In honor of his many humanitarian contributions, the Masonic Order that he founded was name after him; and
WHEREAS, Prince Hall is best known as one of 15 men of African descent who were initiated into Masonry on March 6, 1775 by John Batt, a Sergeant in the 38th Foot Regiment of the British Army and a representative of Irish Military Lodge No. 441, working under the authority of the Grand Lodge of Ireland; and
WHEREAS, When the British left Boston on March 26, 1776, John Batt had already issued a permit to Prince Hall on July 3, 1775. This was one full year before America declared its independence from England and the while the United States of America was still known as the American Colonies. The issuance of this permit led to the formation of African Lodge No. 1, thus allowing them to function as a lodge, walk on St. John's Day, march in parades, and to bury their dead; and
WHEREAS, Today, over 500 lodges and 47 Grand Lodges around the globe, including 72 lodges and one Grand Lodge in Illinois, that trace their history and name to the original Prince Hall Lodge, African Lodge No. 1. These African-American Masonic groups remain dedicated to improving and aiding their community, society and mankind as a whole; and therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council assemble this Eighteenth day of March, 2015, do hereby celebrate ...
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