National Grand Lodge

The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Ancient York Masons Prince Hall Origin National Compact USA (also referred to as Prince Hall Origin as well as Compact Masons) is a body of Prince Hall Freemasonry in the United States of America composed predominantly of African American Freemasons.

The National Grand Lodge was established June 24, 1847 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Grand Lodges which were of direct lineage to African Lodge No. 459. Those Grand Lodges were the African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, First Independent African Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Delegates of Boyer Lodge of New York (which was a subordinate of African Grand Lodge) were also a part of the June 24, 1847, convention. The primary purpose of the meeting was to heal tensions between the two Pennsylvania Grand Lodges and to unify the bodies of African American Freemasons in light of them being excluded from the predominantly white Freemasonry in the United States. The National Grand Lodge approved its Declaration of Sentiments which were as follows:

"The question has been asked the cause of the separate organizations of white and colored Masons in the United States of America. We do not know of any good reason why there should be, and we have made several attempts without success to have but one. We are, and always have been, in procession of all the ancient landmarks and regulations of the craft, and we do acknowledge all genuine Masons of all Nations and complexion to be our brethren."

"THEREFORE, in pursuance of the above call, we have met in the city of Boston, State Massachusetts, in the year and date above-mentioned, and do form in solemn convention and say before the world our sentiments thereon."

"In all stages of oppression we have petitioned for redress, but found none; therefore, in solemn convention assembled, we do, in the name of the Great Masonic Body of Free and Accepted A.Y. Masons, declare ourselves a free and independent body of Masons, to be known as the National Grand Lodge of Color of these United States of America and Masonic Jurisdiction, with full power to grant Letters of Dispensation and Warrants to all State Grand Lodges under our Jurisdiction, and that the said State Grand Lodges shall have full power to grant letters of dispensation and warrants to the subordinate Lodges under the several jurisdictions, and to establish as many Lodges as they may deem most expedient."

"Not that we have been wanting in attention to our white Brethren. We have from time to time solicited them to extend their jurisdiction over us, but to no effect. We, therefore, the delegates of the several Lodges throughout the United States, in convention assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do in the name and by the authority of our constituents, declare and publish the said National Grand Lodge of Color of the United States to be a free and independent body, with full power, as named in third article of this declaration, and for the support of the declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge ourselves to each other in the solemn ties of brotherhood."

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