Charter No. 459

Issued to African Lodge, September 29, 1784

To all and every our right Worshipful and loving Brethren, we Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Lord

Howard, &c., &c., &c., Acting Grand Master, under the authority of His Royal Highness, Henry

Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable

Society of Free and Accepted Masons, send greeting:

KNOW YE THAT WE, at the humble petition of our right trusty and well beloved Brethren, PRINCE

HALL, BOSTON SMITH, THOMAS SANDERSON, and several other Brethren, residing in Boston,

New England, in North America, do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a regular LODGE OF FREE

AND ACCEPTED MASONS, under the title or denomination of the AFRICAN LODGE, to be opened

in Boston aforesaid, and do further, at their said petition, and of the great Trust and hereby appoint the

said PRINCE HALL to be Master, BOSTON SMITH, Senior Warden, and THOMAS

SANDERSON, Junior Warden, for the opening of the said LODGE, and for such further time only as

shall be thought proper by the Brethren thereof, it being our will that this our appointment of the above

officers shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of the LODGE, but that such election shall be

regulated agreeable to such by-laws of said LODGE, as shall be consistant with the general laws of the

society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will require you, the said PRINCE HALL,

to take especial care that all and every one of the said Brethren are, or have been legally made masons,

and that they do observe, perform and keep all the rules and orders contained in the Book of

Constitutions; and further, that you do from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that

purpose, an account of your proceedings as a LODGE, together with such rules, orders and regulations,

as shall be made for the good government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year to

send us, or our successors, Grand master, or to Rowland Holt, Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the

time being, an account in writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules, orders and

regulations, as shall be made as aforesaid, together with the list of the members of the LODGE, and such

sum of money as may suit the circumstances of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected toward the Grand

Charity. Moreever, we do hereby will and require you, the said PRINCE HALL, as soon as conveniently

may be, to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents.

Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 29th day of September, A. L., 5784, A. D.

1784.

"By the GRAND MASTER'S command.

Witness:

Wm. White, G.S.,

R. Holt, D.G.M."