Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Michigan

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On March 6, 1775, Prince Hall and 14 men of color were made masons in Lodge #441 of the Irish Registry attached to the 38th British Foot Infantry at Castle William Island in Boston Harbor, Massachusetts. About a year later, since the conflict between England and America had commenced, the British Foot Infantry left Boston, along with its Lodge, leaving Prince Hall and his associates without a lodge. Before the lodge left, Worshipful Master John Batt, gave them a permit to meet as a lodge and bury their dead in manner and form. This permit, however, did not allow them to do any "masonic work" or to take in any new members. Under this permit, African Lodge was organized on July 3, 1776, with Prince Hall as the Worshipful Master. It wasn't long before this lodge received an additional permit from Provincial Grand Master John Rowe to walk in procession on St. John's Day.

On March 2, 1784, African Lodge No. 1 petitioned the Premier Grand Lodge of London & Westminster (Grand Lodge of England) for a warrant, or charter, to organize a regular masonic lodge, with all the rights and privileges thereunto prescribed. The Grand Lodge of England issued a charter on September 29, 1784 to African Lodge No, 459, the first lodge of Blacks in America.

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With a charter, African Lodge No. 459 could initiate more men from the free black community in Boston. In 1797 Prince Hall organized subsidiary lodges in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Providence, Rhode Island. These Lodges operated under the charter of African Lodge, and initially were also given the name "African Lodge" and the number "459". The Lodge in Providence soon changed its name to Hiram Lodge #3. In December 1808, these three lodges met and formed the African Grand Lodge (sometime referred to as African Grand Lodge #1).

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Other Grand Lodges were formed from the Lodges that descended from African Lodge No. 459.

On June 24, 1847, African Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, First Independent African Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Hiram Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania joined together to form the National Grand Lodge (also known as the National Compact). 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.

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In 1857, John G. Britton, Grand Master of the State of Indiana (National Compact), granted a dispensation to his Deputy Grand Master, John W. Harrison and a group of Masons residing in the City of Niles, Michigan to open the first lodge of colored Masons in this State. This Lodge was to be known as Harrison Lodge, U.D. (Under Dispensation). Harrison Lodge was granted a charter January 13, 1859, and became Harrison Lodge No. 6 on the list of Indiana Lodges. Hart Lodge No. 10, of the City of Ypsilanti, Michigan was granted a Charter by the same authority and was Dedicated and Constituted by James S. Hinton, Grand Master of Indiana, with J. W. Harrison, District Grand Master.

In 1854, John W. Harrison, who was now Grand Master of Indiana, granted dispensations to open Lodges in the cities of Battle Creek and Williamsville. These Lodges later became Strothers Lodge No. 12 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Saint James Lodge No. 14 in Williamsville, Michigan.

The representative of these four lodges (Harrison Lodge No. 6, Hart Lodge No. 10, Strothers Lodge No. 12 and Saint James Lodge No. 14) met in convention, in the City of Niles, Michigan and after adopting a Constitution, organized this Grand Lodge for the State of Michigan, on April 25, 1865. John W. Harrison was the Grand Lodge's 1st Grand Master.

 

The Most Worshipful National Grand Lodge of the United States of North America (National Compact) granted a Grand Lodge Warrant to this body, October 18, 1865; bearing the signatures of Paul Drayton, Grand Master of the National Compact.

At the sixth Annual Grand Communication of this Grand Lodge, held in the City of Detroit, Michigan, on June 17, 1872 the following lodges were enrolled and represented with dates of institution: Harrison Lodge No. 1 (1857) in Niles, Hart Lodge No. 2 (1863) in Ypsilanti, Strothers Lodge No. 3 (1864) in Battle Creek and St. Paul Lodge No. 4.

Following the lead of the Grand Jurisdictions of Pennsylvania and Ohio, the Brethren of Michigan took the necessary steps to throw off the yoke of tyranny for which they had been burdened for so many years, and at a meeting in the City of Detroit, the Craft, by a vote of 69 to 4 adopted resolutions expressing their views of the illegality and irregularity of the National Compact and declared that hence-forth they would consider themselves independent of its authority. Consequently, Hiram and Mt. Pavan Lodges of Detroit, and North Star Lodge of Grand Rapids secured dispensations from the sovereign Grand Lodge of Ohio, to form these three lodges, looking forward to the organization of an independent sovereign Grand Lodge. After due time had expired they received their Charters and opened communication with the Craft throughout the State.

A mass convention of Masons was called to meet in the City of Detroit, Michigan, on September 23, 1872. Pursuant to the call, representatives of from Strothers Lodge No. 3 (Battle Creek), Hiram Lodge No. 10 (Detroit), North Star Lodge No. 15 (Grand Rapids), Zion Lodge No. 11 (Pontiac), and many other brethren throughout the State, met and organized. These lodges, by the virtue of their warrants, formed themselves info an independent sovereign Grand Lodge under the style and title of Unity Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons for the State of Michigan, with Harrison J. Lewis, of Hudson, as Grand Master and Wilmot A. Johnson, of Detroit, as Grand Secretary. The first Annual Communication of Unity Grand Lodge convened in the City of Detroit, Michigan, January 13, 1873. At this Communication the Constitution was adopted, and also the Resolutions to form a committee of three to petition the State Legislature to incorporate this Grand Lodge. A committee of five was appointed to draft a petition to the Grand Lodge of Michigan, F. & A.M. for recognition.

Meanwhile, the National Compact expelled all who had withdrawn their allegiance from its authority. This adverse condition prevailed until, at their annual communication in the City of Jackson, Michigan, December 7-10th, 1875, they, the Compact Grand Lodge, unanimously voted to rescind all masonic disabilities imposed upon the members of Unity Grand Lodge and passed a Resolution that a committee be appointed, with the purpose of uniting these two Grand Lodges and their members. This union was not consummated until eight years later. At one of the Conferences held in the City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, on November 23 1886, by the representatives of the two Grand Lodges, after mature deliberation the following Preamble and Resolution was adopted:
 

"Whereas:  We the representatives of the two Bodies existing in the State of Michigan believing that the existence of two masonic Grand Lodges is detrimental interests of all concerned, therefore, be it
Resolved: That the two Grand Lodges unite as one under the name and title of Union Grand Lodge, F. & A.M. for the State of Michigan."

 

This action was confirmed by both Grand Bodies at their next Annual Communication, and on January 26, 1887, Unity Grand Lodge adjourned sine die, and Union Grand Lodge was organized.

After the adoption of the Constitution of Unity Grand Lodge, the Grand Officers were then elected, and Union Grand Lodge was opened on the third degree of masonry with John J. Evans, Grand Master elect, presiding.

For a period of thirty seven (37) years Union Grand Lodge prospered guided by those dynamic and intrepid Grand Masters who had given stability and fame to this Masonic Grand Jurisdiction. In the year 1940, Elmer L. Wallace, Grand Master, anxious to preserve this organization against the inroads of non Prince Hall Masons, made the following recommendation, which was approved by the Committee on Jurisprudence at the Seventy-Sixth Annual Grand Communication, held in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and adopted at the 77th Annual Grand Communication held in the City of Lansing, Michigan, April 25, 1942. This initial step taken by our Grand Lodge was followed 2 years later by all but two jurisdictions; thus the Grand Lodge was foremost in designating to all our legitimacy as Prince Hall Masons.

This Grand Lodge has grown from four Constituent Lodges to forty-seven and has a membership of over five thousand master masons.