Alpha phi Alpha brothers wanting to be in the Boule

[kingtut]

One thing that upsets me most about our people is how we are so quick to spit out wrong information. The first black frat was not the Boule it was the Prince Hall MASONS. The Prince Hall MASONS were actually founded not long after this country became a "country" in 1776. Not to step on anyones toes but if you think I'm lying do your own RESEARCH.


one love

'06


"One should seek knowledge not have it have fed to him"

[Professor]

WHO IS PRINCE HALL ?

Prince Hall is recognized as the Father of Black Masonry in the United States. Historically, he
made it possible for Negroes to be recognized and enjoy all privileges of free and accepted
masonry.

Many rumors of the birth of Prince Hall have arisen. A few records and papers have been
found of him in Barbados where it was rumored that he was born in 1748, but no record of
birth by church or by state, has been found there, and none in Boston. All 11 countries were
searched and churches with baptismal records were examined without finding the name of
Prince Hall.

One widely circulated rumor states that "Prince Hall was free born in British West Indies. His father, Thomas Prince
Hall, was an Englishman and his mother a free colored woman of French extraction. In 1765 he worked his passage on a
ship to Boston, where he worked as a leather worker, a trade learned from his father. During this time he married Sarah
Ritchery. Shortly after their marriage, she died at the age of 24. Eight years later he had acquired real estate and was
qualified to vote. Prince Hall also pressed John Hancock to be allowed to join the Continental Army and was one of a
few blacks who fought at the battle of Bunker Hill. Religiously inclined, he later became a minister in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church with a charge in Cambridge and fought for the abolition of slavery." Some accounts are
paraphrased from the generally discredited Grimshaw book of 1903.

Free Masonry among Black men began during the War of Independence, when Prince Hall and fourteen other free
black men were initiated into Lodge # 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army
Garrisoned at Castle Williams (now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 6, 1775. The Master of the Lodge
was Sergeant John Batt. Along with Prince Hall, the other newly made masons were Cyrus Johnson, Bueston Slinger,
Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato
Spain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard and Richard Titley.

When the British Army left Boston, this Lodge, # 441, granted Prince Hall and his brethren authority to meet as a lodge,
to go in procession on Saints John Day, and as a Lodge to bury their dead; but they could not confer degrees nor
perform any other Masonic "work". For nine years these brethren, together with others who had received their degrees
elsewhere, assembled and enjoyed their limited privileges as Masons. Finally in March 2, 1784, Prince Hall petitioned
the Grand Lodge of England, through a Worshipful Master of a subordinate Lodge in London (William Moody of
Brotherly Love Lodge # 55) for a warrant or charter.

The warrant was granted on September 29, 1784 under the name of African Lodge, # 459 on the register of the Grand
Lodge of England by authority of then Grand Master, the Duke of Cumberland, delivered in Boston on April 29, 1787
by Captain James Scott, brother-in-law of John Hancock and Master of the Neptune. Prince Hall was the first Master of
the lodge which was organized one week later, May 6, 1787.

The warrant to African Lodge # 459 of Boston is the most significant and highly prized document known to the Prince
Hall Masonic Fraternity. Through it, Masonic legitimacy among free black men is traced, and on it more than any other
factor, rests their case. That charter, which is authenticated and in safekeeping, is believed to be the only original charter
issued from the Grand Lodge of England still in the possession of any Lodge in the United States. African Lodge allowed
itself to slip into arrears in the late 1790's and was stricken from the rolls after the Union of 1813 although it had
attempted correspondence in 1802 and 1806. In 1827, after further unreplied communication, it declared its
independence and began to call itself African Grand Lodge # 1. It is interesting to note that when the Massachusetts
lodges which were acting as a Provincial Grand Lodge also declared themselves an independent Grand Lodge, and even
when the present Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was formed by the amalgamation of the two separate lodges, African
Lodge was not invited to take part, even though it held a warrant every bit as valid as the others.

The question of extending Masonry arose when Absalom Jones of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania appeared in 1791 in
Boston. He was an ordained Episcopal priest and a mason who was interested in establishing a Masonic lodge in
Philadelphia. Delegations also traveled from Providence, Rhode Island and New York to establish the African Grand
Lodge that year. Prince Hall was appointed Grand Master, serving in this capacity until his death in 1807.

Upon his death, Nero Prince became Grand Master. When Nero Prince sailed to Russia in 1808, George Middleton
succeeded him. After Middleton, Petrert Lew, Samuel H. Moody and then, John T. Hilton became Grand Master. In
1827, it was Hilton who recommended a Declaration of Independence from the English Grand Lodge.

In 1869 a fire destroyed Massachusetts' Grand Lodge headquarters and a number of its priceless records. The charter
in its metal tube was in the Grand Lodge chest. The tube saved the charter from the flames, but the intense heat charred
the paper. It was at this time that Grand Master S.T. Kendall crawled into the burning building and in peril of his life,
saved the charter from complete destruction. Thus a Grand Master's devotion and heroism further consecrated this
parchment to us, and added a further detail to its already interesting history. The original Charter # 459 has long since
been made secure between heavy plate glass and is kept in a fire-proof vault in a downtown Boston bank.

In 1946, the Grand Lodge of England again extended recognition to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge but withdrew it the
same year. In 1994, the Grand Lodge of England finally accepted a petition for recognition by Prince Hall Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts. "England cited several reasons recognition was witheld," Nicholas B. Locker, Grand Master of Prince
Hall from 1992-1994, said in an interview in June 1996. "One was 'territorial boundries,' because the Grand Lodge of
England had already recognized the white Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which shared the same jurisdiction with us.
"Another factor was that Prince Hall owed back payment of dues to the Grand Lodge. Back 200 years ago, there were
no checks, and often dues for England were put in the hands of sailing ship captains. It was several months before the
ships arrived in England, and money was lost. So it wasn't possible to say for sure that Prince Hall paid all his dues."

The ties were arranged to be formalized in June 1996. In its 212 years, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge has spawned over
44 other Grand Lodges. The subordinate lodges receive recognition once their grand lodges are recognized.

Today, the Prince Hall fraternity has over 4,500 lodges worldwide, forming 44 independent jurisdictions with a
membership of over 300,000 masons whereby any good hearted man who is worthy and well qualified, can seek more
light in masonry.

Prince Hall is buried in a cemetery overlooking the Charlestown naval yard in Boston's north end. His grave is situated
near a large tree, his wife's grave is directly behind his. The site is marked by a broken column; a monument erected 88
years after his death by Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Massachusetts. Still today, believers in
the Diety and travelers from all walks of life can be seen winding their way to that sacred spot to pay homage at the final
resting place of the first Grand Master of the "colored" Grand Lodge of Masons. This great Mason, Statesman, and
Soldier, having traveled to that undiscovered country from whos bourne no traveler returns; remains as the pillar of
wisdom, strength, and beauty among all masons today.

[kingtut]

I'm just saying Prof. are you saying that I'm wrong when I saw Sigma Pi Phi is NOT the first frat black men? It seems to me that you are trying to tip toe around the question. Yeah they are MASONS but you make it out sound as if they are not a frat.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by Professor
SIGMA PI PHI: THE BOULE- The First Black Fraternity (on record)
What separates Sigma Pi Phi and Alpha Phi Alpha. One was the first black
fraternity for professional men and the latter the first for collegiate men.

Kingtut:

I'm not an Eastern Star, and since I am female, I am not a Mason, either. (LOL) I do not know all of the ins and outs of the two organizations, but I wold like to get some clarity. My question is, does one not have to be professional or collegiate to become a Mason? I know males who NEVER stepped a foot on a college campus and are not professionals, yet they are Masons.

If one does not have to be a professional person or a collegiate person to join the organization, then IMO from what I have read, Sigma Pi PHi and Alpha Phi Alpha are the first in it's "class" (collegiate/professional), if you will.

I guess it's all in the wording.

Please correct me if my logic is incorrect. Thanks.

[Professor]

I really was just offering information. Of course the difference among the two is Alpha accepts only college educated men. As our sister stated, I guess it's all in the wording. Alpha is the first BGLO of college educated men, the Masons are the oldest black fraternal organization and the Boule is the oldest black professional organization. I know each organization does great work and I have no personal battle here. Please comment if i'm wrong.

Originally posted by kingtut
I'm just saying Prof. are you saying that I'm wrong when I saw Sigma Pi Phi is NOT the first frat black men? It seems to me that you are trying to tip toe around the question. Yeah they are MASONS but you make it out sound as if they are not a frat.

[Kimmie1913]

It was always my understanding that the Boule was the first BGLO. It was for professional men and A Phi A hence was the first BGLO for collegiate men. Although the Masons are a fraternal organization, I have never heard them called a BGLO. I always beleived that was the distinction.

Although the article described them as the first Black Fraternity, I think it was poor choice of words and that the implication really was BGLO.

[Professor]

Fraternity just means fraternal . . . i,e. fraternal order of police, etc.

[Kimmie1913]

Originally posted by Professor
Fraternity just means fraternal . . . i,e. fraternal order of police, etc.

True, I have often heard a distinction made about Greek letter organizations and other fraternities. I have encountered many who believe there is a distinction to be made about a reek lettered organizations and other similar organization. That has always been my impression about the statement that the Boule was the first GREEK LETTERED fraternity for Black men.

That is just my impressionfrom what I have ssen and in no menas definitive.

[The Original Ape]

What is the point?

If the point is what was the first Black Fraternity, then The Masons were the first. If the question is what was the first Black Greek-Lettered fraternity, then Sigma Pi Phi was. If the question is what was the first Collegiate Black Fraternity, then Alpha Phi Alpha was.

Incidentally, fraternity means "Brotherhood";and implies men only.

So Mote It Be

[kingtut]

I am going to agree with Bro. Ape. Although this is a damn hot topic and I have been discussing it all over the place since last week,I think it really does come down to wording. I'm going to see if I can get some facts to add to this topic. But from what I have always been told even when I was "on Line" that Prince Hall was the father of all black Frats. I mean when you take a look at A PHI A membership rosters and then look at the rosters from the PHA MASONS they are damn near the same. I don't care what anyone has to say but there has to be a connection between the PHA MASONS and A PHI A.

[Blackwatch]

I thought this thread was about the Boule'? Arguements about the first black fraternity are again a tussel with semantics. PHA Masonry is an offshoot of Scottish Rite Masonry or the European Masonry isn't it? Did Prince Hall come up with new rituals, passwords, and symbolism? I do not think so, it is just White (European) Masonry with black people in it. I know "travellers" from all around will argue with me about Hiram Abiff and all of the Egyptian Mystery System stuff that the Europeans stole and rebirthed During the "Enlightenment" period of the 1700's therefore making there be no such thing as "white" or "European" masonry. But let's be real, PHA Masonry, while a great fraternity of men who are civic minded and ideally morally upright, should be considered at best a strike for African-Diasporic reclaimation or redefinition (like the founding of the AME Church, taking something and making it our own) and at least another result of white racism in the fact that most white masons would not allow blacks in their lodges, therefore someone (Namely Prince hall) starts a lodge of his own, with the same rituals, grips, and symbols. I ask, were there people in Nubia who practiced PHA Masonry before the 1700's? No, they are a fraternity of men paying homage to the Egyptian Mystery System.


This "paying homage" was a result of intense humanism in Europe that sought to destroy the power of the Church by establishing that the ultimate power on Earth came not from God, but knowing what God knows, thereby making God obsolete and exalting man as the keeper of light (thus we get enlightenment). Men would be enlightened by the acquisition of knowledge, not by adherence to an oppressive Church-State. The Eyptian Mystery System would be appealling to enlightenment thinkers because, as the story of Hiram Abiff suggests, humans could get the knowledge of God without submitting to the will of God (For further explanation, read .The Hiram Key published by two former Masons.)


This is different from Alpha, in that the founders of Alpha created a new fraternity, not a black version of a white fraternity. Though there are obvious similarities among all fraternities, we do have different grips, rituals, hailing signals, etc. that make us different from each other. A member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon cannot grip me up and vice versa. I am a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha, not a black member of a black version of a white frat. Therefore, I think that Masonry is fundamentally different from Alpha and the Boule'.


The Boule' is not a professional honor Society, it is a Social Service fraternity, just like Alpha Phi Alpha, And all of the others. A professional honor Society (like Phi Delta Kappa) normally exists within specific professions, not across different professions, and are co-ed. Sigma Pi Phi has the same thrust as any other Social Service fraternity, a selective membership of like minded men who commit themselves to community uplift and personal progress. Many would say that the difference is that Sigma Pi Phi only admitts professional men and that Alpha only admitts college men, or college grads. Well, I have yet to meet any member of the Boule' who was not a college grad. Are there rich athletes who may not have graduated from college who are members? Are there any retired assembly line workers? Lumberjacks? Let's be real, the Boule is a social service frat that has become a status symbol among the black men in other fraternities!!!!
Blackwatch!!!

[The Original Ape]

If yall REALLY wanna git down wit it, check out "The Essene". Pay close attention to where and when they operated, and their purpose. Their geographical location will give you an indication of their membership. You'll also find that THEY were the first Black fraternity.

[The Original Ape]

I know very little about Sigma Pi Phi. Can you tell me about their service to the community? What programs do they have, and on which ones do they focus most?

[Professor]

They don't promote their activites or involvement in civic efforts.

[Blackwatch]

Here's a link to their National Website that talks about some of their philanthropies and community service.
http://www.sigma-pi-phi.net/journal/...ont/index.html