119-hres633

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 633 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 633

 Recognizing Prince Hall for his contributions as a Revolutionary Era 
 activist, Masonic leader, and his lasting impact in the African-
 American fight for justice.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 August 5, 2025

 Mr. Green of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Recognizing Prince Hall for his contributions as a Revolutionary Era 
 activist, Masonic leader, and his lasting impact in the African-
 American fight for justice.

Whereas Prince Hall was a free Black man who lived in colonial Boston, 
 Massachusetts, circa 1735 to 1807;
Whereas Prince Hall was an ardent abolitionist and prolific activist in Boston, 
 Massachusetts, during the American Revolutionary period;
Whereas, in 1775, after being denied by an all-White Masonic lodge, Hall and 14 
 other free Black men formed their own lodge;
Whereas Hall was elected as the leader, or ``Worshipful Master'', within the 
 newly formed African Lodge #1, later renamed African Lodge No. 459;
Whereas, because of this action, Prince Hall is known as the ``Father of Black 
 Freemasonry'';
Whereas Prince Hall Freemasonry is recognized by many as the oldest continuously 
 active organization founded by African Americans in the United States;
Whereas the Prince Hall Freemasons employed advocacy and community work to 
 assist Blacks seeking citizenship, education, and economic advancement;
Whereas, in 1777, Prince Hall petitioned the Massachusetts government to abolish 
 slavery and is considered by some to be the first to publicly proclaim 
 that Black people should be granted the rights laid out in the 
 Declaration of Independence;
Whereas, in 1787, a committee of 12 from the African Lodge, headed by Worshipful 
 Master Hall, drafted the Boston Plan, a detailed plan for African 
 Americans to return to Africa, to free themselves from their hostile 
 living conditions in the United States;
Whereas the resettlement plan requested the Massachusetts General Court to 
 provide passage for families with the necessary provisions, utensils, 
 and articles, as well as money to procure lands to settle upon;
Whereas, in 1788, Prince Hall petitioned the Massachusetts Legislature to 
 protect Black sailors from being kidnapped and sold into slavery;
Whereas Prince Hall's influence remains within the 5,000 lodges and 47 grand 
 lodges who trace their lineage to the original lodge he founded; and
Whereas this resolution may be cited as the ``Original Resolution Honoring 
 Prince Hall'': Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and thanks 
Prince Hall for his contributions as a Revolutionary Era activist and 
Masonic leader, as well as for his lasting impact in the African-
American fight for justice.
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