NJ ACR116

New Jersey Legislature formally recognizes Prince Hall (circa 1735-1807), a free Black man and Revolutionary Era activist who founded "Prince Hall Freemasonry" after being denied admission to an all-white Masonic lodge in Colonial Boston

Prince Hall and 14 other free Black men established African Lodge #1 in 1775, which grew into over 5,000 lodges and 47 grand lodges, making Prince Hall Freemasonry the oldest continuously active organization founded by African Americans in the United States

Hall petitioned the Massachusetts government in January 1777 to abolish slavery, arguing that Black people should be granted rights set out in the Declaration of Independence, and again in 1788 to protect Black sailors from kidnapping and sale into slavery

Hall advocated for public education access for African American children and argued that tax dollars should not be withheld from African American families

Copies of the resolution will be transmitted to The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of New Jersey