Whereas, on the sixth day of march, A.D. 1775, A.L. 5775, in a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, under the direction of J.B. Batt, Worshipful Master, and attached in a regiment of the British Army, under Gernarl Gaize, at or near the city of Boston in the province of Massachusetts, the following persons of African descent, to wit: Prince Hall, Cyrus Gonbus, Buesten Slinger, Thomas Sanderson, Prince Tayden, Cato Sprain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Fortin Howard, Prince Rees, John Canten, Peter Freeman, Benj. Tiber, Duff Buform, Richard Tilley, were initiated, passed and then raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in due and ancient form.

Whereas, on the second day of March, A.D. 1784, A.L. 5784, the aforementioned Brethren did make application to the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns) for a warrant of Constitution.

Whereas, on the twenty-ninth day of September, A.D. 1784, A.L. 5784, the aforementioned petition was received: the prayer granted and a Warrant of Constitution issued to the above named Brethren under the name or title of "African Lodge" and number "459" upon the register of the Grand Lodge (Moderns) of England, designating Price Hall as Worshipful Master, Boston Smith as Senior Warden and Thomas Sanderson as Junior Warden, conveying to them all the rights and privileges of a duly constituted Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and to hold at the city of Boston, in Massachusetts.

Whereas, on the twenty-seventh day of January, A.D. 1791, A.L. 5791, by command of the Grand Master with Brother Lord Rawdone acting Grand Master, presiding, the Grand Lodge of England (Moderns) did nominate, ordain, constitute and appoint the aforementioned Prince Hall, "a Provincial Grand Master of North America and Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging."

Whereas, on the twenty-fourth day of July, A.D. 1808, A.L. 5808, at a general assembly of the said "African Grand Lodge", Brother Nero Price, Deputy Grand Master, presiding, the name or title of the aforesaid "African Grand Lodge" was changed to "Price Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts", in memory of the late Most Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Prince Hall, who died December 7th, A.D. 1807, A.L. 5807, and

Whereas, on the year July, A.D. 1826, A.L. 5826, the aforementioned "Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts", under Most Worshipful Samuel F. Moody, Grand Master, did constitute "Celestial Lodge, No. 2, Rising Sun Lodge, No. 3, and Hiram Lodge, No. 4" each to hold in the city of new York, State of New York and

Whereas, on the fourteenth day of March A.D. 1845, A.L. 5845, at a Gereral Assembly of the Craft, held in the City of New York, the aforesaid Lodges, to wit: "Boyer, No. 1, Celestial, No. 2, Rising Sun, No. 3 and Hiram, No. 4" by the assumption of powers, duties and responsibilities, did establish and constitute themselves into a Grand Lodge or Free and Accepted Masons for the state of New York and territory thereunto belonging, under the name or title of the "Boyer Grand Lodge of New York", with Paul Drayton, Grand Master; Brother James Barnett, Senior Grand Warden; Brother Alexander Elston, Junior Grand Warden; Brother C.G. Boyer Sr., Grand Tresurer; and Brother Lewis Hayden, Grand Secretary, and

Whereas, on the thirteenth day of October A.D. 1848, A.L. 5848, at a General Assembly of the Craft held in the city of New York, the aforesaid "Boyer Grand Lodge" did re-organize the Free Masons of African decent in the State of New York, under the name of title of the "United Grand Lodge of New York" with Brother James Barnett, Grand Master; Brother Jacob Gibbs, Deputy Grand Master; Brother Alexander Elston, Senior Grand Warden; Brother Arnold Ricks, Junior Grand Warden; Brother Charles Hooten, Grand Treasurer; and Brother Jacob Francis, Grand Secretary; and

Whereas, on the twenty-seventh day of December A.D. 1877, A.L. 5077, at a General Assembly of the Craft held at Shiloh Church in the city of New York the "Grand Lodge for the State of New York" (National Compact) and descendant from the "Boyer Grand Lodge of New York", with the aforesaid "United Grand Lodge of New York", did consolidate into one Grand body under the name or title of "The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York", with Brother John Chase, Grand Master, (Compact); Brother Alfred T. Aldridge, Deputy Grand Master, (United); Brother H. McDougall, Senior Grand Warden, (United); Brother H. McDougall, Senior Grand Warden, (United); Brother George W. A. Murray, Junior Grand Warden, (Compact); Brother J.A. Tromer, Grand Treasurer, (United); and Brother William A. Tollbert, Grand Secretary, (Compact); and

Therefore, know ye, that we the aforesaid Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity, Prince Hall, of Free and Accepted Masons, of the State of new York, invested with full power and authority over all the Craft, and the Court of Appeal in all Masonic cases arising under its jurisdiction, do hereby authorize and empower our trusty and well beloved Brethren Frank F. Giles Jr. Worhipful Master, Clarence J. Holland Senior Warden and Robert S. Taylor Junior Warden, to open and hold a Lodge by the name of African Lodge Four Fifty Nine to be designated in our register as number sixty-three (63). The said Lodge to be opened and held in the City of Brooklyn, county of Kings, State of New York; and we do likewise authorize and empower our said Brethren Frank F. Giles Jr., Clarence J.. Holland, Robert S. Taylor to enter, pass and raise Freemasons, according to the most ancient custom and usage of the Craft, in all ages and nations througout the world and not otherwise; and we do further empower the said Frank F. Giles Jr., Clarence J. Holland, Robert S. Taylor, and their successors in office, to hear all singular matters and things related to the Craft within the jurisdiction of the said Lodge; and lastly, we do further authorize, empower and direct our said trusty and well beloved Brethren Frank F. Giles Jr., Clarence J. Holland, Robert S. Taylor, to install their successors in office, after being elected and chosen to invest them with all the powers and dignities of their office respectively belonging and to deliver to them this warrant of constitution; and such successors shall, in like manner from time to time install their sucessors and proceed in the premises as above directed, such election and installation to be upon or immediately preceding St. John the Evangelist Day, twnty-seventh of December, during the continuance of the said Lodge forever, provided always, that the above named Brethren and their successors do pay, and cause to be paid, due respect and obediance to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, Prince Hall, of the State of New York, aforesaid, and to the By-Laws, Rules, Regulations and Edicts thereof: otherwise this Warrant or Constitution shall be of no further force nor virtue.

Therefore, this Warrant is issued by us, at this date, under the hands of our Grand Officers and Seal of our Grand Lodge in the city of New York, this twenty-first day of July A.D. 1922, A.L. 5922.

Davis W. Parker MWGM

Daniel T. Teagle RWDGM

Joseph Sullivan RWSGW

James A. Arzurrd RWJGW

Arthur A. Schomberg RWGSEC

OUR STORY

African 459 Lodge #63 was founded in 1921 from a group of Brooklyn's outstanding young men who originally met in lonic Masonic Hall under the temporary name of the lonic Fraternal Club. Those present at the first meeting of the club, many of whom later became officers of the Lodge were Bro. Francis F. Giles, Widow Sons' #11, Mr. A.P. Portias, Mr. J. Francis Mickens, W.R. Lee, Mr. William Odell, Mr. Cornelius Moore and Mr. Samuel W. Green. The then District Deputy Grand Master Bro. Walter A Marable presided.

The Club conducted itself so splendidly in Masonic circles that the then Grand Master David W. Parker, noting the progress of the Club, decided to institute the Club under dispensation as a bona fide Lodge; and it was done! On Saturday, November 19, 1921, African Lodge 459 became an integral part of the Masonic Fraternity of the State of New York and of the Nation. The Lodge is appropriately named after African Lodge 459, the original lodge of the illustrious founder of Masonry among men of color in the United States, Prince Hall.

The Lodge which up until this point was under dispensation, received it's charter and was formally constututed on July 21st, 1922.

Down through the years the Lodge has achieved and maintained a very prominent place in the jurisdiction. It has furnished the Fraternity with a Grand Master, M.W. Francis F. Giles, Grand Junior Warden, R.W. Jean Apollon, District Deputy Grand Masters George Williams, Jesse Wright, William J. Davis, Jesse Short, William L. Smith and William E. Boyd. Special District Deputy Grand Master Arthur G. Thompson; District Deputy Grand Lecturers William E. Boyd, M. Ralph McCain, Elwood E. Gregory (Emeritus), William L. Smith and Grand Lecturer William L. Smith; Grand Advocates Oliver D. Williams and Richard A. Grady; Grand Trustee Louis P. Curry and Grand Trustee Chairman Emeritus Alfred L. Fields: and a host of other Grand Lodge Offices.

Currently the Lodge is represented in the Grand Cabinet by R.W. Richard A. Grady, Judge Advocate, District Deputy Grand Lecturers R. W. Elwood E. Gregory, R.W. M. Ralph McCain and District Deputy Grand Master William E. Boyd.

We have 13 Life Members who are Paul Austin, Phillip Banks, Jr., Lonnie M. Bright, Daniel L. Dacres, Jr., Taft M. Hall, Roosevelt Mitchell, Larry Nottingham, Frederick Paupaw, William L. Smith, Congressman Edolphus Towns, Harold R. Williams and Joseph Wright.

The Hi-12 Club of African 459, its social arm, has served well and successfully in putting over our many social affairs. It has also been a means of knitting the Brothers and their families closely together with the Lodge and has aided in developing the leadership required for the Lodge. We feel that with encouragement and advice our present officers will guarantee the future of the Lodge and uphold the great tradition of Prince Hall Masonry.

In conclusion, we pray to the Supreme Architect of the universe that He will continue to bless and guide African 459 Lodge and protect Prince Hall Masonry that we may be of greater service to mankind and be "living stones" for that house not made with hands, Eternal in the Heavens.