Charter No. 459

      Issued to African Lodge, September 29, 1784

                       To all and every our right Worshipful

                   and loving Brethren, we Thomas Howard,

                   Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard, &c., &c., &c., Acting

                   Grand Master, under the authority of His Royal Highness,

                   Henry Frederick, Duke of Cumberland, &c., &c., &c., Grand

                   Master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free

                   and Accepted Masons, send greeting:

                   KNOW YE THAT WE, at the humble petition of our right trusty and

                   well beloved Brethren, PRINCE HALL, BOSTON SMITH, THOMAS SANDERSON,

                   and several other Brethren, residing in Boston, New England, in

                   North America, do hereby constitute the said Brethren into a

                   regular LODGE OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, under the title or

                   denomination of the AFRICAN LODGE, to be opened in Boston

                   aforesaid, and do further, at their said petition, and of the great

                   Trust and hereby appoint the said PRINCE HALL to be Master, BOSTON

                   SMITH, Senior Warden, and THOMAS SANDERSON, Junior Warden, for the

                   opening of the said LODGE, and for such further time only as shall

                   be thought proper by the Brethren thereof, it being our will that

                   this our appointment of the above officers shall in no wise affect

                   any future election of officers of the LODGE, but that such

                   election shall be regulated agreeable to such by-laws of said

                   LODGE, as shall be consistant with the general laws of the society,

                   contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will require

                   you, the said PRINCE HALL, to take especial care that all and every

                   one of the said Brethren are, or have been legally made masons, and

                   that they do observe, perform and keep all the rules and orders

                   contained in the Book of Constitutions; and further, that you do

                   from time to time, cause to be entered in a book kept for that

                   purpose, an account of your proceedings as a LODGE, together with

                   such rules, orders and regulations, as shall be made for the good

                   government of the same; that in no wise you omit once in every year

                   to send us, or our successors, Grand master, or to Rowland Holt,

                   Esq., our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being, an account in

                   writing of your said proceedings, and copies of all such rules,

                   orders and regulations, as shall be made as aforesaid, together

                   with the list of the members of the LODGE, and such sum of money as

                   may suit the circumstances of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected

                   toward the Grand Charity. Moreover, we do hereby will and require

                   you, the said PRINCE HALL, as soon as conveniently may be, to send

                   an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these

                   presents.

                   Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 29th day

                   of September, A. L., 5784, A. D. 1784.

                   "By the GRAND MASTER'S command.

                   Witness:

                   Wm. White, G.S.,

                    R. Holt, D.G.M."