Black Freemasonry began when Prince Hall and fourteen other free Black men were initiated into Lodge No. 441, Irish Constitution, attached to the 38th Regiment of Foot, British Army Garrisoned at Castle Williams(now Fort Independence) Boston Harbor on March 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 Ruformm, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, C ato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Howard and Richard Titley.

Today the Prince Hall Masonic Fraternity has over 4,500 lodges worldwide, forming 45 indepndent jurisdictions with a membership of over 300,000 Masons.