Prince Hall Masonry in Virginia

In the years before the Civil War, which began in 1861, the institution of slavery was very strong in many of the states in the south.  Black men in these states were forbidden to become a mason.  A number of blacks traveled to Philadelphia and after establishing residency and meeting the qualifications; they were initiated into the mysteries of the Craft.

The first Lodge organized in the Commonwealth of Virginia was Universal at Alexandria, which is still working under the designation of No. 1.  It was organized in 1845 with many prominent black men of the time, viz.: Rev. Robert H. Robinson, Alfred Hamilton, Peter Costin, citizens of the historic city.

Rising Sun Lodge of Norfolk was next in line of organization and to this day carries the designation of No.2 on the roster of Prince Hall Lodges in Virginia.  The question of which is older caused quite a long and sometime bitter controversy between Morning Star Lodge in Portsmouth and Eastern Light Lodge in Norfolk.  By common consent and in keeping with the ideal of who can best work and best agree, Morning Star was given the designation of No.3 and Eastern Light No.4.

For more than fifteen years there were in Virginia two Grand Lodges, Union Grand Lodge and Grand Lodge of Virginia, Ancient York Masons.  The first and oldest one under the name and title as a part of the National Grand Lodge.  The Grand Lodge was named at the Union Grand Lodge and was organized December 28, 1865, which organization was not completed until February 17, 1866.  The second Grand Lodge was organized as the result of the activity and influence of one Rev. M. F. Sluby, a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  Rev. Sluby was an advocate of this organization and upon discovering that Universal Lodge was operating in Alexandria, he persuaded the Masons there to become more active and at the same time he caused division against the National Compact.

The independent Grand Lodge of Maryland, in 1865, instituted Lincoln Lodge No. 11.  The Independent Grand Lodge of Maryland styled its member "Free and Accepted Ancient York Mason".  The following year Rev. J. B. Trusty was sent to Petersburg's minister of the Union Street C.M.E. Church, and having been revived and being a member of a Lodge in Philadelphia, assembled a group of men on the 16th day of August, 1866, a committee of brethren came from Pennsylvania and entered, passed and raised this group.  There were seventy-two men in all who were so divided as to organize three Lodges.  The names of these lodges were J.B. Trusty No.8, Virginia No. 9 and Abram No. 10.  Charters for these Lodges were issued by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.  There three lodges formed the Grand Lodge of Ancient York Masons which was instituted in June 23, 1868.

The two Grand Lodges, that is the Union Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Virginia, Ancient York Masons, operated separately for a number of years, but because of the family, social, religious and community ties they developed the idea of merging the two groups.  The first meeting, looking to accomplishment of this idea, was called on the 9th day of December, 1873.  This meeting was held in St. Luke's Hall on Franklin Street in Richmond.  Because of the absence of representatives from the Union Grand Lodge, the only thing of significance done was the adoption of a resolution which laid the basis for the coming union.  The failure to accomplish what was intended didn't deter the brethren so another meeting was called in Petersburg on the fifteenth day of December 1875, at which time our present Grand Lodge was organized.