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, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master, Boston Smith, Senior Warden, and Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought proper by the Brethren thereof, it being our will that this appointment of the above of- ficers 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 consist- ent with the general laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we ereby will require you, the said Prince hall, to take especial care that all and every 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 Consti- tutions; 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 in the Lodge, together with all such rules, orders and regulations, as shall be made for the good government of the same, that in no wise omit once in every yearto send tous, or our successors, Grand Master, or to Rowland Holt, Esq. our Deputy Grand Master, for the time being an account writ- ing of your said proceedings; and copies of all such rules, orders and regulations as shall be made as aforesaid, together with a list of the members of the Lodge, and such a sum of money as may suit the circumstances if 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 conviently may be, to send an account in writ- ing if what may be done by virtue of these presents.
Given at London, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 19th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784.
"By the Grand Master's Command, R. Holt, D.G.M."
"Witness Wm. White, G.S."