Prince Hall Inspires New Portrait and Cigars

Portrait of Prince Hall by Ryan Flynn
(In progress - Please do not reproduce)

by Christopher Hodapp

New Hampshire Mason Ryan Flynn is one of the most talented and well-known American Masonic artists working today. On his Facebook page this past week, Brother Flynn announced his latest project — a large portrait depicting Boston's Prince Hall, who is regarded as the 'founding father' of African-American Freemasonry in America. 

The portrait depicts MWB Hall in the 1780s holding the English charter of Boston's African Lodge 459 in one hand, and the lodge's gavel in the other. Outside of the window behind him stands Boston's Faneuil Hall:

“The secret is out.

Many of you have inquired about this “mysterious” project that I have been working on since early September. 

With the unbelievable support of my dear friend and brother RW Oscar Alleyne and L Ken Upchurchcollins I am proud to announce that I am painting a portrait of Prince Hall. 

Earlier this year I had the idea to do this due to the fact that a historically accurate portrait of Wor. Hall has not been attempted in a very, very long time.

It’s a large painting, 4ft x 3ft. I have a long way to go but it was time to finally share this project.

Everything down to the engraving on his gavel will have a symbolic meaning to it. I hope I do him justice.”

The Internet is filled with artistic representations of WB Prince Hall, but most of them have little to do with reality. There are no known contemporaneous drawings or portraits of him. 

RWB Oscar Alleyne, who is the Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge F&AM of New York, explains:

"RWBrother Ryan Flynn reached out to discuss his special portrait project with RWB L Ken Upchurchcollins Grand Historian of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Alabama and myself.

"You see, there is no actual image of Prince Hall. All of the images out there are but artist renditions. Some feature details that aren’t exactly historically accurate given what we know of the African American community in 1700’s Boston (eg. wig wearing, assumptions of his skin color etc)

"Ryan wanted to be a close as possible to the scant descriptions and the time and place of this American Masonic Legend while revealing the watchful eye of leadership, fire, admiration and resilience that Prince Hall championed in life and legacy.

"The portrait captures elements of 1700’s Boston, Prince Hall’s historic abolitionist writings to the Massachusetts Legislature previous to his Masonic initiation, a detailed description of his presiding in the East during a festive board/table lodge setting for African Lodge as well as that infamous charter cementing Lodge 459’s connection to the Premier Grand Lodge of England in 1784 and regular Freemasonry worldwide.
Ken and I simply offered advice as our Brother Artist did his thing with love in his heart and fraternalism on his mind."

(NOTE - Kindly do not reproduce the image of the painting at this time. It is still a work in progress, and all rights are reserved by artist Ryan Flynn.)

Extraordinary Gentlemen of the Connaught Club

In 2007, London's Metropolitan Grand Lodge (a grouping of UGLE lodges that meet in the geographic area of London) held a special reception of Masons under the age of 35. Sixty or so such brethren attended, and it was such a success that a club was created to serve such men—the Connaught Club.

According to their website,

"The Purpose of the Connaught Club is to give young Freemasons in London a means to meet and socialise with like-minded people of similar ages within masonry, to attempt to bridge the large geographic area that constitutes London and the diversity of its lodges.

"The Connaught Club will also act as a representative body for the views of these Freemasons, passing those views on to Metropolitan Grand Lodge, via the appropriate channels as required.

"The Club aims to encourage & support participation in our Lodges and Freemasonry in general, openness about our membership and the aims, and relations of the Craft, particularly with how it relates to modern society and the younger generations."

Membership of the club is open to any Freemason under the age of 34 whose Lodge or Chapter is under Metropolitan Grand Lodge or who lives or works within London. Membership is £25 (around US$40). Their Christmas meal this year will be at London's posh Carlton Club.


Oh, to be 34. And living in London. With a better exchange rate.

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UPDATE: A less publicized organization was started at the same time in London as the Connaught Club. This one is for Freemasons OVER the age of 34, who reside in the jurisdiction of the city's Metropolitan Grand Lodge, and its annual membership cost is just £10.

It is called The Kent Club, and its website can be seen here.