Lewis Hayden: Underground Railroad, Prince Hall Grand Master, state legislator (Boston, 1866–1873)

SUMMARYLewis Hayden: Underground Railroad, Prince Hall Grand Master, state legislator (Boston, 1866–1873) [Connections: Masonic color line, asylums, castles, wight, Nov 5, 2026]

RECORDThe National Park Service says Hayden "served as Grand Master of the Prince Hall Masons," was "an integral figure in Boston's Underground Railroad network," and was "elected as a Massachusetts state legislator in 1873." Hayden published Caste Among Masons: Address Before Prince Hall Grand Lodge (Boston, 1866). He also published Masonry among colored men in Massachusetts (Boston, 1871), addressed to J.G. Findel, "honorary Grand Master of the Prince Hall Grand Lodge, and general representative thereof to the lodges upon the continent of Europe" (Cornell, May Anti-Slavery Collection)

PATTERNPrince Hall lodges trained Black political leaders. They also went over the heads of white American grand lodges by appointing a German Masonic historian (Findel) as their representative in Europe

LENS (WW9)Blocked at home, the Black lodge went abroad for recognition

OPENTier 1 is not yet complete. Read the 1866 and 1871 pamphlets themselves (Cornell scan) for Hayden's words on "caste" and for his Grand Master years

SOURCENPS: Lewis Hayden; Cornell Digital Collections: Masonry among colored men in Massachusetts (1871).