The Text of the Original Charter A.G.M.
To all and every: Our Right Worshipful and loving brethren: We, Thomas Howard, Earl of Effingham, Lord Howard, etc., acting Grand Master, under the authority of his Royal Highness, Henry Frederick Duke of Cumberland, etc., Grand master of the Most Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, send greetings. Know ye that we, at the humble petition of our Right Trusty and well-beloved 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 and of the great trust and confidence reposed in each of the said above named brethren, hereby appoint the said Prince Hall to be Master; Boston Smith, Senior Warden; Thomas Sanderson, Junior Warden, for opening the said Lodge, and for such further time only as shall be thought by the brethren thereof, it being our will that this, our appointment of the above officers, shall in no wise affect any future election of officers of said lodge, but that such election shall be regulated , agreeable to each bylaws of the said Lodge as shall be consistent with the Grand Laws of the society, contained in the Book of Constitutions; and we hereby will, and require you, the said Prince Hall, to take special care that all and every, the said brethren, are to have been regularly made masons, and that they do observe, perform, and keep all the rules and orders contained in Book of Constitutions 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 same; and in no wise you omit once in every year to send to us, or our successors, Grand Masters, or Rowland Holt, Esquire, our Deputy Grand Master for the time being, an account of your said proceedings and copies of all such rules, orders, and regulations as aforesaid, together with the list of the members of the Lodge, and such sum of money as may suit the circumstance of the Lodge, and reasonably be expected toward the Grand Charity. Moreover, we will, and require of you, the Prince hall, as soon as conveniently may be to send an account in writing of what may be done by virtue of these presents. Given at London’, under our hand and seal of Masonry, this 29th day of September, A.L. 5784, A.D. 1784 by the Grand Master’s Command.