M. W. Orond Master Gardener of
Massai husetts, addressing the Grand
Lo.lgfl of that State In JS70, among
other things eald:
"I have no doubt that on thr Cth ?f
March, 1775, the day after Warr i de
livered his celc'.irated oration In the Old
South Church, where he was menaced
by British troops, I'rlnce Hall and thir
teen others received the three degrees
In a travelling loiige attached to one of
the British regiments In tho crmy of
General Gage, by whom Boston was
| thin garriioned.
"The motive of the English Masons
In Initiating the first fifteen negroes Into
the fraternity In this country has been
ani! *t;il is questioned. It is claimed by
mr?ny that It wiia done In ord.-r to se
cure the cooperation of the negroes In
this country with the British. If this
wns their motive they failed In securing
\ their end. for Prlnca Hall, one of the orlg
I Inal fifteen, appears upon the Revolu
1 tlonary rolls of the State of Maaaarhu
j setts as one of the earliest enlisted men
. In the serHce of tho country against
the Rrltlsh.
