H.Res. 633 is a congressional resolution honoring Prince Hall, an 18th-century free Black activist and Masonic leader who lived in Boston from approximately 1735 to 1807. The resolution recognizes Hall's pioneering role in founding African Lodge #1 in 1775 after being rejected by white Masonic lodges, making him the founder of Black Freemasonry, and acknowledges his work as an abolitionist and civil rights advocate who fought for Black citizenship, education, and economic advancement. The resolution highlights Hall's key contributions, including his 1777 petition to abolish slavery in Massachusetts and his advocacy to protect Black sailors from kidnapping and enslavement. This resolution does not authorize any funding or create new programs; rather, it is a symbolic measure expressing the House's recognition of Prince Hall's historical significance and his lasting legacy through the 5,000 Prince Hall Freemasonry lodges that continue to operate today across the United States.
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