MOST WORSHIPFUL PRINCE HALL GRAND LODGE NEW YORK - Key Persons

J.G.W. Jean Apollon

Job Titles:

Chairman of the Budget Committee
Member of the Benevolent Fund Committee

M.I. Ronald A. Thomas, Sr.

Job Titles:

Thrice Illustrious Grand Master

Melvin J. Bazemore

Job Titles:

Sovereign Grand Commander

Noble Damien E. Hall

Job Titles:

Imperial Deputy of the Desert

Prince Hall Freemasonry (also known as African American Freemasonry) was named after Prince Hall (c. 1735-1807). He was an African American noted as an abolitionist, for his leadership in the free black community in Boston, and as the founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry, he lobbied for education rights for black children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement. He is considered one of the most influential free black leaders in the late 1700s. Some Famous Prince Hall Masons are Garrett A. Morgan, Sr., Robert Abbot, UN Ambassador Andrew Young, "Count" Basie, Henry Blair, Edward Bouchet, "Nat King" Cole, Ossie Davis, W.E.B. DuBois, Edward Kennedy, "Duke" Ellington, Medgar Evers, Alex Haley , Benjamin L. Hooks, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jack Johnson, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Benjamin E. Mays, Kweisi Mfume, Richard Pryor, A. Philip Randolph, Congressman Charles Rangel, "Sugar" Ray Robinson, Arthur A. Schomburg, Rev. Al Sharpton, Booker T. Washington and Governor David Paterson.