Absalom Jones

Absalom Jones was an African American slave born in Sussex County, Delaware,
November 6, 1746. He departed this life at the age of 72 and was a steward in the
struggle of recognition and equality for all African Americans. It is the opinion of this
writer that he should not be forgotten anymore than Richard Allen, who in 1816 became
the first Black Bishop of any denomination in the United States. Absalom Jones on the
other hand became the first African American Episcopal priest in 1804. The lives of these
two men are so closely connected that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.

While Absalom Jones was born in Delaware, Richard Allen was born in Pennsylvania but
his family was sold to a farmer in Delaware when Allen was age 7. Jones taught himself
to read and his owner Benjamin Wynkoff (attachment #1) brought him to Philadelphia at
age 16 to serve as a handyman in his owners store. Absalom Jones was allowed to work
for himself in the evening and to keep what he earned. Richard Allen became a Methodist
Preacher in Delaware and came home to Philadelphia at age 26, 1n 1786. Absalom Jones
attended a Quaker school and learned mathematics and hand writing. At 38 years of age
he married Mary Thomas a Black slave next door who worked for a white family name
King, seen on the U.S. census of 1810 (attachment #2 & 2A). Jones was able to buy her
freedom with the extra money he earned, however he did not acquire his own freedom
till 6 years later, in 1784. The Wynkoff and King families are seen living next door to
each other on the 1810 U.S. Census (attachment #2)

It was during the late 1770s and early 1780s that Richard Allen and Absalom Jones
became life long friends. In the1780 period Absalom Jones and Richard Allen became
Lay Preachers at St. Georges Methodist Episcopal Church. Their evangelistic efforts
were so successful that a paper published by the Historical Society of the African
Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, in Philadelphia conveys that the congregation increased
ten fold.

In the fall of 1792, while these two Black leaders were attending service at St. Georges
Methodist Church, a church they had recently helped to expand, they were offended. The
Black church goers were told to sit upstairs in the new gallery. When Blacks set in areas
not designated for Blacks, they were forcibly removed from the seats they had helped to
build. Absalom Jones, Richard Allen and the entire Black congregation walked out as a
body.

During the 1792 period, Jones and Allen organized the Free African society. The Free
Society worked much as a church, local government and charity by giving aid to those
without, teaching morality, marriage counseling and tried to decrease alcohol abuse.
The Society began to build a church which in 1784 was dedicated as St. Thomas African
Episcopal Church. It was a difference of opinion that caused Absalom Jones and Richard
Allen to go their separate but parallel course. Richard Allen wanted to stay under the
banner of the Methodist church, while Absalom Jones was content to work under the
banner of the Episcopal church.
Absalom Jones was ordained an Episcopal Deacon in 1795 and as a priest I 1804, he was
the 1st Black Episcopal priest in the United States. Historian Carol V.R. George in,
Segregated Sabbaths, described Absalom Jones as .essentially a quiet, peaceful man
Whose intuitive skills in diplomacy prevented angry confrontations. Jones displayed tact
in social relations. Allen on the other hand left St. Thomas, because he could not accept
Second class citizenship in the Methodist church. This led to Allen founding Bethel
African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME). Richard Allen became the 1 st Bishop of the
A.M.E. branch of Methodism.

One of the most significant achievements of Absalom Jones was the organization of the
Free African Society, led by him and Allen. Harry Richard son writes, in Dark Salvation
In the terrible yellow fever epidemic of 1793, in Philadelphia, PA., in which killed
hundreds. Jones and Allen worked together to tend the sick, burry the dead and render all
possible service to the victims, most of whom were white. They were commended by the
mayor of Philadelphia for their service.

Absalom Jones worked outside the church. In 1799, he sent a petition to Congress, which
is one of the earliest surviving petitions sent to Congress by Blacks living in Philadelphia.
The petition drew on the meaning of the Declaration of Independence, the language of
the Preamble of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. It also raised the question that
Blacks should be considered citizens and protected by the law. (A copy of the full
Petition is attached (attachment # 3 & 3A) to this paper.

How did Absalom Jones merge into Freemasonry?

Freemasonry among Blacks in the colonies originated when Prince Hall and 14 other
Blacks were initiated and became members of an Irish Lodge #441, attached to the 38th
Regiment of Foot, British Army Garrison at Castle William (now Fort Independence),
Boston Harbor, MA, March 6, 1775. When the British Army left Boston in 1776, Lodge
441, granted Worshipful Master Prince Hall and his brethren the authority to meet as
African Lodge #1 U.D. (Under Dispensation), to hold processions on St. Johns Day and
as a Lodge to bury their dead. On March 2, 1784, Prince Hall Worshipful Master of
African Lodge #1, petitioned the Grand Lodge of England for a warrant or charter. The
warrant to African Lodge #459 was granted on Sep. 29, 1784 and delivered to Prince Hall
April 29, 1787. Prince Hall was appointed Provincial Grand Master in 1791, by the
Prince of Wales.

The Prince Hall Masons Directory, 4th edition, 1992 conveys, the question of extending
Masonry arose when Absalom Jones of Philadelphia, PA appeared in Boston. (MA) He
was an ordained Episcopal priest and a Mason who was interested in establishing a
Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia. Under the authority of the Charter of African Lodge
#459, Prince Hall established African Lodge #1 of Philadelphia, PA, on March 27,
1797 African Lodge of Boston became the Mother Lodge of the Prince Hall
Family. The Rev. Absalom was Master of that first Black Lodge in PA and Richard Allen
was elected Treasurer of that Lodge. Absalom Jones was elected Grand Master of
The first Black Grand Lodge in PA, on December 27, 1815, erected as, First African
Independent Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, for and in the Jurisdiction of North
America.

Bibliography
1. Richard Allen Religious Leader and Social Activist by Steve Klots, 1991
2. Africans in America Narrative, by Curtis Jackson, 2003
3. Absalom Jones His Life and Legacy; Historical Society, The African American
Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, 1991
4. Absalom Jones, The Readers Companion to American History, Eric Foner and
John A. Garraty, editors, published by, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1991
5. Prince Hall Masonic Directory, 4th edition 1992, Conference of Grand Masters,
Prince Hall Masons
6. The Historical Society, the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas, Feb. 2003,
Absalom Jones His Life and Legacy
7. Prince Hall Masonic yearbook 1967-1968, Grand Masters Conference of Prince
Hall Masons of America
8. Prince Hall Life and Legacy, Second Edition 1977, by Charles H. Wesley
9. Federal census, US, 1790 and 1810

Submitted by,

R.W. Eubert G. Brown, Senior Warden,

Lodge of Research and Education No. 2006
of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand
Lodge of the State of New Jersey