- Created by
- African Lodge, No. 459, American, 1776 - 1847
- Received by
- Powers, Nero, American, died 1829
- Signed by
- Hilton, John T., American, 1801 - 1864
- Lewis, Walker
- Gaul, Aaron, American
- Barbadoes, Isaac
- Subject of
- Hall, Prince, 1735 - 1807
- Date
- 1826
- Medium
- wax and ink on wove paper with silk (textile)
- Dimensions
- H x W: 10 3/4 × 9 in. (27.3 × 22.9 cm)
- Description
- A membership certificate from the Masonic African Lodge No. 459, Boston, Massachusetts, certifying the promotion of Nero Powers to the rank of third-degree Mason.
- The front of the paper features artwork of woodcut architectural motifs and columns on the left and right sides of the centered print. The all-seeing eye is depicted at the top beneath a line of Masonic decorative print. The left side of the paper is pierced with a silk ribbon and there is residue of a wax seal at upper left.
- In black print type the certificate reads, [AND THE DARKNESS PRESENDETH IT NOT / IN THE EAT A PLACE OF LIGHT, WHERE REIGN SILENCE AND PEACE. / WEA the Master, Wardens and Secretary of / AFRICAN LODGE, No. 459 held in the Town of / Boston hereof, our Worthy Brother Nero Powers / has been regularly initiated into the third Degree of / MASONRY:… AS such he has been received by us, and / being a True and Faithful Brother, is hereby recommended to the / Favor and Protection of all FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, / wheresoever dispersed. / In Witness whereof we have caused the Seal of our / said Lodge to be hereunto affixed, this 13th day of November / 1826Anno Lucis 5826].
- The certificate is signed by the Warden [John T. Hilton WM.], and Secretaries [Walker Lewis S.W. / Aaron Gaul S.W. / Isaac Barbadoes Sect.] at the bottom. On the reverse of certificate is an ink inscription, “18539 / S.D. 7".
- Place printed
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
- Classification
- Documents and Manuscripts
- Type
- certificates
- Topic
- Associations and institutions
- Fraternities
- Free communities of color
- Freemasonry
- Men
- Societies
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Object number
- 2021.51
- Restrictions & Rights
- No known copyright restrictions
- Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




