The 11th Biennial Reopening of African Lodge 459

Greetings Members of African Lodge 459:

The 11th Biennial Reopening African Lodge No. 459 festivities and reopening will take place beginning on April 25, 26, 27 through 28, 2024. For 2024 there will be an additional day of activities. These new activities will include a golf tournament and other outdoors activities, weather permitting. The theme of the 2024 reopening will be “Legends and Legacy.

The symbolic reopening is scheduled to take place Saturday April 27, 2024 with the reception of visiting Grand Masters together with their delegations. The reopening is expected to be magnificent as sitting Most Worshipful Grand Masters from various jurisdictions have been invited to participate as line officers in full colonial dress and regalia. They will represent each of the original Lodge Officers of African Lodge No. 459. This re-opening will feature a theatrical presentation of the birth of African Lodge 459 and her progeny.

There will be a “Sights and Sound” speaker series where well informed Brethren will make presentations at places of historical significance to African Lodge No. 459 and Prince Hall Masonry generally: Museum of African American History; Cambridge Commons, Copps Hill Burial Ground and Castle Island. The “Sights and Sound” speaker series proved to be informative and well received at our last re-opening. The 2024 reopening weekend will again include a Table Lodge gathering in addition to the usual theatrical play, historic tours, shopping and two evenings of fellowship, entertainment and dancing.

Registration fee is tentatively set at $165.00 not including the Table Lodge which will be an additional fee, tentatively set at $45.00. The registration fee will cover the Reenactment of the Opening of African Lodge No. 459, the theatrical play and evening entertainment only. The “Sights and Sounds” speaker series, will cost $45.00 per guest. The Saturday evening entertainment and dance function will be held at the William E. Reed Auditorium at the Masonic Temple beginning at 9 PM. The cost will be $40.00 per guest. The Deadline for registration will be April 10, 2024.

Lodging will be reserved at local area hotels. Room rates will be published once negotiated. Reservations are to be made under “African Lodge 459”. We are anticipating a large number of participants for the 2024 reopening weekend and are planning to secure two lodging locations. Information concerning the lodging locations will be published once the site are secured and rates are negotiated.

For the 2024 Reopening, registration and payment for the Reopening weekend will be available online beginning on or before December 31, 2023. Membership application will also be available for submission online at the African Lodge 459 website. The Website address is: www.africanlodge459.info. All information relative to the reopening, from registration fee to activities will be found at the website.

“Save the Date” and join the Mother Jurisdiction in celebrating our legends and legacy!

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Manuel R. Pires

R. W. Bro. Manuel R. Pires Chairman, African Lodge No. 459