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Bro. Dr. Benjamin Franklin,

BRO . DR . BENJAMIN FRANKLIN ,

PENNSYLVANIA'S THIRD GRAND MASTER . FROM THE KEYSTONE .

THB two most distinguished Americans in all onr history were Benjamin Franklin and George Washington , and both of tbem were Freemasons . They were , too , not only Freemasons in namethey were active Masons , Masters of their Lodges , while Franklin waa twice Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . They were active , not only in the heyday of youth , when men usually

aspire after distinction , bnt also in the ripe period of middle life , and in the declining years of old age—they never lost their respect and affection for the Craft , its principles and its brethren . The Masonio life of Washington is comparatively well known , bnt not so thafc of Franklin , and , concerning it , it is our purpose to give some interesting details . These will be the more acceptable now . since the Grand

Lodge of Pennsylvania is upon the eve of her Sesqni-Centenmal Celebration , and Franklin was her third Grand Master . Franklin was by birth a Boston boy , and came of a race of blacksmiths . He was brought to the light of tbe world in the year 1706 , but , strange to say , the year in whioh he was brought to Masonic light is not known . His father was Josiah Franklin , who deserted

the forge of his ancestors , and became a tallow chandler ; and little Ben Franklin was the fifteenth of seventeen children , and the youngest son of the yonngest son for five consecutive generations . His mother was Abby Folger , whose father was a poet ; and probably it was through his mother that he derived his literary ability . He was born on a Sunday , and the same day taken over to the

famous " Old South Church " in Boston ( which is still standing ) , and baptized . At ten years of age he was a leader among boys , and often led them into scrapes . At this time he became an errand boy in his father ' s store , but he did not fancy the duty , and thought of running away to sea to escape ifc . To give him more congenial employment , his father indentured him to his brother James , a Boston

printer , and forthwith yonng Ben became a " printer ' s devil , " whioh service seemed quite to his liking , so that in a little time he proved what somo would term devilish smart , and destined not merely to make his mark in the world , but also to write his name high up on the roll of fame . Bufc his brother and he could not agree . James Franklin was a strict master and a passionate man , and Ben thought

him a harsh and unfraternal taskmaster , since he beat him , although he was his brother ; so , when he had reached seventeen years of age , and became well versed in the art and mystery of printing ( an art and mystery with which the devil and Dr . Faustus are said to have had something to do in its beginning ) , Ben ran away from his brother , and made what proved the most fortunate move of his

lifehe came to Philadelphia , which was at once the mother city of his fortunes , and also , and partly through his instrumentality , the mother city of Freemasonry in America . Philadelphia afc that time was a grassy , country town , of seven thousand inhabitants . Wolves , bears , and deer were then shot within four miles of it , and Indians often swarmed in its streets .

His advent to Philadelphia was the farthest remove from a brilliant one—he came literally afoot , and alone . But he had a firm reliance on his own ability to gefc on in the world . He had had comparatively little education , bnt then he was , as Lord Brougham said , a young man of most uncommon common sense . Onr own Emerson fitl y described him as one of those whom if planted on a marble slab ,

wonld take root . We all aro familiar with the figure he made , as he walked np from Market-street wharf , with his pockets stuffed with shirts and stockings , a roll of bread under each arm , and a third roll that he was diligently carrying from hand to mouth . In such a plight was he seen by the girl who afterwards became his wife—Miss Deborah Bead , as he passed her father ' s door , and heartily did sho

' augh at him , little dreaming that she was to be , shortly , his Dulcina , and her gladly accepted lover . Such is life—it is the unlikely that happens . Ben ' s first sleep in Philadelphia was amid tho mosfc peaceable surroundings—it was in a Quaker meeting-house , thafc stood at the corner of Second and Market streets , into which he strolled when

wearied with walking fcho streets , and where the spirit moved none to speak , so that the printer boy ' s dreams were undisturbed until the Meeting closed . Franklin soon secured employment as a journeyman with a Jew printer named Keimer , and , singularly enough , he Kcnred board at Mr . Read ' s , the father of Debbie , who was to scouie his wife . The nexfc year be courted Miss Bead , and was accepted , and soon after , at the age of eighteen , sailed for London to ectiro

t ype and presses to set np an office for himself . He took road with him little money and numerous letters of introduction , at found very quickly thafc the exchangeable value of good words as not grea (; j n London , \ s a resnit n 0 wag reduced to great awaits to keep himself from absolnto want . Finding little to do , he i el ? Wenfc swimming in the Thames , and acquired such skill in uahng the water thafc he seriously thought of becoming a professor "ivimniiug , und opening a swimming school . And he cot only

Bro. Dr. Benjamin Franklin,

loved to swim in water , but also to drink ifc , and ifc exclusively , so thafc among his companions he was known as the " water American , " because he refused to drink beer with tbem , and at the same time claimed tn ho twice ns strong as they . Fortunately an engagement ; as journeyman printer , soon after obtained , mado a landsman of him ,

and the world in consequence can boast ono less professor of swimming , and one more scientist , philosopher and statesman . During the year that he was abroad he wrote but a single letter to hia betrothed , Miss Read , and that was to tell her thafc she would not likely see him soon . His hard fortune appears for a time to have unmanned him .

In 1726 he returned to Philadelphia with an empty purse , and to his deep chagrin he found that Miss Read was no more , for she had deeply felt , his neglect and bad married—bufc mistaken her man , for she was already deserted , a grass widow . Her husband proved a worthless fellow , and it was even said that he had a former wife living . At all events , ho forsook Deborah Read , left the colonies , and

was reported dead . Franklin struggled along for two years , and in 1729 , with the aid of some friends , started a printing office . Soon after , he purchased the Pennsylvania Gazette , and forthwith became its editor and proprietor , and continued such for thirty-six y -ars , until 1765 , making ifc one of the best known and most valued newspapers in all America .

In the early issues of this newspaper there is contained much Masonio history , whioh can be found nowhere else , and to whioh we shall shortly advert . The Gazette continued to exist for one hundred and seventeen years , until 1845 , when ifc was merged into the North American , in which it still lives . In the Pennsylvania Gazette of 8 th December 1730 , we find tho

earliest pnblished mention of the existence of a Lodge of Freemasons in America . The first article in that paper reads as follows : — " As there are several Lodges of Freemasons erected in this Province , and people have been lately much amused with conjectures concerning them , we think the following account of Freemasonry from London will not be unacceptable to our readers . "

Then follows a recital thafc " By the death of a gentleman who was one of the Brotherhood of Freemasons , there has lately happened a discovery of abundance of their secret signs and wonders , with the mysterious manner of their admission into that Fraternity , contained in a manuscript found among his papers . " At this time we do not think that Franklin was a Freemason , for

if he had been , be would not have printed in his paper anything that partook of the character of an expose . It is not now known either when or where Franklin was made a Mason , but we think ifc highly probable that it was in Philadelphia soon after the issue of this paper , say early in tho year 1731 . His curiosity , doubtless , was stimulated , inst as that of his readers was , and he was hence led to seek Masonio

light . Be thafc as ifc may , we know thafc in tho year following , 1732 , he was a Mason , and that he was elected , at the age of 26 , Junior Grand Warden of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania , as we learn from a news item in Franklin ' s paper of 26 th June 1732 . An event that was portentous of good , in the year 1730 , to our brother ' sfntnre career , was his marriage , on 1 st September , to Deborah

Read . She was a finely formed and handsome woman , and proved a most excellent wife , and the twain lived together in the happiest possible wedded life for the period of 44 years . We now reach the firsfc authentic fact in Franklin ' s Masonic history . His newspaper , the Pa . Gazette of 26 th June 1732 , contains this important item : —

" Philadelphia , June 26 . " Saturday last , being St . John ' s Day , a Grand Lodgo of the Ancient and Honorable Society of FREE and ACCEPTED MASONS , was held at the Tun Tavern , in Water-street , when , after a handsome entertainment , the Worshipful , W . Allen , Esq ., was unanimously chosen Grand Master of this Province , for the year ensuing ;

who was pleased to appoint Mr . William Pringle Deputy Master . Wardens chosen for the ] ensuing year were Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin . " This is tho earliest known reference to the meeting of a G . Lodge in America . Freemasonry was first established in America in Philadelphia in 1730 , when Bro . Daniel Coxe , of New Jersey , was ap >

pointed Prov . Grand Master for two years ; and in 1732 the firsfc election was held for his successor , when Bro . Benjamin Frankin was elected Junior Grand Warden . Thus early in life , at the age of 26 years , did he become prominent in the Craft . In the same year he published the first number of his famous " Poor Richard ' s Almanac , " the great serio-comic almanac of its day . He was its author ,

under the non de plume of " Richard Saunders , and continued to publish it annually for twenty-five years . It attained a circulation of 10 , 000 copies a year , and a single original number of it has since been sold rt public action for 52 dollars . What gave these almanacs their immense popularity was not their value as almanacs , but the wise and witty maxims with which they were filled . Wo

mention a few of these , so that the reader may understand wh y " Poor Richard's Almanac " was so popular : — " God heals , and the doctor takes the fee . " " Three may keep a secret , if two of tbem are dead . " " Let fchy maid-servanfc bo faithful , strong , and homely . " " Keep your eyes wide open before marriage , half shut " afterwards . "

" If yon would have your bnsiness done , go—if not , send . " " Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes it . " " One to-day is worth two to-morrow . " " A fat kitchen makes a lean will . " " What maintains one vice would bring up two children . " " Dost thou love life , then do not squander time , for thafc is the stuff that life is made of . "

Handle yonr tools without mittons—remember , thafc the cat with gloves on catches no mice . " " A ploughman ou his legs is higher than a gentleman on his knees . " " Those have a short Lent who owe money to be paid at Easter . "