The Master's Office, Duties, And Responsibilities.

no movement in a Freemasons' Lodge that has not some hidden meaning , and which does not convey some moral or spiritual lesson , or at least which is not in some way associated with the higher teachings of the Craft . So far we have dealt with the higher duties and

responsibilities of a Master of a Lodge . There are others , however , which , if not of such moment , are important , and even essential in one who aspires to be a ruler in act as well as in name . Some Masters—we fear the majorityseem to lose all respect for the ordinary methods of

conducting business directl y they get into the chair . Men who in their every day pursuits observe all the customs and practices of commercial life , throw them aside when dealing with the business of a Freemasons' Lodge . They dawdle and trifle as if there was no life in the work before

them , and too often cast upon the Secretary all the labour and responsibility of carrying on the necessary proceedings . A Master sometimes is called upon to discharge the dulies of Chairman . Discussions occasionally arise in Lodges which require delicate leadership and control .

We are not surprised to find that so many fail in this capacity . It requires experience in the conduct of public business to fit a man for the efficient discharge of the functions of Chairman , and therefore we should judge failures to reach a high standard in this respect somewhat

tenderly . There is no excuse , however , for the utter breakdown that is so frequently witnessed . Much of what we complain is caused by carelessness , sometimes by indifference , and in some instances by incapacity . Time is as valuable in a Lodge as elsewhere , and ought not to be

wasted . Courtesy , firmness , and skill are as valuable in the Master of a Freemasons' Lodge as in the chairman of a public meeting , and , although , as we have said , many allowances must be made for a Master of a Lodge , it is only right to expect that he should have some knowledge

of the practice of conducting public business , and should at least be acquainted with , and observe , the elementary rules with regard to debate . Time frequently wasted in

Lodge might be used with advantage in the banquet room . The requirements of the laws of courtesy would more generally be complied with , and the great bane of many Lodges—late hours—would be avoided .

It will be seen from what we have said that the duties and responsibilities of a Master of a Lodge are numerous and onerous . Few may obtain the ideal we have suggested , but it should be the aim of all to approach the standard .

Jewels for services would then be of real value , for they would have been earned , and would not be bestowed , as they are now , as a mere compliment , suggested by custom , and presented with stereotyped formality .

St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia.

ST . JOHN'S LODGE , PHILADELPHIA .

DISCOVERY OF THE ORIGINAL LEDGER OF A . D . 1731 to 1738 .

FEOM THE KEYSTONE . WE have been instrumental in bringing to light a most important original Masonic record , to wit , the Ledger account book of the First Lodge in Philadelphia ( St . John ' s Lodge ) , with its members , from 24 th June 1731 to 24 th June 1738 . This book is bound in stiff vellum , and labelled on the front

cover" Philadelphia city , St . John ' s Lodge , Libr . B . " It is evidently not the first Lodge Record book ; for that would naturally be " Libr . A ., " which was probably the Minute Book . This "Libr . B . " is now in the Library

of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania , having been presented to that body by George T . Ingham , of Salem , N . J ., . on 8 th November 1880 . Mr . Frederick D . Stone , Librarian of the Historical Society , informs us that Mr . Ingham received this volume from a descendant of

David Hall , who was the partner of Benjamin Franklin in the printing and publishing business . It is well preserved , and bears on its face its title to be regarded as an original record . Its great value consists in its

corroborating all that has been claimed and proved in behalf of Philadelphia as being the "Mother-city of Masonry in America , " and in the details it gives us concerning the individual members of St . John ' s Lodge . From June 1731 to June 1734 the initiation or en-

St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia.

trance-fee was £ 3 ; after that , up to 1738 , it was £ 5 . The monthly dues ( or ' " quota " ) were fid , with a fine of Is per meeting for absence . We give below the complete list of the names of the members , as taken from this Lodge Ledger . Under each name , in the

original , are given the various debits and credits to which the member was entitled . We give also the date when the initiation or entrance-fee was charged to each member , since this is an indication of the date when he was made a Mason or entered the Lodge .

NAMES Of MEMBEKS OP ST . JOHN ' S LODGE , 1731-1738 . ( 1 ) William Button ( 2 ) William Allen ( 3 ) Christopher Thompson ( 4 ) Thomas Hart

( 5 ) Samuel Nicholas ( 6 ) John Emerson ( 7 ) Thomas Hart , Farmer ( 8 ) Thomas Boude ( 9 ) William Pringle . „ _ „ . . Entrance fee charged ( 10 ) Benjamin Franklin June 24 , 1731 .

( ENTBANCE HIE £ 3 . ) ( 11 ) Henry Pratt , ( 12 ) Mark Joyce „„ ( 13 ) Thomas Eedman ( 14 ) JohnHubart ( 15 ) Thomas Whitemarsh July 5 , 1731 ( 16 ) John Hall Feb . 7 , 1732 ( 17 ) Samuel McClanan „ „ ( 18 ) Lawrence Eevnolds

( 19 ) David Parry Mar . 6 , „ ( 20 ) Humphry Murray Nov . 6 , „ ( 21 ) James Bingham n n ( 22 ) John Crap March 5 , 1732-3 ( 23 ) William Paschal April 2 , 1733 ( 24 ) Peter Cuff May 7 , 1733 125 ^ Ttifihnril ParMinnsa

( 26 ) Owen Owen July 2 , " ( 27 ) JohnNowenbam Nov ' rS , „ ( 28 ) Thomas Hopkinson „ „ ( 29 ) Lambert Emerson „ „ ( 30 ) Christopher Bouth Nov . 19 , „ ( 31 ) Caofc . John Waueh Jan ' v 18 . ..

( 32 ) James Hamilton April 1 , 1734 ( 33 ) Isaac Browne „ „ ( 34 ) Joseph Shippen May 6 , „ ( 35 ) Thomas Bond June 3 , „

( ENTRANCE PEE £ 5 , PROM THIS TIME . ) ( 36 ) John Bobinson , Atfc ' y . at-Law June 3 , 1734 ( 37 ) William Pyewell „ ( 38 ) William Plumsted July 1 , „ ( 39 ) Septimus Bobinson „ „ „ ( 40 ) Joseoh Breintnall AmmafcS . ..

( 41 ) Philip Syng Nov . 7 , „ ( 42 ) JosiahRolfe „ „ „ ( 43 ) Eichard Howell Jan . 7 , „ ( 44 ) William Allen ( from former folio ) ( 45 ) Benjamin Franklin „ „ ( 46 ) Henry Pratt „ „ ( 47 ) Thomas Eedman „ „

( 48 ) Lawrence Eeynolds „ „ ( 49 ) Christopher Thompson „ „ ( 50 ) Thomas Boude „ „ ( 51 ) Thomas Hart „ „ ( 52 ) John Hubart „ „ ( 53 ) John Jones , Atty . afc . Law June 6 . 1737

( 54 ) William Bering „ „ „ ( 55 ) Michael Cario „ „ „ ( 56 ) Doctor Thomas Cadwallader „ „ ,, ( 57 ) David Humphrey „ „ „ ( 58 ) Thomas Esdaile „ „ „ ( 59 ) Henry Lewis „ „ „ It appears , from the foregoing , that Benjamin Franklin ( the tenth name on the list ) was charged with his entrance

fee on 24 th June 1731 ; or rather , to be perfectly exact , " 1731 , June 24 . To remainder of your £ 3 , entrance , is £ 2 . " He in every probability paid the previous £ 1 five months before or some time during that period , for he is charged with five months previous dues . This would prove

that Franklin was made a Mason in February 1731 , shortly after he made his publication concerning Masonry in his Pennsylvania Gazette of 8 th December 1730 . Prior to the

present it has never been known when Franklin was made a Mason . We had always supposed that it was in the beginning of the year 1731 , and this record vouches for the fact .

At the election of William Allen , Provincial Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania , by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Penn ' a , on 24 th June 1732 , it appears from this record that St . John ' s Lodge had nineteen members . Since the Masonic record of Benjamin Franklin will