THE PENNSYLVANIA FREEMASON Issued Every Th ree Months By The Right Worshipful Grand lodge of The Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisd iction Thereunto Belonging, through its
COMMITIEE ON MASONIC CULTURE- William E. Yeager, Past Grand Master, Chairman; William E. Montgomery, G. Edwa rd Elwell, Jr., Fronk R. leech, William A. Carpenter, Charles A. Young and Ash b y B. Paul. APPROVED AND AUTHORIZED TO BE PRINTED BY
RALPH M. LEHR Right Worshipful Grand Moster WILLIAM A. CARPENTER, Editor Moiling Address: The Masonic Temple, Broad and Filbert Streets, Philadelphia 7, Pa.
Vol. II
December, 1955
No.4
Benjamin Franklin, The Freemason By WILLIAM J. PATER SON Librarian and Curator
Benjamin Franklin , as a young man of 24 years, months before he had passed th e tiled portals of any Masonic Lodge, unwittingly r endered a service to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Freemasons in General, greater in fact than an y oth er person connected with our history. While in London, 1724-26, the young printer had undoubtedly learned someth ing about the Craft, the membership of which was then almost exclusively confined to the nobility and gentry, and which was attracting more or less attention in the public prints. The knowledge thu s obtained, whether orally or from publications of the day, limited and vague though it must have been, appears to have quickened the ambitious philosophic brain of t he young printer upon the subject of Freemasonry, and whetted his desire to be numbered amongst the elect; an ambition not to be realized under existing conditions, as he was then still under the lawful Masonic age and a journeyman printer, a virtual stranger in the community, and, as a mere soap-boiler's son, lacking both social and finan cial standing. This applies to him during his sojourn in London, as well as in Philadelphia, at this period. Upon his return to Philadelphia, th is desire became even stronger when he learned that a Lodge had either been set up here, or was contemplated by the resident Brethren. In the year 1727 Franklin organized a secret society of his own known as t he " Leath er Apron Club", a name itself suggestive of our Fratern ity. In 1731, the name of the Club was changed, and the character of the Club was also revised, so as to become a purely literary one and took the name of " Junto." Its chief element, "secrecy" patterned after the Masonic Fraternity,
was, however, retained, otherwise it became literary in character, or as Franklin himself wrote, "A club for Men tal Improvement." Th e eventful outcome of this club, running side by side as it were, with the Craft, was the formation of the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731 and the American Philosophical Society in 1743, in both of which Franklin was the leadi ng spirit. As a matter of fact, it was withi n the Masonic Lodge at Philadelphia, where Franklin had th e first opportunity of learning Parliamentary usage by actual practise or occupying any position of authority and government. Consequently, it is bu t fair to assume that here in St. John 's Lodge, and subsequently in the Grand Lodge of P ennsylvania, was laid the foundation of Franklin's future greatness as a Parliamentarian and a prominent figur e in all the many and various organizations with which he became identified during his long and active public career. Further it is an indisputable fact that the offices conferred upon Franklin by the Grand Lodge of P ennsylvania, of that early day, were the first public honors held by the great Printer and Statesman. To wri te the history of Franklin as a Freemason is virtually to chronicle the early Masonic History of America. Early in the year 173I, we find that the young printer was Entered, Passed, and Raised to th e Sublime Degree of a Master Mason in St. John's Lodge, held at the Tun Tavern in Water Street, Philadelphia. The cost of his entrance fee was three pounds sterling. The published records of the Craft in his newspaper known as "The Pennsylvania Gazette" supplant the early minutes of this Lodge long since lost or destroyed. His connections with St. John's Lodge gives us an insight into the financ ial affairs of early Freemasonry, as fo und in the yellowing pages of " Liber B." His services as Grand Master and later as P rovincial Grand Master are closely interwoven with the early Masonic history of this Jurisdiction. During the lat~r years of his life he had an active Masonic career in France. There, his activity and intimacy with the Brethren was intimate and close, both personal and official, even advancing to the so-called higher degrees. The Mason ic career of Benjamin Franklin extends over a period of almost sixty years, during which time he was accorded the highest Masonic honors at home and abroad . 1705--6 January 6, O.S.-born at Boston , Mass. (N.S. January 17, 1706). 1730-1 February, Initiated in St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia. 1732 June, drafted a set of By-laws for St. John's Lodge. 1732 June 24, elected Junior Grand Warden. 1734 June 24, elected Grand Master of Pennsylvania. 1734 August, advertised his " Mason Book," a reprint of Anderson's Constituti ons of the Freemasons," the first Masonic book printed in America.
1734-5 The State House (Independence Hall) built during Franklin's administration as Grand Master. According to the old Masonic and fami ly traditions, the corner-stone was laid by him and the Brethren of St. John's Lodge. 1735- 8 served as Secretary of St. John's Lodge. 1750- March 13, appointed Deputy Grand Master By William Allen, Provincial Grand Master. 1752- March 12, appo inted on the Committee for building " The Freemason's Lodge" on Walnut Street between Second and Third Streets, Philadelphia. 1752- October 25, visited the Tun Tavern Lodge, Philadelphia. 1755- June 24, took a prominent part in the Grand Anniversary and Dedication of the "Freemason's Lodge" in Philadelphia, the first Masonic building in America. 1760- Provincial Grand Master of Philadelphia. 1760- November 17, present at Grand Lodge of England, held at Crown & Anchor, London. En tered upon the minutes as "Provincial Grand Master." 1762- Addressed as Grand Master of Pennsylvania. 1776- Affiliated with Masonic Lodges in France. 1777- Elected a member of Loge des IX Soeurs (Nine Sisters or Muses). 1778- February 7, assisted at the initiation of Voltaire in the Lodge of the Nine Sisters. 1778- November 28, officiated at the " Lodge of Sorrow" or Masonic Funeral Services of Voltaire. 1782- Elected Venerable (W.M.) of Loge des IX Soeurs, Grand Orient de Paris. 1782- July 7, member R.L. de Saint Jean de Jerusalem. 1785- April 24, elected Venerable D'Honneur of R.L. de Saint Jean de Jerusalem. 1785- Elected hon orary member of Loge des Bon Amis (Good Friends), Rouen, Fran ce. 1786- December 27, in the dedication of a sermon delivered at the request of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pen nsylvan ia, by Rev. Joseph Filmore in St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia, Franklin is referred to as " an illustrious Brother whose distinguished merit among Maso ns entitles him to their highest veneration." 1790- April 17, Benjamin Franklin passed to the Grand Lodge above. 1906- April 19, memorial services at his grave in Christ Church yard, S.E. corner Fifth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, by the officers of the R.W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, the occasion being the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin. - W. J. P.
FREEMASON AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATIO N OF T HE RIGHT WORSHIPFUL GRAND LO DGE OF F R EE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNSYLVANIA
VOLUME II
DECEMBER • 1955
NUMBER 4
A Message from Our Grand Master HIS IS THE last time I shall address you through this medium as Grand Master. The next issue of the Pennsylvania Freemason will be printed after the election and installation of the new Grand Mas ter. I t has been my purpose during my term of office to keep you currently advised on all" matters pertaining to the Grand Lodge and to share with you, so far as possible, the knowledge and information which came to the attention of the Grand Master, and also to keep you informed of the activities of Grand Lodge. The followi ng outlines will brief you on the activities of Grand Lodge since the last issue of the Pennsylvania Freemason. Friday, October 14, I9SS, your Grand Master, accompanied by the Right Worshipful Grand Secretary, Brother George A. Avery, visited the Grand Lodge of Alberta A.F. and A.M., Canada. The Special Communication was held in Edmonton, Alberta, for the purpose of celebrating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Alberta. Masons from all parts of Canada, and a personal representative of the Grand Lodge of England, attended the Golden Anniversary Celebration. Saturday, October 22, I9SS, at 2:30 P.M., before a distinguished group of Masonic officials and a large crowd of citizens of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, the Grand Lodge officers laid the corners tone for the new Masonic Temple of Boyertown, Pennsylvania. It is interesting to note that Boyertown Lodge No. 741 is less than thirty years old, with a membership of approximately 200, is in a position to build a new, modern and useful Masonic Temple. Saturday, November S, 19SS, Un ion Lodge No. 334, Bradford, Pennsylvania acted as host for the Masons of the twenty-second Masonic District of P ennsylvania, at which time the Gra nd Master and the Grand Lodge Officers, formally presented Brother Joseph W . Lincoln , a member of Union Lodge No . 334, as the newly appointed Distri ct Deputy Grand Master for the twenty-second Masonic Dis trict. Brother Ernest Gurdon Potter the former Distri ct Deputy Grand Master, who resigned due to health , was inves ted with the apron and t itle of Past District Deputy Grand Master, having served as a District Deputy for more than ten years. Thursday, November 17, I9SS, the Elective and Appointed Grand Lodge Officers, accompanied by all the living Past Grand Masters, dedicated the new Scottish Rite Cathedral and Masonic Temple, located at Third and Wiconisco Streets, Harrisburg, P ennsyl vania. Masonic dignitaries from half of the states in the nation attended the dedication ceremonies, including Brother George E. Bushnell, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Northern Masoni c Jurisdiction, Brother Luther G. Smith, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Sou thern Masonic Jurisdic tion, and Brother Clarence McC. Pitts, P ast Sovereign
T
Grand Commander of Canada. Following the afternoon ritualistic exercises, a dedicatory dinner was served in Zembo Mosque to more than 3800 Masons. Saturday, November 26, 19SS, the Grand Lodge Officers laid the cornerstone for the new Recreation Building and Lodge Hall at the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown, P ennsylvania. The Recrea tion Building will provide a modern auditorium with a seating capacity of SOO and a stage fu lly equipped to present cinemascope motion pictures and live shows. The Masonic Temple is of Gothic Design with a Lodge Hall to accommodate 2SO, also other necessary rooms and a dining hall. I am happy to report the building program at the Masonic Homes is progressing according to schedule. The Util ity Tunnel to house all hea ting pipes, returns, domestic hot water and electric cables is 98% completed. The new wing, alterations and extension to the Philadelphia Freemasons Memorial Hospital is somewhat behind the schedule as of November IS, 19SS, however, it is the hope of the contractor to speed up the work if the weather permits. It is the plan of the Committee to be able to transfer the hospital guests to the new wing by February 1S, 19S6, in order that the alterations and extensions to the present hospital can be completed and the entire project dedicated by August I , 19S6. The contractor for the Recreation Building and Lodge Hall project expects steel to be delivered to the site by April I S, 19S6. All concerned feel this building will be ready for dedication by the early part of 19S7. Due to the generosity of the Masons of Pennsylvania we will again be able to prov ide a nice Holiday Season for our guests at the Masonic Homes. Lit ~le do we realize, unless we are fortunate enough to visit the Homes during the Christmas Season, just what joy and cheer these personal gifts, enter tainment and different routine furn ished at this time each year, mean to our Brethren, their wives, widows and orphaned children. I know whatever effort we put forth for these, our Guests, meets with the approval and commendation of Him whose birth we cherish and celebra te on Christmas Day. I shall be looking forward to meeting and greeting the Masons of this Commonwealth at the December Qua rterly and Annual Grand Communications. To one and all my very best wishes for the Merries t Christmas ever, and a most happy and prosperous New Year.
R ALPH M. LEHR, Grand Master