Most Worshipful Brother
Benjamin Franklin
Brother Steve Fetherman
Gulf Beach Lodge No. 291
In the Beautiful City of Madeira Beach, Florida
February 2015
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Interpretation Disclaimer
As not to offend any of the Brethren's Sensitivities,
the following Disclaimer is offered:
This is the Presenter's Interpretation on Benjamin
Franklin and neither represents the views,
opinions, policies, or official positions of Gulf
Beach Lodge No. 291, the Grand Lodge of Florida
or any other Masonic Institution.
It is the summation of the academic and historical
research and analysis of the presenter.
Brother Benjamin Franklin
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Benjamin Franklin was a World Renowned Polymath* in his own Time
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Printer
Intellect
Newspaper Man
Leading Author
Librarian
Politician
Postmaster
Scientist
Inventor
Philosopher
Civic Activist
Statesman
Diplomat
American Patriot and Founding Father
Master Mason, Worshipful Master, and Grand Master
*Polymath is a person of exceptional talent in more than one professional field or career…
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Early Life - Boston
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17 January 1706 Benjamin Franklin was born in a house on Milk Street
One of Ten Children born to Joshua and Abiah Franklin
Received part of his education at Boston Latin School (HS)
His Father ran short of money, he was removed from Boston Latin, and
he was self taught from age nine
His Mother wanted him to go into the Clergy, but Benjamin had other
ideas
At Age 12 he became an Apprentice Printer to his older brother James
In the next three years he would become a master printer and columnist
for James’ newspaper – The Boston Courant
The Boston Courant was the first independent newspaper in the Colonies
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Early Life - Boston
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At the age of 15 he adopted the pseudonym of “Mrs. Silence Dogood,” a
middle-aged widow and wrote a series of letters to his brother’s newspaper
“Mrs. Silence Dogood” would make social, political, and common sense
observations on the governing and happenings in and around Boston.
“Mrs. Silence Dogood” became the most popular column and the talk of the
town in Boston, very popular in other America Colonial cities, and helped
make The Boston Courant a success
1722 James was arrested for Sedition for publishing uncomplimentary
article about Massachusetts Governor Samuel Shute
With his brother James’ Arrest and at 16 Ben took over the Paper, shortly
there after Mrs. Dogood wrote:
“Without freedom of thought there can be no such thing as wisdom and no
such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech.”
Shute ordered Benjamin’s Arrested, he fled the Colony
Brother James was released from jail and Benjamin Franklin became a
fugitive
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Early Life - Philadelphia
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At the age of 17 he arrived in Philadelphia (1723)
He worked for a number of Printers as a typesetter
His Mrs. Silence Dogood articles made him new friends in Philadelphia
PA Governor Sir William Keith, a fan of Mrs. Dogood’s, convinced him to go
to London, buy his own printing equipment, and open is own printing shop
and newspaper
In 1726 Franklin returned to Philadelphia to open his print shop and
newspaper with partner Thomas Denham
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Printer
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Franklin’s first success was as a printer
Franklin became the Pennsylvania Assembly Recorder (Secretary) and with
this got his first series of printing jobs, printing the PA Assembly Records,
Minutes, Laws, Edicts, Stamps, and Currency
He and his partner Thomas Denham forged a successful business
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Newspaperman
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With his printing partner’s death in 1728,
Franklin focused on the printing business &
started the Philadelphia Gazette.
The Philadelphia Gazette became the New
York Times of his day, with readers in every
colony and Europe
1731 Franklin set up the first woman printer
in America. The widow of his partner of the
Charleston Gazette who he maintained a
partnership with for 30 years until her son
sold business in 1761
In 1732, Franklin started the first German
language Newspaper in Philadelphia - Die
Philadelphische Zeitung
Franklin was the William Randolph Hurst of
his day, he had newspaper and printing
partners from Boston to Barbados.
By the age of 42, 1748, he sold off his
Newspaper Empire to devote more time to
his research and academic endeavors.
He retained a share of the profits from each
of these printing & newspaper enterprises to
fund the rest of his life
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Leading Author
In 1732, Franklin began to publish Poor Richard’s
Almanack
Again written under a pseudonym Richard
Saunders and it was no secret that Franklin was the
author
Poor Richard’s Almanack became the most popular
publication in the American Colonies for more than
26 years until he stopped publication in 1758
Famous among it’s content was “Poor Richard’s
Proverbs:”
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A penny saved is a penny earned
Fish and house guests stink in three days
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
Poor Richard’s had a circulation of 10,000 at it’s
peak when America had a population of ~1.2
million people.
In modern 21st century numbers that would be a
circulation 3 million and would out sell every
modern magazine circulation
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Leading Author
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1741, Franklin began publishing The General
Magazine and Historical Chronicle For All The
British Plantations in America, a monthly
magazine on American agriculture
His subscribers included Thomas Jefferson,
George Washington, Daniel Custis…
1758, Franklin began writing “Father
Abraham’s Sermons” that turned out to be his
Autobiography
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Intellect
 Franklin developed a decision making check list or process for a
friend Joseph Priestly, the technique today is called the “Pro and
Con List”
 Franklin was an avid Chess player, by 1733 at the age of 27 he was
among the notable Chess Players in the Colonies.
 Chess players traveled from all over the colonies, French and British
Canada, and the Caribbean to sit in Tun Tavern and play chess with
Franklin
 In 1786, he published an essay in the world’s leading chess journal
Columbian – “The Morals of Chess.” This was circulated world
wide.
 In 1999, Franklin was inducted into the US Chess Hall of Fame
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Librarian
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In 1727, at the age of 21, Franklin started “Junto” a group of like minded young men with
an interest in Books
Books, especially good books, were rare in Colonial America, many wealthy people had
small personal libraries, middle class and poor people did not have ready access to books
of any kind as they were rare and expensive in the Colonial America.
There were no Public Libraries
Junto turned into a private library, books being supplied by the members, who checked
out books from the members’ collection
1732, Franklin started The Library Company of Philadelphia and he hired the America’s
first Librarian – Louis Timothee
For the first years the books were kept in Timothee’s home
1739 the Junto collection was moved to the 2nd Floor of Pennsylvania State House – now
called Independence Hall
The Library Company of Philadelphia grew into the first Public Library, Franklin and his
fellow Junto Members funded and operated this first public library without governmental
support
Today the Junto Collection consists of:
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A half million rare books & pamphlets
150,000 manuscripts
75,000 graphic illustrations
The Library Company of Philadelphia became the model Franklin and Washington would
later use to establish the Public Library System in the United States
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Inventor
 Franklin was a prodigious Inventor:
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Lightning Rod from his work in electricity
Glass Armorica, musical instrument of 13
spinning crystal bowls played with wet
finger tips
Bifocal Glasses
Flexible Urinary Catheter
Franklin Stove, the standard in colonial
home and business heating systems
1736, as a printer of Pennsylvania
currency he developed and printed a
public pamphlet to help indentify forged
currency and those techniques to water
and ink mark paper currency
Franklin never filed a patent
He shared the plans with anyone
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Scientist
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Franklin advanced a number of Sciences:
 Demography – Observations on the Increase of Mankind (1755) is still used
as reference today
 Ocean Currents - as Post Master, Franklin researched the means to speed up
Atlantic mail delivery. Interviewing Nantucket whaling captains he learned
of the current running south to north along the Atlantic seaboard then east
across the Atlantic. Franklin charted this information, named the current
Gulf Stream, and sped up mail delivery
 Electricity
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His research lead to discovery of Positive and Negative charge, and concept of
holding a charge in a capacitance device.
Franklin’s work electrical conductivity has been cited by Michael Faraday as the
basis of his work
Worked to develop techniques for refrigeration
Naval Architecture and Oceanography
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Catamaran Hull designs
Water tight compartments
Sea Anchors
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Philosopher
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In 1726, at the age of 20 Franklin developed his Thirteen Virtues:
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Temperance
Silence
Order
Resolution
Frugality
Industry
Sincerity
Justice
Moderation
Cleanliness
Tranquility
Chastity
Humility
Franklin was an advocate of republicanism that emphasized the new
republic could not survive without virtuous people
Virtue for republicans like Washington and Franklin came from “divine
providence,” without Godly virtues the republic would not survive
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin The Politician
 1724 he was appointed as Recorder or Secretary of the Pennsylvania
Assembly
 1748 he was elected a Philadelphia City Councilmen
 1751 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly
 Between 1757 and 1775 Franklin was the Pennsylvania Assembly’s
representative in England protesting the Stamp and Tax Acts
 18 October 1785 Franklin is elected as the President of Pennsylvania,
i.e., the State Governor, he served one term and stepped down on 5
November 1788 at the age of 82
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin The Statesman and Diplomat
 Following the French and Indian War the British Parliament passed
a series of taxes extremely unpopular in the colonies, Franklin spent
many months in England and Europe working to over turn these
taxes
 Franklin self taught himself French, Spanish, and Dutch
 Between 1776 and 1785 Franklin held the post of United States
Ambassador to France
 1778 Franklin secured the alliance between France and the United
States that turned the ride of events during the American Revolution
 Franklin argued the case of Religious Freedom to the King Louis
XVI Courts and Philosophers resulting in the Edict of Versailles
returning rights and citizenship to all non-Catholics
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin The Postmaster
 1753 the British Prime Minster appointed him Post Master General
of North America
 As Post Master of the American Colonies Franklin made the mail so
efficient a letter in his day traveled from Philadelphia to Boston
faster than it does today.
 Franklin innovated the over seas mail to Europe and Britain
reducing delivery times by 50%
 Franklin held this Post until 26 July 1775
 26 July 1775, the Second Continental Congress establishes the
United Postal Service & names Franklin the first Post Master
General of the United States
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Academic – the Great Believer in Self Improvement
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1743 he started The Academy, Charity School, and College of Philadelphia
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The College of Philadelphia was the first non-Religious College in America
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The College of Philadelphia was the first “Public University” in America
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The Academy was the first public school and is the basis for our public
education system today
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The Academy was the first public school in the world – “A Liberal Education.”
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The Charity School would become the first free public primary and secondary
school for poor children in America
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Between 1750 and 1753 Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Dr Samuel Johnston, and Dr
William Smith developed a new structure for colleges focused on professions.
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Johnson went on to found King’s College (Columbia University) in New York for
law and medicine
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Franklin and Smith established The College Philadelphia for other professional
disciplines.
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Academic – the Great Believer in Self Improvement
 The College of Philadelphia would become the University of
Pennsylvania
 “The College” Franklin and Smith began educated many professionals in
the Colonies
 One third of the men who sat in the Continental Congress and
contributed to the Declaration of Impendence were students at “The
College” and “The Academy” at one time or another
 Franklin was awarded honorary Doctorate Degrees from Oxford,
Cambridge, Harvard, and Yale Universities in the disciplines of
Medicine, Science, and Philosophy
 For the Remainder of his life many people referred to him as “Dr.
Franklin.”
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin The Civic Activist
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In 1736, Franklin started the Union Fire Company, the first
volunteer fire fighting company in America
1747 he founded the American Philosophical Society to assist fellow
inventors and scientists to discuss and further their ideas
1749 he became a Justice of the Peace
1756, during the French and Indian War Franklin organized the
Philadelphia Militia – The Associated Regiments of Philadelphia
consisting of the 103rd Artillery and 111th Infantry Regiments of the
Royal Continental Army.
He was elected Commander and declined the command because of
his age.
He recruited at Tun’s Tavern the home of his Masonic Lodge – St.
John’s Lodge and the birth place of the Marine Corps
1756 Franklin he became a prominent member of the Society for the
Encouragement of the Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce which
gave businessmen a venue to discuss their profession
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin The Medical Doctor
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1751 he helped establish the Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia
the first hospital in America
Franklin worked on and invented multiple medical procedures and
apparatus – flexible catheter, improved stethoscope
Many of the Doctors for this Hospital were educated by his friend Dr
Samuel Johnston at King’s College in New York City
He developed and made bifocal glasses
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father
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After returning from his first mission to England in 1762 Franklin
worked in support of the Pontiac Rebellion in Western Pennsylvania
In May 1775, shortly after returning from his second mission to
England Franklin was elected as one of the three PA Representatives
to the Continental Congress
The same month Franklin was critical in the appointment of George
Washington as Commanding General of the Continental Army
As a member of the Continental Congress Maritime Committee:
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He participates in the drafting the resolution that establishes “Two
Battalions of Continental Marines to be formed and manned for the
current conflict…” He helps select two of his Lodge Brothers to recruit
these battalions of Marines, one is Samuel Nicholas the first Marine
Corps Commandant. The recruiting takes place at the old St John’s
Masonic Lodge – Tun’s Tavern
He writes the policy on “Privateers”
He participates in the establishment of the Continental Navy
He supports the commissioning of John Paul Jones, American Naval
hero and Father of the US Navy
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father
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June 1776 Franklin, with John Adams &
Thomas Jefferson, is appointed to “The
Committee of Five” to write the Declaration
of Independence
Signing the Declaration of Independence
right after John Hancock, Franklin spoke
the immortal words “Yes, we must, indeed,
all hang together, or most assuredly we shall
all hang separately.“
After returning from France in 1785
Franklin is recognized as an important
champion of American Independence, 2nd
only to Washington
If not for George Washington, Benjamin
Franklin would have been our First
President
If not for his death before the end
Washington’s 2nd Term, Franklin would
have been President
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Founding Father
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1787 Franklin is appointed to the Constitutional Convention where he
vehemently argues for the freedom of black slaves, free speech, and religious
Freedom
He strongly advocates with James Madison, the author of the Bill of Rights, to
includes these Rights in his document
During Washington Presidency he works with the POTUS to establish our public
education system and funds for public libraries modeled after his earlier work
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Franklin the Mason
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1730 Franklin became a member of Philadelphia’s Saint John’s Lodge
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Meetings were held on the 2nd Floor of Tun’s Tavern, where Junto Society
met and birth place of the United States Marine Corps, later meeting at
Independence Hall
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Freemasonry provided Franklin with a vast array of trustworthy “Brothers”
to advance his ideas, form business partnerships, develop a revolution, and
establish life long friendships
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Franklin’s famous Masonic Associates:
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George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Voltaire
James Madison
Franklin helps establish the American
Masonic values of a liberal education
prominent in the Fellowcraft Degree
Brother Benjamin Franklin
Masonic Record of Brother Benjamin Franklin
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Brother Franklin Masonic Record covers over sixty years of service to the Craft
February 1730 Initiated Entered Apprentice at St John’s Lodge Philadelphia
August 1730 Passed to Fellow Craft at St John’s Lodge Philadelphia
December 1730 Raised to Master Mason at St John’s Lodge Philadelphia
December 1731 elected Worshipful Master
June 1932 Writes St John’s Lodge By-Laws
June 24 1732 Elected Junior Grand Warden Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
June 24 1734 Elected Grand Master of Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
1734 Lays cornerstone of new St John’s Lodge Building – Independence Hall
1735 St John’s Lodge moves from Tun Tavern to Independence Hall
1735 – 1738 Serves as Secretary of St John’s Lodge
June 10 1749 Appointed Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania
23 March 1750 Deposed as Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania
23 March 1750 Appointed Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania
12 March 1752 Appointed as Chairman of Committee to build Grand Lodge
building of Pennsylvania
Brother Benjamin Franklin
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October 25 1752 Dedicates the Tun Tavern Lodge Philadelphia
24 June 1755 Participates in the Dedication of the Grand Lodge building of
Pennsylvania. First Masonic building in America
24 June 1755 Elected as Grand Master of Pennsylvania, serves until June
1760
1776 Affiliates with Lodge of the Nine Sisters or Muses, Grand Lodge of
France
1777 Balloted as member of Lodge of the Nine Sisters
March 7 1778 Assisted in the Initiation of Voltaire at Lodge of the Nine
Sisters
November 28 1778 Presides over Masonic Lodge of Sorrow for Voltaire
January 1782 Elected Worshipful Master of Lodge of the Nine Sisters
July 7 1782 Elected Member of the Lodge of De Saint Jean De Jerusalem
April 24 1785 Elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge of De Saint Jean De
Jerusalem
April 19 1790 Masonic Lodge of Sorrow for Brother Benjamin Franklin
Brother Benjamin Franklin
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What Franklin loved most
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Good Books
Good company
Good Friends
Good Masonic Brothers
Good Drink and Dinner
A Good Conversation with Men of Similar Interests – Junto and
Societies
Good Female Companion, active in his late 70’s
His life’s greatest failure, his relationships with his family – wife and
son
Brother Benjamin Franklin
In Conclusion:
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Benjamin Franklin was the pure American Genius
He is the grand example of the American Entrepreneurial Spirit and
Idea
He typified through hard work, self improvement, dedication, and self
application “The American Dream”
He was willing to risk everything and his life for these principles and
ideas – “…we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we
shall all hang separately.“
His great successes are a collection of life time successes that any Man
would be Proud to Possess One
Of all the Founding Fathers he is probably the only one who could and
would readily adapt to and be accepted by 21st century America
Benjamin Franklin is Perfect Example of the Great American Mason
Questions?