How Ben Franklin Gave St. John's Lodge A Little Push

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Todd E. Creason

Almost everyone knows that Benjamin Franklin was a Freemason, but not so many know the interesting way Benjamin Franklin came to join the Freemasons. 

Benjamin Franklin very much wanted to join St. John's Lodge, but at that time, you had to be invited to join the Freemasons.  He had a difficult time getting invited to join, and he hadn't been subtle in dropping hints that he'd like to join.  He valued many of the same values the Freemasons respected.  Much like Franklin, the Freemasons were dedicated to civic works and fellowship.  They held a nonsectarian policy about religious toleration which mirrored his own beliefs.  And without question, Franklin also saw membership as a step on the social ladder. 

In hopes of currying favor with the Freemasons, he began to publish small, favorable pieces about the Freemasons in his newspaper.  But that didn't work, so he tried a slightly different tactic.  In December of 1730, he published a long article in his paper claiming to have uncovered some of the secrets of the Freemasons.  He claimed one of these secrets was that many of the so-called “secrets” were actually hoaxes.  And he claimed he would begin publishing those "secrets" in a series. 

That got their attention!

Within a couple of weeks, Benjamin Franklin was initiated into the St. John’s Lodge.  Shortly after his initiation, his newspaper printed a retraction of the article and put in its place a glowing piece about the positive influences of Freemasonry.

Brother Benjamin Franklin became a Master Mason at St. John’s Lodge in Philadelphia in 1731. 

~TEC

originally published 12/16/13

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and continues to be a regular contributor. He is the author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is member of Homer Lodge No. 199, and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL). He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL). You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org