parents had early given me religious impressions, and brought me through my childhood piously in the Dissenting way.1 But I was scarce fifteen, when, after doubting by turns, of several points, as I found them disputed in the different books I read, I began to doubt of Revelation itself. Some books against Deism 2 fell into my hands; they were said to be the substance of sermons preached at Boyle's Lectures. It happened that they wrought an effect on me quite contrary to what was intended by them; for the arguments of the Deists, which were quoted to be refuted, appeared to me much stronger than the refutations; in short, I soon became a thorough Deist. My arguments perverted some others, particularly Collins and Ralph; but, each of them having afterwards wronged me greatly without the least compunction, and recollecting Keith's conduct towards me (who was another freethinker), and my own towards Vernon and Miss Read, which at times gave me great trouble, I began to suspect that this doctrine, though it might be true, was not very useful. My London pamphlet [printed in 1725], which had for its motto these lines of Dryden ;3 "Whatever is, is right. Though purblind man Sees but a part o' the chain, the nearest link: and from the attributes of God, his infinite wisdom, good 1 Dissenting way: those who separated from the Church of England and established a different worship were called Dissenters. 2 Deism: acknowledges the existence of God, but denies revealed religion. 3 This varies considerably from the original see Dryden's Edipus, III. 1. Franklin probably quoted from memory. 4 Purblind: here, dim or near-sighted. ness and power, concluded that nothing could possibly be wrong in the world, and that vice and virtue were empty distinctions, no such things existing, appeared now not so clever1 a performance as I once thought it; and I doubted whether some error had not insinuated itself unperceived into my argument, so as to infect all that followed, as is common in metaphysical reasonings. I grew convinced that truth, sincerity, integrity in dealings between man and man are of the utmost importance to the felicity of life; and I formed written resolutions, which still remain in my journal book, to practice them ever while I lived. Revelation had indeed no weight with me as such; but I entertained an opinion that, though certain actions might not be bad because they were forbidden by it, or good because it commanded them, yet probably those actions might be forbidden because they were bad for us, or commanded because they were beneficial to us, in their own natures, all the circumstances of things considered. And this persuasion, with the kind hand of Providence, or some guardian angel, or accidental favorable circumstances and situations, or all together, preserved me through this dangerous time of youth and the hazardous situations I was sometimes in among strangers, remote from the eye and advice of my father, without any willful gross immorality or injustice, that might have been expected from my want of religion. I say willful because the instances I have mentioned had something of necessity in them, from my youth, inexperience, and the knavery of others. I had therefore a tolerable character to begin the world with; I valued it properly, and determined to preserve it. 1 Clever: skillful. We had not been long returned to Philadelphia before the new types arrived from London. We settled with Keimer, and left him, by his consent, before he heard of it. We found a house to hire near the market and took it. To lessen the rent, which was then but twenty-four pounds1 a year, though I have since known it to let for seventy, we took in Thomas Godfrey, a glazier, and his family, who were to pay a considerable part of it to us, and we to board with them. We had scarce opened our letters and put our press in order, before George House, an acquaintance of mine, brought a countryman to us, whom he had met in the street inquiring for a printer. All our cash was now expended in the variety of particulars we had been obliged to procure, and this countryman's five shillings, being our first-fruits, and coming so seasonably, gave me more pleasure than any crown3 I have since earned; and the gratitude I felt toward House has made me often more ready, than perhaps I should otherwise have been, to assist young beginners. There are croakers in every country, always boding its ruin. Such a one then lived in Philadelphia; a person of note, an elderly man, with a wise look and a very grave manner of speaking; his name was Samuel Mickle. This gentleman, a stranger to me, stopped one day at my door, and asked me if I was the young man who had lately opened a new printing-house. Being answered in the affirmative, he said he was sorry for me, because it was an expensive undertaking, and the expense would be lost; for Philadelphia was a sinking place, the people already half 1 Twenty-four pounds: if in Pennsylvania currency, about $80. bankrupts, or near being so; all appearances to the contrary, such as new buildings and the rise of rents, being to his certain knowledge fallacious; for they were, in fact, among the things that would soon ruin us. And he gave me such a detail of misfortunes now existing, or that were soon to exist, that he left me half melancholy. Had I known him before I engaged in this business, probably I never should have done it. This man continued to live in this decaying place, and to declaim in the same strain, refusing for many years to buy a house there, because all was going to destruction; and at last I had the pleasure of seeing him give five times as much for one as he might have bought it for when he first began his croaking. § 5. Franklin establishes the Junto. I should have mentioned before, that, in the autumn of the preceding year, I had formed most of my ingenious acquaintance into a club of mutual improvement, which we called the JUNTO;1 we met on Friday evenings. The rules that I drew up required that every member, in his turn, should produce one or more queries on any point of Morals, Politics, or Natural Philosophy, to be discussed by the company; and once in three months produce and read an essay of his own writing, on any subject he pleased. Our debates were to be under the direction of a president, and to be conducted in the sincere spirit of inquiry after truth, without fondness for dispute, or desire of victory; 1 1 Junto: here, a meeting or society. It is not unlikely that the idea of the Junto was first suggested to Franklin by Cotton Mather's scheme for establishing "Reforming Societies" described in his "Essays to do Good." and, to prevent warmth, all expressions of positiveness in opinions, or direct contradiction, were after some time made contraband, and prohibited under small pecuniary penalties. On admission to the Club, the candidate was to stand up, and lay his hand on his breast and be asked these questions, viz. Ist. Have you any particular disrespect to any present member? Answer: I have not. 2d. Do you sincerely declare that you love mankind in general, of what profession or religion whatsoever? Ans. I do. 3d. Do you think any person ought to be harmed in his body, name, or goods, for mere speculative opinions, or his external way of worship? Ans. No. 4th. Do you love truth for truth's sake, and will you endeavor impartially to find and receive it yourself, and communicate it to others? Ans. Yes. [Here are a few of the inquiries put to members for the purpose of obtaining subjects for debate: Have you met with any thing in the author you last read remarkable or suitable to be communicated to the Junto, particularly in history, morality, poetry, physic, travels, mechanic arts, or other parts of knowledge? What new story have you lately heard, agreeable for telling in conversation? Hath any citizen in your knowledge failed in his business lately, and what have you heard of the cause? Have you lately heard of any citizen's thriving well, and by what means? Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate? |
