at first among young and single men only, that each person to be initiated should declare his assent to my creed, and should have exercised himself with the thirteen weeks’ practice of the virtues, that the existence of the society should be kept a secret until it was become considerable, that the members should engage to assist one another’s interests, business, and advancement in life, and that we should be called “The Society of the Free and Easy,” as being free from the dominion of vice and of debt.  I am still of opinion that it was a practicable scheme.

In 1732 I first published my Almanack, commonly called “Poor Richard’s Almanack,” and continued it for about twenty-five years.  It had a great circulation, and I considered it a proper vehicle for conveying instruction among the common people.  Thus, I assembled the proverbs containing the wisdom of many ages and nations into a discourse prefixed to the Almanack of 1757, as the harangue of a wise old man to the people attending an auction.  I considered my newspaper also as a means of instruction, and published in it extracts from moral writers and little pieces of my own, in the form sometimes of a Socratic dialogue, tending to prove the advantages of virtue.

I had begun in 1733 to study languages.  I made myself master of French so as to be able to read books with ease, and then Italian, and later Spanish.  Having an acquaintance with these, I found, on looking over a Latin Testament, that I understood much of that language, which encouraged me to study it with success.

Our secret club, the Junto, had turned out to be so useful that I now set every member of it to form each of them a subordinate club, with the same rules, but without informing the new clubs of their connection with the Junto.  The advantages proposed were, the improvement of so many young citizens; our better acquaintance with the general sentiments of the inhabitants on any occasion, as the Junto member was to report to the Junto what passed in his separate club; the promotion of our particular interests in business by more extensive recommendation; and the increase of our influence in public affairs.  Five or six clubs were completed, and answered our views of influencing public opinion on particular occasions.

IV.—­Public Life

My first promotion was my being chosen, in 1736, clerk of the General Assembly.  In the following year I received the commission of postmaster at Philadelphia, and found it of great advantage.  I now began to turn my thoughts a little to public affairs, beginning, however, with small matters, and preparing the way for my reforms through the Junto and subordinate clubs.  Thus I reformed the city watch, and established a company for the extinguishing of fires.  In 1739 the Rev. Mr. Whitefield arrived among us and preached to enormous audiences throughout the colonies.  I knew him intimately, being employed in printing his sermons and journals; he used sometimes to pray for my conversion, but never had the satisfaction of believing that his prayers were heard.  Our friendship lasted till his death.