Freemasonry had its critics in America, just as it did in Britain. The strictest Lutheran sects did not like the tolerant ideas of deism at all. They criticized the Freemasons for their secrecy. Soon after the Philadelphia lodge was founded, it was involved in a very unfortunate scandal, concerning a foolish apothecary, burning alcohol, and a big mistake made by one of the greatest thinkers and Founding Fathers recognized internationally.
An apothecary in Philadelphia, Evan Jones, had an apprentice, Daniel Rees, who was eager to learn the secrets of the mason craft. One night he and his other apprentices decided to play a joke on Rees. They dressed up in elaborate devil costumes and told him he had to swear allegiance to the devil to join the Freemasons, which in reality wasn't anything like the true initiation ceremony. It was meant to be just a joke. Jones then dropped some burning brandy on him, was caused severe infections that Rees died of some days later. Ooops.
The well known Freemason and thinker, Ben Franklin, had some terrible connections to the crime. When Jones told him of the trick, he actually thought it would be a good joke. He later regretted this of course. Franklin frantically attempted to contact Rees when he decided that the joke was in bad taste, but he obviously failed in doing so. Franklin would give evidence at Jones’ trial against him on charges of manslaughter. He then published a statement denying that Jones and the others were actually Freemasons and was a strong critic of their horrible behavior.
Freemasonry survived and by the 1940s was founded firmly in Philadelphia. He would be a very active and enthusiastic mason. In 1747 he was Provincial Grand Master of Pennsylvania (he was in charge of all the lodges in the colony and reported only to the English Grand Lodge). For sixteen years he was in charge of Philadelphia’s post office from 1737-1753. Through all those years there is no doubt the unlucky incident weighed on Franklin’s mind.
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And I forgot to mention happy St. Andrew's Day to all the Brits and Scots out there! It's tradition in Scotland to wear blue and white "x"s on their shirt, which represent the cross (uncannily known as St. Andrew's cross) the Romans crucified St. Andrew on. =)
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