What does the term "Lewis" or "Louis" mean in English Freemasonry
Steven Crane
Lewis or Louis means. Our Sr. Warden was visiting England and was asked if he
was a Lewis. When he did not know what to answer the brother in England
pronounced him to be a Lewis, and in the lodge he went.
Bruce Bradigan
I learned from earlier posts that a "Lewis" is a Mason who is the son of
a Mason. Supposedly gets special recognition for following in his
father's footsteps.
Bruce Bradigan
Junior Warden
Clinton-Hampton #347
Westmoreland NY
Mike Hughes
> Can anybody out there enlighten me with an understanding of what the term
> Lewis or Louis means. Our Sr. Warden was visiting England and was asked if he
> was a Lewis. When he did not know what to answer the brother in England
> pronounced him to be a Lewis, and in the lodge he went.
The word Lewis is explained in a presentation of an explanation of the
1st tracing board. I have sent a reply bt direct e-mail to the
original poster.
Anyone else wishing to see an explanation please send me private e-mail
stating your lodge No and jusisdiction. I'm not being secretive - it's
just that many lodges in the UK present this lecture and I don't want
to spoil the pleasure for any new members.
FWIW I can quote one exaple of this. Dennis Freshwater who has lurked
here and in alt.freemasonry has been proposed into a lodge in Portsmouth
and *should* be joining the lodge on 28th May 1996. I have been given
the honour and priviledge of explaining the 1st tracing board at his
initiation - I don't want to spoil it for him !!
BTW anyone in the Portsmouth (UK) area on 28th May want to come along and
see the ceremony - phone me.
--
Mike Hughes ... who also provides a management consultancy service
Print Direct ... the business printers
PO Box 109 Fareham, Hampshire, England. PO15 5JU
Tel 01705 833838 Fax 01705 872288 Intl:+44 1705 833838 +44 1705 872288
David L Sandall
contrivance for raising heavy blocks of stone.
However, there seems to be some evidence that in masonic terms,
'Lewis' is derived from the French 'Louveteau' meaning son of she-
wolf (Louve is she-wolf) and was apparently a French masonic term in
usage in the 1740's.
Although this may make me look as if I know what I am talking
about-I don't. Thanks to a friend for supplying the above info.
Dave Sandall
Dorset, UK
'Oh Darzet is bootiful wherever you roam, and the rain in the
zummer-time makes the Wurzel Grass grow'
Paul Sanderson
wrote:
>rose...@netw.com (Steven Crane) wrote:
>>Can anybody out there enlighten me with an understanding of what the term
>>Lewis or Louis means. Our Sr. Warden was visiting England and was asked if he
>>was a Lewis. When he did not know what to answer the brother in England
>>pronounced him to be a Lewis, and in the lodge he went.
>>
>
>I learned from earlier posts that a "Lewis" is a Mason who is the son of
>a Mason. Supposedly gets special recognition for following in his
>father's footsteps.
>
>Bruce Bradigan
>Junior Warden
>Clinton-Hampton #347
>Westmoreland NY
>
>
Chuck Platter wrote in reply:
>>A Lewis is the son of a mason who is allowed to join a lodge before he is
>>21. I beleive they can join at age 18.
Forgive me if I disagree please. I have looked in the English Book of
Constitutions, and I do not believe that a Lewis (or any man) can be
initiated before the age of 21 years. Our ceremony specifically asks
if the candidate is "of the full age of 21 years", we do not vary this
for a Lewis. I initiated a Lewis during my year in the Chair.
I fully agree that a Lewis is the son of a Mason, his priveledge is to
be initiated before others who would otherwise qualify before him,
i.e. who have been balloted for before him. Not a very great
advantage these days, but still worth something in those lodges with a
waiting list.
BTW. I believe that the word originates in operative masonry.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary a Lewis is:
"An iron contrivance for raising heavy blocks of stone. Also called
lewisson. It consists of three pieces arranged so as to form a
dovetail, the outside pieces being fixed in a dovetail mortise by the
insertion of the middle piece. The three pieces are then connected
together by the pin of the clevis passing through them."
We often have a perfect ashlar placed on the desk of the Senoir
Warden, sometimes with a minature block and tackle to allow the stone
to be raised. The block and tackle is fastened to the stone by a
Lewis - three pieces of metal inserted into a hole in the stone, which
expand as a screw or bolt is tightened, and grip the sides of the
hole. The device in our Lodge room has the habit of falling to pieces
loudly as soon as the Senior Warden touches it during a lull in the
ceremony, with disturbing effects!
Any differences in the States?
----
Paul Sanderson
IPM Royal Brunswick Lodge, No 296
Ian Naylor
<Mi...@prntdrct.demon.co.uk> wrote:
Re: 1st deg TB:
>Anyone else wishing to see an explanation please send me private e-mail
>stating your lodge No and jusisdiction. I'm not being secretive - it's
>just that many lodges in the UK present this lecture and I don't want
>to spoil the pleasure for any new members.
Many!?!
I haven't heard it yet - in fact, when altering my ritual book to
match the current working (ours has the old penalties etc!!!), even
the DoC wasn't sure about some of the changes in the 1st degree TB!
(I haven't been in the Craft long, but I have certainly been out and
about a bit!)
The 2nd TB gets "done to death up here!
>FWIW I can quote one exaple of this. Dennis Freshwater who has lurked
>here and in alt.freemasonry has been proposed into a lodge in Portsmouth
>and *should* be joining the lodge on 28th May 1996. I have been given
>the honour and priviledge of explaining the 1st tracing board at his
>initiation - I don't want to spoil it for him !!
Wish I could get there - it's a bit far for me I'm afraid!
Fraternal Regards [e-mail: ian.n...@zetnet.co.uk]
Ian Naylor
IG, St John's Lodge No 80, Province of Durham, UGLE
Mike Hall
> We often have a perfect ashlar placed on the desk of the Senoir
> Warden,<snipped>
>Any difference in the States?
Brother Paul --
Under the GL of California, neither ashlar nor the trestleboard
actually appear in the Lodge. In fact a proposal to have them represented
in picture form on a screen on the wall was defeated by the GL Convention.
Mike Hall MM Yosemite Lodge #99 Merced CA
Mike Hall Merced CA
=======================================================
Wise men speak because they have something to say.
Fools speak because they have to say something.
=======================================================
Roger Ingersoll
: >>A Lewis is the son of a mason who is allowed to join a lodge before he is
: Forgive me if I disagree please. I have looked in the English Book of
: Constitutions, and I do not believe that a Lewis (or any man) can be
: initiated before the age of 21 years. Our ceremony specifically asks
: if the candidate is "of the full age of 21 years", we do not vary this
: for a Lewis. I initiated a Lewis during my year in the Chair.
I have heard of a very few Grand Lodges that do allow a Lewis to be
initiated at 18 while the regular age is 21. Some Grand Lodges allow
members to be 18 as well.
Roger
--
| rog...@netcom.com
|\ Dallas, TX
8*<%%%%%%%%%|+>-===================================================-----
|/ Home of "Freemasonry on the Internet"
| http://www.chrysalis.org/masonry/
Jay D. Marksheid
"Louis" mean in English Freemasonry>, '
>> We often have a perfect ashlar placed on the desk of the Senoir >>
Warden,<snipped>
>>Any difference in the States?
>Brother Paul --
>Under the GL of California, neither ashlar nor the trestleboard
>actually appear in the Lodge. In fact a proposal to have them represented
>in picture form on a screen on the wall was defeated by the GL Convention.
>Mike Hall MM Yosemite Lodge #99 Merced CA
--
Brothers Paul and Mike
In New York the imperfect Ashlar sits on the steps in front of and to the
Masters right and the perfect Ashlar same place but to the Masters left.
In our Temple, there are three of each, one for each of the Lodges that
share this building.
Jay D. Marksheid
Charles Jenkins
>
> In article <2...@dlsandall.win-uk.net>
> dsan...@dlsandall.win-uk.net (David L Sandall) writes:
>
> > However, there seems to be some evidence that in masonic terms,
> > 'Lewis' is derived from the French 'Louveteau' meaning son of she-
> > wolf (Louve is she-wolf) and was apparently a French masonic term in
> > usage in the 1740's.
>
> Mason. No big bad she-wolves come into it...
> --
> Dr. Denis Constales - dc...@world.std.com - http://cage.rug.ac.be/~dc
I came upon this thread rather late, so my apologies if this question
has been answered already.
A Lewis in England or Scotland was the son of a Freemason, though the
term 'louffton', was used in the 18th century. In the same sense, the
French use 'louveteau'. It is commonly supposed that a Lewis was
entitled to be initiated at the age of 18.
I looked this up in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, which gives more detail
regarding the possible source and use of the term 'Lewis'. Should you
need further info, I'll be glad to help.
C. Jenkins
Daniel Fitch
<cjen...@e-tex.com> wrote:
>A Lewis in England or Scotland was the son of a Freemason, though the
>term 'louffton', was used in the 18th century. In the same sense, the
>French use 'louveteau'. It is commonly supposed that a Lewis was
>entitled to be initiated at the age of 18.
>
>I looked this up in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, which gives more detail
>regarding the possible source and use of the term 'Lewis'. Should you
>need further info, I'll be glad to help.
>
>C. Jenkins
>
For what it's worth... From one of the Masonic Education evenings at
our lodge (Merritt Island #353, FL) I recall hearing that a Lewis was
indeed the son of a Mason; reportedly from an early English term for
the pully and halyard used to lift bales of hay into the loft. The
Lewis, then, was the son who assisted the master in the heavy chores,
and the next most probable entered apprentice of the family. I
believe they enjoyed a certain pre-acceptance into the fraternity,
much like being a DeMolay - readily initiated when an adult.
Fraternally,
Dan Fitch, SD, MI#353
M D Pinfield
You wrote
> I have heard of a very few Grand Lodges that do allow a Lewis
> to be initiated at 18 while the regular age is 21. Some Grand
> Lodges allow members to be 18 as well.
Yes, some do. The Grand Lodge of Scotland permit Lewises only to be
initiated at 18 years old, but I am personally unaware of the others.
Sincerely & Fraternally
Mike Pinfield
MM(SC & GLSA), Mark(EC&SC), RAM(EC), RA & Cryptic(SC), OSM(EC)
James Gregory
Pinfield") wrote:
> Yes, some do. The Grand Lodge of Scotland permit Lewises only to be
> initiated at 18 years old, but I am personally unaware of the others.
>
The Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan has recently (within the last 2 or 3
years) permited anyone 18 years old and over to be initiated. I know this
as I was raised to the 3rd degree before my 21st birthday
Fraternaly
James Gregory
Kinistino Lodge #1
Prince Albert, Sk.
M D Pinfield
> 2 or 3 years) permited anyone 18 years old and over to be
> initiated. I know this as I was raised to the 3rd degree
> before my 21st birthday
FG, Brother James
Thank you for that. As I said, I know that there aren't that many. May I
also wish you continued enjoyment in your Masonic career. My _only_
regret is that I did not take the opportunity earlier in my life
(initiated at 42!).
rda...@enterprise.net
>A Lewis in England or Scotland was the son of a Freemason, though the
>term 'louffton', was used in the 18th century. In the same sense, the
>French use 'louveteau'. It is commonly supposed that a Lewis was
>entitled to be initiated at the age of 18.
>I looked this up in Coil's Masonic Encyclopedia, which gives more detail
>regarding the possible source and use of the term 'Lewis'. Should you
>need further info, I'll be glad to help.
>C. Jenkins
Now this is rather strange, I am a Master Mason of a number of years
standing and my son wishing to join was not able to do so until he was
of the full age of 21. This view of English Masonic practice may not
be correct in every detail. I would welcome comments form Brothers in
other parts of the world.
Ewen Bishop
rda...@enterprise.net wrote:
>Now this is rather strange, I am a Master Mason of a number of years
>standing and my son wishing to join was not able to do so until he was
>of the full age of 21. This view of English Masonic practice may not
>be correct in every detail. I would welcome comments form Brothers in
>other parts of the world.
In Australia, or at least under the constitution of the UGL of New
South Wales, a Lewis is the son of a Mason, and he may be initiated
from the age of 18. Is this the same elsewhere?
ciao
Ewen Bishop
"If I had a dollar
for every time I had a dollar,
I'd have twice as many dollars."
Thoralf Granerżd
Some years ago I read a book on the european cathedral builders - and I
mean that lewis originally meant the last, closing stone that thay
slipped into place to make the "rounded" roof or door-way stand up. This
where done in a very sophisticated way - and was one of the big secrets
in "the free masons work" at the "bauhütten".
Later this became the name put on the masons son. From here everyone can
analyse why.
thoralf
Ryan B Bjorklund
On 11 May 1996, Thoralf Graner=BFd wrote:
> Some years ago I read a book on the european cathedral builders - and I=
=20
> mean that lewis originally meant the last, closing stone that thay=20
> slipped into place to make the "rounded" roof or door-way stand up. This=
=20
> where done in a very sophisticated way - and was one of the big secrets=
=20
> in "the free masons work" at the "bauh=FCtten".
> Later this became the name put on the masons son. From here everyone can=
=20
> analyse why.
>=20
> thoralf
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
Hi a Lewis is a son of a Mason.Thats all a Lewis means.
Ryan Bjorklund
#25 Ionic
Inner Guard
hint...@euronet.nl
"Thoralf Granerżd" <tho...@sn.no> wrote:
>Some years ago I read a book on the european cathedral builders - and I
>mean that lewis originally meant the last, closing stone that thay
>slipped into place to make the "rounded" roof or door-way stand up. This
>where done in a very sophisticated way - and was one of the big secrets
>in "the free masons work" at the "bauhütten".
>Later this became the name put on the masons son. From here everyone can
>analyse why.
>thoralf
Dear Sir,
In my opinion the Lewis is not the stone being hoisted to close an
arch, but the tool used to make a stone hoistable. It consists of
three metal parts which close together in the form of a wedge, locked
by a bolt and a ring. The outer plates, parts are slid into an opening
in the top of the stone, followed by the center part pushing both out,
so maintaining pressure on the side, so, as to have a 'handle' to put
the stone in it's place.
lanze
In article <4mp8ic$n...@world.net>, Ewen Bishop <bis...@www.nsw.gov.au>
writes
In United Grand Lodge of England, the privileges of a Lewis are
restricted to that of being entitled by custom - not rule - to
initiation ahead of any other candidate at that time under
consideration. He must still wait until reaching the age of 21, unless
granted special dispensation of the GM, PGM or DGM.
Under Grand Lodge of Scotland, a Lewis may, however, be initiated at 18
years of age and some lodges may also grant reduced fees.
--
D.W. Robinson, MM., PM., ADC.,
St. Beuno Lodge #6733
UGLoE.
Thoralf Granerżd
As I said, it was some years ago. Of course you are completely right. My
point was that the word didn't just pop up - and suddenly meant a son.
It has it's origins in the one of the historical origins of freemasonry.
Thank you!
thoralf
ALEXANDER SPERLING
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