Words used in Freemasonry

Published by: smith 2010-03-15

What is a "lewis"?

Thank you for the five star rating and generous tip! --Bobbie7

Hi Stanzola ! Pietre-Stones Review of Freemasonry offers an informative description and a diagram of the Lewis. Excerpt: ?The Lewis is a device that enables an operative freemason to raise large stones to the required heights and set them in place with safety and precision.? ?This device that has been used by stonemasons and erectors for many centuries. It provides an anchorage in a stone, which enables lifting tackle to be attached to assist in the raising and lowering of stones that are too heavy or too awkward to e man-handled into position during transportation and erection.? You will find a detailed description of the Lewis, its history, the origin of the name and its symbolism here: http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/falclewis.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The Lewis in Freemasonry ?As a technical term in Operative Masonry, the lewis is an iron cramp, or clamp, which is inserted into a cavity prepared for that purpose in any large stone, so as to give attachment to a pulley and hook whereby the stone may be conveniently raised to any height and deposited in the proper position. The interlocking pieces use the mass of the stone the tighten their grip while permitting ease of insertion and removal. The contrivance was known to, and used by, the Romans.? ?Under the English Constitution the lewis appears on the Tracing Board of the Entered Apprentice where it is used as a symbol of strength.? ?Under the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free, and Accepted Masons of Scotland the Lewis has a further interpretation: the son of a Freemason, who is entitled to make application for initiation into the Scottish Craft at the age of eighteen, rather than the more usual twenty-one.? Fidelity Masonic Supplies http://www.fidelity-masonic.co.uk/2004/10/lewis-in-freemasonry.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- What s a Lewis? ?A Lewis is an instrument in operative masonry. It is a cramp iron which is inserted into a cavity prepared for that purpose in any large stone, so as to give attachment to a pulley and hook whereby the stone may be conveniently raised to any height and deposited in its proper position. The contrivance was known to the Romans, and several taken from old ruins are now in the Vatican. In addition, in the ruins of Whitby Abbey in England, which was founded by Oswy, King of Northumberland, in 685, large stones were discovered with the necessary excavation for the insertion of a lewis. The word is likely derived from the old French levis, any tool for lifting. The modern French call the instrument a louve. In the English system of Masonry, the lewis is found on the tracing board of the Entered Apprentice, where it is used as a symbol of strength, because, by its assistance, the operative mason is enabled to lift the heaviest stones with a comparatively trifling exertion of physical power. It has not been adopted as a symbol by American Freemasons, except in Pennsylvania, where it receives the English interpretation.? The Scottish Rite Journal: March 99 http://www.srmason-sj.org/council/journal/mar99/lewis.html Search terms used: ?the Lewis is? FREEMASONRY ://www.google.com/search?hl=es&rls=GGLD%2CGGLD%3A2005-18%2CGGLD%3Aen&q=%E2%80%9Cthe+Lewis+is%E2%80%9D++FREEMASONRY&btnG=B%C3%BAsqueda&lr= I hope this is helpful. Best Regards, Bobbie7

bobbie7-ga really hit it on the head, providing the operative, speculative (symbolic) meanings, a great link with diagrams, and even the note that in the USA, only Pennsylvania Masons continue to use the term. As a Past Mast of a Lodge under The Pennsylvania GL jurisdiction, I found this particularly helpful. Our definition simply reads: What is a Lewis? The son of a Mason who becomes a member of the Craft before he reaches lawful age. In England the term "Lewis" is a symbol of strength, a man's strength being represented in his son.