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Son Of A Mason
A Challenge To Grand Lodges
& All Masonic Bodies
by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM
"Train up a child in the
way he should go,
Even when he is old he
will not depart from it"
(Proverbs 22:6)
Holy Scripture, the cornerstone of Masonry and Civilized Society makes abundantly clear the wonder of
children and the responsibilities of the generations to each other, for therein it is proclaimed:
"Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers. Behold, Children are a
gift; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of ones
youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them..." (Proverbs 17:6; Psalm 127:3-5). So we are
told one must teach to your sons when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and
when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 11:19).
But what must a Mason teach his son, his Lewis, his Louveteau?
Why the value of ingenuity, simplicity and unity to accomplish mighty tasks, such as the ingenuity of the
Master Craftsmen in constructing the seven wonders of both the ancient and modern worlds, the simplicity
of Occam in conceiving his razor to separating the wheat from the chaff of scientific inquiry and the unity
of the Lodge in concentrating the efforts of good men from diverse heritages and walks of life,
culminating in enhanced strength of character and deed.
His Lewis, his Louveteau?
Yes the Lewis, or Louveteau in French where it means both Lewis, as in English, and Wolf. It exemplifies
these enlightening characteristic we Masons endeavor to instill in our sons. It has been characterized as a
simple yet ingenious device used to raise heavy blocks of stone. It consists of three parts: two wedge-
shaped side pieces and a straight center piece that fit together. A dovetailed recess was cut into the top of
stone block; the two outer pieces were inserted and then spread by the insertion of the centerpiece. Once
united, it provided the strength necessary to lift the heavy stone," through the attachment of a hook and
pulley to the cramp atop the Lewis.
Because of these much to be emulated characteristics, speculative Masons have figuratively adopted this
simple yet ingenious, unifying mountain moving device of the operative Masons, as what a Son of a
Mason is to be called. In England a Lewis could be initiated in to the Blue Lodge at the age of eighteen
when all others needed to be twenty-one, and the Lewis is to be found among the emblems placed upon
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the tracing board of the Entered Apprentice, and is used in that degree 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.
In France, the baptism of a Louveteau is sometimes performed by the lodge of which his father is a
member, with impressive ceremonies. The infant, soon after birth, is taken to the lodge room, where he
receives a Masonic name, differing from that which he bears in the world; he is formally adopted by the
lodge as one of its children; and should he become an orphan, requiring assistance, he is supported and
educated by the Fraternity, and finally established in life.
In modern times a Masonic pendant jewel honoring the strength of the Masonic bond between a father and
son, designated the Lewis Jewel, has been authorized and is presented to a Masons son on becoming a
Mason himself. On the top-bar are engraved the Mason Fathers name and date of initiation, and similarly
the sons information is entered on the bottom. It has been in use in England and other Jurisdictions under
the United Grand Lodge of England for many decades. The jewel has also been adopted throughout
Canada and in the Jurisdictions of Vermont, Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut, Pennsylvania
and others in the United States.
The Builder Magazine of the National Masonic Research Society in November 1922 (Vol. VIII, No. 11)
recommended that the Fraternity might well revive the Lewis customs which would have this
advantage, that it would make for a more compact solidarity and continuity a Freemasonry. We should in
all ways encourage young men to follow in the footsteps of their Masonic fathers (Emphasis added).
I strongly endorse this recommendation and hereby challenge all Grand Lodges & all Masonic Bodies to
in all ways encourage young men to follow in the footsteps of their Masonic fathers, including
without limitation:
a) vigorously adopting and enhancing a Lewis J ewel program;
b) consider adopting a Dads & Sons Society approach as described hereinafter; and
c) proactively support Masonic Youth organizations.
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Lewis J ewel Program
I would urge that:
1) All Grand Lodges that have not yet done
adopt the Lewis Jewel program;
2) All other Masonic Bodies including without
limitation the Scottish Rite and the Shrine
adopt their own unique versions of the Lewis
Jewel programs;
3) All Masonic Bodies expand the Lewis Jewel
program to include grandsons;
4) All Masonic Bodies also provide a similar
jewel for fathers and grandfathers with
provision for having multiple sons and
grandsons acknowledged on the same Jewel;
5) All Masonic Bodies provide the Lewis
Jewels at no additional cost to the recipients;
and MOST IMPORTANT
6) All Masonic Bodies vigorously promote the
Lewis Jewels availability and desirability,
including developing and utilizing impressive
presentation ritual.
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Dads & Sons Societies
The Dads & Sons Society concept is designed to promote sons following in their fathers Masonic
footprints, and properly recognizing and rewarding those Masons who have fulfilled their Fraternal duties
to their families and their Craft by teaching the lessons of the Craft to and inculcating a respect and love of
Masonry in their Progeny ("a son, a grandson or a great grandson") and/or Progenitors ("father, a
grandfather or a great grandfather"), as demonstrated by their being brother Masons together. Its purpose
is to encourage Fathers and Sons to want to belong together to the Masonic Craft as equals, and to help
establish Masonry as a true and enduring Family Tradition.
While adaptable to all Masonic Bodies, this concept was first developed for the Scottish Rite Valley of
Pittsburgh, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction as follows:
The 32 Masonic Dads & Sons Society
has been developed by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM, PSP, to propagate Masonry, throughout the generations,
as a Family Tradition. As explained in the By-Laws of this Society:
Throughout the ages, the elevation of ones progeny and/or progenitors to Brotherhood in the Craft has
marked a landmark moment in a Fathers and a Sons life. That a Son chooses to follow in his Fathers
footsteps, demonstrates that the Father has successfully lived and taught the lessons of the Craft. And that
Sons and/or Grandsons value the lessons of the Craft greatly enough to seek and obtain the 32 of the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, further endorses that their Masonic upbringings have
been entrusted to worthy Brother Masons who have fulfilled their Fraternal duties to their families and
their Craft. The purposes of this organization are to properly recognize and reward those 32 Masons who
have fulfilled their Fraternal duties to their families and their Craft by teaching the lessons of the Craft to
and inculcating a respect and love of Masonry in their progeny and/or progenitors as demonstrated by
their being 32 Masons together; to properly recognize and reward those 32 Masons who have
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demonstrated that they value the lessons of the Craft they have been taught greatly enough to have sought
and obtained the 32 of Freemasonry; to encourage Fathers and Sons to want to belong together to the
Masonic Craft as equals, both as Master Masons and as 32 Masons; and to help establish Masonry as a
true and enduring Family Tradition.
PUZZLED ABOUT CONTINUING OUR MASONIC TRADITION?
The 32Masonic Dads & Sons Society has been DESIGNED to Aid in Solving this Puzzle. If Your Dad,
Granddad, Son or Grandson is or was also a 32 Scottish Rite Mason; if You are a Master Mason who
desires Your Son, Grandson or Dad to join the Craft; or if You are the Son, Grandson or Dad of a Master
Mason desiring to join the Craft, the Dads & Sons Society may be the solution.
Dads & Sons Society Masonic Ritual
The inaugural program of the 32 Masonic Dads & Sons Society,
presented at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center on October 1, 2003,
dramatically merges Masonic and Shrine Ritual,
with exemplifications of the three premiere Masonic Youth Groups,
to illustrate the need to establish Masonry as a Family Tradition,
while the Ritual Team performed costumed illustrative vignettes,
the narrator delivered the following:
The starting point of Masonic Ritual is the Old Testament and this cornerstone of Masonry and Western
Society makes abundantly clear the wonder of children and the responsibilities of fathers to their children,
and vice-versa. Thus, therein it is proclaimed: "Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of
sons is their fathers. Behold, Children are a gift; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the
hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of
them..." (Proverbs 17:6; Psalm 127:3-5).
And what are the responsibilities of fathers to sons, both in society as a whole and in Masonry? This Book
again gives guidance: "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart
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from it" (Proverbs 22:6); and advises that you should so teach to your sons when you sit in your house
and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 11:19).
The 32 Dads and Sons Society exists to help you train up your son in the Masonic way he should go,
and to reward you, and through you your Dad and Granddad, as the case may be, for a job well done.
Masonic Ritual showcases a number of examples of the bonds between fathers and sons and the handing
down of values and aspirations from one generation to the next. We will introduce you to a few of these
special relationships now, relationships that all fathers and sons can share through Masonry.
King David had a dream. He desired to create a Great and Majestic Tabernacle for the Grand Architect of
the Universe, but he was a warrior and only a man of peace could build such a holy edifice. King David
raised his son, King Solomon, as such a man, and passed on his dream to him. As Masonic Ritual tells us,
King Solomon caused his fathers dream to become a reality, and the cornerstone of our great fraternity.
Jacob had twelve sons, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun,
Joseph and Benjamin. Joseph was Jacobs favorite, and to show his favor, he gave Joseph a coat of many
colors (Genesis 37:3). However, sibling rivalry raised its ugly head and Joseph was sold into slavery in
Egypt. The sons, to make Jacob think Joseph dead, returned to their father the coat of many colors, stained
with the blood of a goat. Meanwhile, in Egypt Joseph rose to great power and was put in charge of
preparing for the seven year famine he had foreseen (Genesis 41:39-42). When the famine arrived as
predicted, Josephs family came from Canaan to Egypt in search of food. Joseph, in honor of his love for
his father, after some tests, revealed himself, had his brothers go home for their elderly father Jacob, and
then invited them all to come live with him in Egypt, together with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim,
where in unity and brotherly love they raised many children and grandchildren. This, the keystone of this
tale, we learn from Scottish Rite Ritual and from the Old Testament.
As the capstone of our journey, we now ask you to travel with us to a distant land and a distant time. We
are going to a dessert country before the advent of areoplanes, steam locomotives and horseless
carriages, to a Shrinedom of camels and long journeys afoot. You are young men. In the morning, you
will leave your home for the first time, to go on the hajj, a great pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca,
and to become one with the Shrine. Family ties are strong. All your life your now elderly father has raised
you for this great adventure. Before leaving, he will give you his parting advice. Pay close attention to his
words, as he is a man of great wisdom and experience. You will do well to follow closely in his footprints.
But that is the past! The future lies in showing our children Masonic light, and how best to do this but
through the Masonic Youth Organizations? We would like to bring into the light of your good favor the
three most prominent of such organizations [discussion follows here which appears later herein].
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Some Dads & Sons "Kick-Starting" Recommendations
Some recommendations for "kick-starting" a Dads & Sons Society in a Scottish Rite Valley, which can
easily be adopted for a Shrine Oasis, or even as a Grand Lodge Program (whenever father/son
appears feel free to include grandfather/grandson, etc.):
a) Start a Dads & Sons Society under the auspices of your Scottish Rite Valley.
b) Activate a Scottish Rite Blue Lodge Degree Team (or arrange with a local Masonic School of
Instruction to provide one).
c) Obtain dispensation to conduct a special one-day weekend class for sons and fathers of Masons,
whereby the sons/fathers would become Master Masons that day in the Blue Lodge of their choice. (If in
your jurisdiction you cannot obtain dispensation for the making of over a certain number of Masons at one
time, then you may need to conduct a series of these classes.)
d) Consider developing some acceptable ritualistic procedure whereby each Masonic father/son so
desiring could actually raise his own son/father, perhaps by becoming "Worshipful Master for the
Moment."
e) Include an hour or half-hour of Masonic education that day as part of your program.
f) The next weekend (or soon thereafter) the Dads & Sons Society sponsor a special weekend Scottish Rite
Valley class for these newly raised sons/fathers to join the Valley [or perhaps even do it that day].
g) At the next Valley Meeting/Event give special recognition to each of these Father-Son pairs,
h) To encourage participation in this Scottish Rite Class, one, more or all of the following initiatives be
seriously considered:
1) If a father and son are both to become Scottish Rite Masons in this class, the one who was already a
Master Mason does so for free.
2) A joint Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite petition be developed and authorized.
3) A reduced Scottish Rite fee be authorized.
4) A combination Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite fee be developed and authorized.
. The 32 Dads & Sons Society is designed for all Scottish Rite Masons in good standing, whose Progeny
("a son, a grandson or a great grandson") or Progenitor ("father, a grandfather or a great grandfather") are
or were at anytime a 32 Scottish Rite Mason in any Valley of the Northern or Southern Masonic
Jurisdictions. If you or your Valley or Masonic Body is interested in pursuing the formation of a 32 Dads
& Sons Society Chapter, please contact Barry J. Lipson at bjlipson@gmail.com
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Masonic Youth Organizations
The future of Masonry lies in showing our children and their friends Masonic light, and how best to do
this but through the Masonic Youth Organizations? The Order of DeMolay, The International Order of
Jobs Daughters and The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls are three of the most prominent of
these organizations.
The Order of DeMolay was founded at the Kansas City, Missouri Scottish Rite Temple on March 24,
1919, by Frank S. Land. DeMolay is an organization dedicated to preparing young men to lead successful,
happy, and productive lives. Basing its approach on timeless Masonic principles and practical, hands-on
experience, DeMolay opens doors for young men aged 12 to 21, by developing their civic awareness,
personal responsibility and leadership skills so vitally needed in society today. DeMolay combines this
serious mission with a fun approach that builds important bonds of friendship among members in more
than 1,000 chapters worldwide. Although only one out of every 1,000 young men in the United States will
join DeMolay, it should be noted that many of this nation's leaders in business, religion, and politics are
DeMolays. In fact, one out of every ten United States Senators and one out of every twelve State
Governors are Senior DeMolays.
The International Order of Jobs Daughters was founded in 1920, in Omaha. Nebraska, by Mrs.
Ethel T. Wead Mick, to band together young woman with a Masonic Heritage, and to provide them with
the opportunity to work together, to learn about themselves and to help others. Job's Daughters is open to
girls ages 11 to 20 and bases its ritual on the ideas presented in the Book of Job, with particular reference
to the 42nd Chapter, 15th Verse: "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the Daughters of
Job; and their Father gave them inheritance among their brethren. In general, the Book of Job teaches a
Masonic optimistic lesson - Not to fall in despair; it shows that Masonic ideas are imperishable. To be a
member of Job's Daughters is to be part of a group with Bethels located throughout the United States and
four foreign countries, that promotes confidence, friendship and fun among young women.
The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls was founded by W. Mark Sexson 33, who,
after closely studying DeMolay, became more and more conscious of the fact that an Order for girls
setting forth some of the truths of Masonry would be necessary. The first class was initiated into the
Rainbow Girls on April 6, 1922, in the McAlester, Oklahoma Scottish Rite Temple auditorium. This youth
organization is comprised of girls between the ages of 11 and 20, and has assemblies in 46 states in the
United States, in addition to assemblies in 8 other countries, sponsored by Masonic Lodges, Chapters of
the Order of the Eastern Star, Courts of Amaranth, and White Shrine of Jerusalem. As a member of
Rainbow a girl learns many skills, including valuable public speaking skills, and develops self-esteem and
leadership abilities.
Copyright 2003-2013 by Barry J. Lipson

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