Lewis Lodge is numbered 57 on the Register of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon, and was constituted in 1910. Today, our Lodge membership varies in age, background, religion, profession, and many other ways. We are proud of the strong fellowship of our members, our robust educational offerings, and the quality of our masonic ceremony. Aside from our formal meetings, we have strong Lodge traditions, including hosting an annual Robbie Burns Night in January, a Holiday party in December, and a lodge barbeque in the summer. We enjoy having and sharing in rewarding masonic experiences; from raucous laughter to thoughtful reflection.
Lewis Lodge is also an important part of the history of Freemasonry in B.C., and especially in New Westminster:
“In the city on the banks of the mighty Fraser River, then known as the “Queen City”, there appeared several reasons why a third Lodge should be established at New Westminster. The first was that the town was growing and the existing Lodges of Union and King Solomon were becoming overcrowded; the second was that the two existing Lodges were both doing the American work, and those who had been brought up in the Canadian work wanted a Lodge where they could use the ritual with which they were familiar. On May 20, 1909 the Grand Master issued a dispensation and Lewis Lodge, later numbered 57, was instituted on May 24, 1909 by the District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 2 who found “the officers well skilled in their work…will prove a creditable and useful addition to the Sister Lodges and to the working power of Freemasonry in the city.” Grand Lodge, however, thought it wiser to continue the dispensation for another twelve months.
The charter to Lewis Lodge No. 57 at New Westminster was ordered by Grand Lodge on June 23, 1910, and the Lodge was constituted on August 8, 1910 by the Grand Master. This Lodge practices the Canadian work. Lewis Lodge has always maintained a strong hold on the Grand Lodge of British Columbia, having nurtured in its membership seven Grand Masters in the persons of Most Worshipful Brothers Thomas J. Armstrong, Alexander Charleson, John Stilwell Clute, Richard E. Walker, M.D., who were charter members of the Lodge and George Livingstone Cassady, John H. N. Morgan, James Herbert Nordan and Donald E. Stutt.
From: History of Grand Lodge of British Columbia A.F. & A. M. 1870 – 1971
Our Meetings are held in New Westminster BC, Canada, in our newly rebuilt Lodge Building. We continue to do Canadian work, full of “Lewisisms” – variations in our ceremony tied to our unique history and development. If you are interested in pursuing membership in Lewis Lodge, please contact us, and we will be glad to start the conversation.