Masonic Trifecta by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

Masonic Trifecta
By Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

"I will probably never achieve the trifecta," bemoans
Constanza of Seinfeld. Not true for yours truly. The
November 12, 2015 meeting of Doric Lodge No. 630
in Sewickley, PA was a Masonic Trifecta for the
Lipson Masonic family. Not only was Brother LCMD
Barry J. Lipson 33, PM asked by WM John R.
Knallay to present the Naval portion of the Veterans
Program that evening, but he was awarded his Fifty
Year Masonic Service Emblem, and his two sons,
Brothers Seven J. Lipson 32 and David J. Lipson
32, where awarded their Lewis Jewels.
Brother Barry was initiated on February 26, 1665 in New York Citys Munn Lodge No. 203.
While he was taking his Blue Lodge Degrees his father, Sidney J. Lipson, complained that
worthy men he considered good friends had become Masons but none of them had asked him to
join. Brother Barry immediately instructed his Dad to: Ask me! Brother Sidney was initiated
into Munn Lodge later the same year on November 11, 1965, where he was, in effect, raised
by his own Son.
In 2001, while Worshipful Master of Germania
Lodge No. 509 and Sovereign Prince of the
Princes of Jerusalem, Scottish Rite Valley of
Pittsburgh, Brother Barry helped Director of Work
Jack Copeland 33 organize the Scottish Rite Blue
Lodge Degree Team to confer all three Blue Lodge
Degrees on his sons Steve and Dave at the Extra
Meeting of Germania held at the Greater
Pittsburgh Masonic Center on Saturday, March 10,
2001. In all, fifteen Blue Lodges were represented
(seventeen if you count duel memberships),
including the elected Valley-wide officers, four Past Sovereign Princes, representatives of all of
the Scottish Rite Bodies, and a brother from State of Maine Orono Lodge No. 66. Special
dispensation for this historic event had been granted by Grand Master Robert L. Dluge 33.
Brother Brothers Steve and Dave also became Scottish Rite Brothers and Shrine Nobles in New
Castle, PA at the May 19, 2001 Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh and Syria Shrine Classes.
Residing out-of-state Brothers Dave and Steve had
not yet been awarded their Lewis Jewels, but as they
where joining their Brother Dad for his big day
the time seemed auspicious. District Deputy Grand
Master William A. Moisey, who presented their Dad
with his 50 Year Emblem of Gold, awarded Brothers
Steve and Dave their Lewis Jewels, Brother Dave
also proudly wearing the Daniel Carter Beard
Masonic Scouter Award.
Operatively the Lewis (or Louveteau in French) is a simple

yet ingenious device used to raise heavy blocks of stone
which enables the operative Mason to lift the heaviest stones
with a comparatively trifling exertion of physical power.
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 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 who becomes
himself a Mason. The Builder Magazine of
the National Masonic Research Society
(Vol. VIII, No. 11, November 1922) urged
the revival of the Lewis customs as so
doing would have this advantage, that it
would make for a more compact solidarity
and continuity a [sic: of] Freemasonry. We
should in all ways encourage young men to
follow in the footsteps of their Masonic
fathers (Emphasis added).
Brother LCMD Lipson at this meeting, in exploring the Navy with the Brethren, observed that
looking at the Navy through Masonic Glasses one can see certain similarities of organization
and creed. The Commissioned Officer Corps can be viewed as Grand Lodge and the Enlisted
Corps as Blue Lodge. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, like E-9s of the other
services, the Sergeant Majors of the Marine Corps and Army and the Chief Master Sergeant of
the Air Force, being the spokespersons of the enlisted forces at the highest levels of their
services, would stand in the stead of the Worshipful Master; the Chief Petty Officers (E-7
through E-9, equivalent to higher-level Sergeant ranks), Master Masons; the Petty Officers (E-4
through E-6, equivalent to Corporal and the lower-level Sergeant ranks), Fellowcrafts; and
Apprenticeships/Seamen (E-1 through E-3, equivalent to Private and Airman ranks), Entered
Apprentices. But of more interest is the Chief Petty Officers Creed. As in Masonry, as a Chief
Petty Officer ... you have joined an exclusive fellowship and, as in all fellowships, you have a
special responsibility to your comrades, even as they have a special responsibility to you."
The portmanteau Trifecta is formed from a blend of the morpheme tri- ('three') and the
noun perfecta (from the Latin American phrase Quiniela Perfecta or Bifecta). This evening
certainly was a Triumvirate Perfecta or Threefold Perfect Triumph.

Masonic Trifecta by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Masonic Trifecta by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Masonic Trifecta by Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Masonic Trifecta

By Barry J. Lipson 33, PM

Operatively the Lewis (or Louveteau in French) is a simple

You might also like