Philanthropy Lodge No. 940, in Stockton, recently had the pleasure of welcoming the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro John Watts, for a very special occasion - the celebration of 58 years of devoted service to Freemasonry by identical twins, David and John Lewis.
The evening began with the customary salutations, after which three chairs were placed on the square to mark the significance of the occasion. The Provincial Grand Master opened by sharing that although much of his Masonic life has been spent in the North of the Province, he now looks forward to getting to know the South rather better in his new capacity as Provincial Grand Master.
He went on to remark that the Lewis twins must have been “a formidable force for Freemasonry in the area,” before drawing a meaningful connection to another Masonic order. “I am also the Provincial Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor,” he said, “also known as the Brotherhood of David and Jonathan - two Hebrew princes whose unique friendship has inspired many. It is, therefore, particularly fitting that I should be here tonight to honour two brothers who have shared such a remarkable journey together.”
A Lifetime of Parallels
David and John Lewis are truly twins in every sense of the word. They recalled that, well into their twenties, even close friends couldn’t tell them apart - and they still possess a photograph in which they themselves can’t be sure who is who!
David, however, had “a lot of the firsts”: born first, married first, joined Freemasonry first, and became a Master Mason first. Nonetheless, the brothers experienced their Second Degree together, an early symbol of the shared path that would continue throughout their lives.
Their professional lives mirrored each other closely as well. Both began their careers as draughtsmen in the drawing office at British Steel, attended night school, and were later promoted to separate offices. Fate - and hard work - reunited them when they were both promoted again, this time as Junior Engineers, sharing an office where they simply answered the phone as “Lewis,” often to the confusion of callers who couldn’t tell which brother they were speaking to!
Family Tradition and Fraternal Bonds
Their journey into Freemasonry was inspired by family. Their father’s cousin was the first to join, followed by their uncle. When their father was invited to join but was unable due to ill health, he said, “Get the lads in.” And thus began a Masonic legacy that has lasted nearly six decades.
Among their many memberships, the twins both joined the Neville Lodge of Installed Masters. Though neither originally intended to take the Chair, Norman Eric Heaviside persuaded David to become Worshipful Master - where he installed his brother John as his successor, further symbolising their lifelong partnership.
Shared Experiences and Gentle Humour
When asked if they had ever pretended to be each other, the twins laughed and admitted that apart from occasionally answering the phone, they hadn’t. In fact, they deliberately sat apart at school to avoid suspicion of copying - their test results were so similar it was often assumed they had!
They also shared that they made a pact never to date each other’s “cast-offs,” and, remarkably, in all their years, they have never fallen out. Both learned to play the piano, though only John continued his musical studies.
Their shared experiences extended even to their purchases. When asked who bought the first car, they replied in perfect unison, “We shared our first car!” On another occasion, David bought a suit from Jackson’s the Tailors, only for John to visit the same shop a week later and - unknowingly - buy the exact same one. The same happened more than once with sports jackets!
Honouring a Lifetime of Dedication
In his closing remarks, the Provincial Grand Master said it was “beyond reasonable doubt” that the Lewis twins could never truly be separated - in life, work, or Masonry. He thanked them both warmly for their many years of service and friendship within the Craft.
The Provincial Grand Secretary, WBro Richard Scott, then read out their Long Service Certificates, which were duly presented by the Provincial Grand Master to enthusiastic applause from all present.
Theirs was not the only certificate presented on the night. Bro Colin Wilson was presented with his Grand Lodge certifcate at the meeting, too.
Following the formal proceedings, the brethren retired to a lively and enjoyable Festive Board, where the evening’s celebrations continued in true Masonic fellowship.
