What Is The Travelling Gavel?
THE BERKSHIRE PROVINCIAL TRAVELLING GAVEL
The Concept
The Berkshire Provincial Travelling Gavel is an initiative that has been introduced into the Berkshire Province following a suggestion from a Bro of Ingham Clark Lodge 8164.
The travelling gavel is a gavel that passes between lodges within Berkshire on a regular basis.
The idea of the Travelling Gavel is to build upon the inter-lodge visiting scheme introduced into the Province last year and is designed to promote lodge interaction and further enhance fraternal exchanges and enjoyment by witnessing how other lodges perform their ritual, meet new friends and renew old acquaintances and of course to enjoy the Festive Board.
The new competitive Travelling Gavel scheme gives smaller Lodges just as much chance to be able to claim it as the bigger ones: The Gavel will be secured by the Lodge which goes to the meeting with the greatest percentage of their members[as recorded in the current Masonic Year Book]. For example a lodge of 22 members with 5 members at the meeting will win over a lodge of 50 members who have 10 at the meeting.Since April 2013 The Travelling Gavel has covered the length and breadth of the Province of Berkshire. On the 18th December it returned home when its founding Lodge, Ingham Clark, reclaimed it from the Lodden Bridge Lodge at Sindlesham prior to a total re-launch of the scheme in January 2015.
The new rules and regulations are
The holding Lodge will place the Travelling Gavel in clear view in the Lodge and the proposed transfer will be an agenda item for that evening.- The Summons for the meeting will be sent to all Lodges in Berkshire and the Gavel will be claimed by the visiting Lodge with the most members attending as a percentage of their membership.
- The claiming Lodge must then offer the Gavel for transfer within a month of having received it.
To coincide with the re-launch there is a new procedure for both handing over the Travelling Gavel in the Lodge and explaining both the Gavel itself and its purpose.
The first competition for the Travelling Gavel will be at Ingham Clark Lodge, Wallingford, on Thursday 22nd January 2015.
Follow the Gavel on
Twitter: @_berksgavel and Facebook: Berkshire Travelling Gavel
Ten Master Masons
Ten Master Masons Ten Master Masons, happy, doing fine One listened to a rumor, then there were nine. Nine Master Masons, faithful, never late One didn't like the Master, then there were eight. Eight Master Masons, on their way to heaven One joined too many clubs, then there were seven. Seven Master Masons, life dealt some hard licks One grew discouraged, then there were six. Six Master Masons, all very much alive One lost his interest, then there were five. Five Master Masons, wishing there were more Got into a great dispute, then there were four. Four Master Masons, busy as could be One didn't like the programs, then there were three. Three Master Masons, was one of them you? One grew tired of all the work, then there were two. Two Master Masons with so much to be done One said What's the use, then there was one. One Master Mason, found a brother true! Brought him to the Lodge, then there were two. Two Master Masons didn't find work a bore Each brought another, then there were four. Four Master Masons saved their Lodge's fate By showing others kindness, then there were eight. Eight Master Masons, loving their Lodges bright sheen Talked so much about it, they soon counted sixteen. Sixteen Master Masons, to their obligations true Were pleased when their number went to thirty-two. So we can't put our troubles at the Lodge's door It's our fault for harming the Lodge we adore. Don't fuss about the programs or the Master in the East Keep your obligation by serving even the very least. |
The start of the Travelling Gavel's journey being presented by
V W Bro Colin Hayes DPGM to the WM W Bro Richard Jenkins PGDC of Ingham Clark lodge 8164 IN APRIL 2013 |
The Relaunch Of the Travelling Gavel Jan 2015
At Ingham Clark To Theale On Holybrook Lodge Most Worshipful
Pro Grand Master |