Traveling Gavel

The gavel is currently at: Olive Branch Lodge # 32 A.M. & A.M. Saguache, Colorado.

The Grand Lodge traveling gavel was a program developed to encourage visitation and travel between lodges.

Here are the rules of the gavel:

A lodge retains posession of the gavel until a new lodge gains control based on these rules. The gavel change hands in any one of three ways. It can be taken, it can be given away, it can be reclaimed by the Grand Lodge:

The gavel may be taken from any lodge during any stated communication for that lodge. In order to take the gavel, a lodge attend the communication with at least 5 brethern and declare their intention to take the gavel during the meeting. If an equal or greater number of bretheren are present from another lodge are present and announce their intention to take the gavel, the prize will be awarded to the lodge with the most brethren present. In the case of a tie, the visitinglodge with the greatest percentage of their membership present will win.

The gavel may be given to any lodge during any stated communication for the receiving lodge. In order to give the gavel, at least 5 brothers from the giving lodge must attend the communication and present the gavel during the meeting. The receiving lodge is required to accept the gavel.

Whatever lodge is in posession of the gavel must present it to the incoming Grand Master during the first Grand Lodge session of the year. The Grand Master will deliver the gavel to his home lodge prior to their next stated communication. The gavel may be taken or given away from that lodge at any stated communication after they receive it.

The gavel may only change hands once during a communication. It can not be both given and taken during the same meeting.

Any lodge that takes posession of the gavel must report to the Grand Lecturer within 24 hours with the new location of the gavel. In all circumstances, it is necessary to report prior to any stated communication of the new holder.

A lodge can not take the gavel during their own stated communication or during a joint communication with another lodge.

The gavel travels with a book with it's history. Whenever the gavel changes hands, both the presenting and receiving lodges should fill out a page in the book documenting the exchange.

Any lodge that is asked if they currently posess the gavel must answer truthfully. If they have recently lost posession they must truthfully report the new status.

Final decision on all rules is made by the Grand Lecturer. Final decision on all matters during a stated communication, including those involving the gavel, are to be made by the sitting Worshipful Master.