CHORLEY & DISTRICT MASONIC GROUP

READ HERE THE GAVEL'S TRAVEL HISTORY AND CURRENT LOCATION

RULES

1)  The Gavel that Travels is the fraternal visiting trophy of the Chorley & District Group.

2)  The visiting Lodge (the Claiming Lodge) will visit the Lodge currently holding the Gavel (the Host Lodge) with the intention of claiming the Gavel for itself.

3)  The Claiming Lodge must be represented by at least 3 members, to include the W.M. or at least 1 Warden, who will make the formal claim (the Claiming Officer).

4)  The Claiming Officer will make the claim in the third rising, saying ‘W.M. I bring greetings from xxxx Lodge No. xxxx and, in accordance with the rules, I claim the Gavel that Travels from you, so as to remove it to my Lodge, until it is successfully claimed from us.’

5)  The Host Lodge W.M. will then seek confirmation from his J.W., who will ask all visitors from the Claiming Lodge to rise so that he can check that at least 3 are present. He will then report to the W.M. that the claim is in accordance with these rules and, upon confirmation, the W.M. will deliver the Gavel that Travels to the Claiming Officer (using his own words) in open Lodge.

6)  In the event of more than one Claiming Lodge attending to make a claim, the Host Lodge J.W. shall select the successful Claiming Lodge in accordance with the following criteria and in the following order:

a.      the Lodge with the greatest number of visiting members present, or if equal numbers

b.      the Lodge from a different Masonic Hall, or if that does not decide the claim

c.       the Lodge with the most senior Claiming Officer, or if there is still no decision

d.      the Lodge that has held the Gavel that Travels for the least number of times to date according to the register attached to it, or in the last resort

e.       the Lodge with the lowest number in the register of the U.G.L.E..

7)  The Gavel that Travels is to be displayed by the Host Lodge at the Secretary’s table in the Lodge Room at all Lodge meetings whilst in its care and, optionally, before the W.M. at the festive board. If preferred, the W.M. of the Host Lodge may use it as the gavel of the Lodge in the Lodge Room and at the festive board.

8)  It is the responsibility of the Group Representative (or, in his absence, the Secretary) of the Host Lodge to notify the Group Chairman and Group Secretary of the movement of the Gavel that Travels, giving the date of transfer and the identity of the Claiming Lodge. Details of the Lodge holding the Gavel that Travels will be published on the Group website.

9)  If the Group Chairman considers that the Gavel that Travels has remained static for too long, he may seek its movement to a new Lodge by encouraging a new Claiming Lodge to attend the Host Lodge for this purpose. In these circumstances, only the W.M. or a Warden of the Claiming Lodge need attend, although a greater attendance would be encouraged, and this Claim, which is also made in the third rising, shall be in the following terms: ‘W.M. I bring you greetings from xxxx Lodge No. xxxx. I am here on instruction from the Group Chairman to claim from you the Gavel that Travels for my Lodge’. After consultation with his Junior Warden, the Host Lodge W.M. will then present the Gavel that Travels to the claimant. In such cases, only the Lodge nominated by the Group Chairman may claim the Gavel.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

 10)  The location of the Gavel that Travels may be ascertained at any time by accessing the Group website or by contacting the Group Chairman or Group Secretary.

11)  A Claiming Lodge must contribute at least £2 for each member present to the Host Lodge Charities.

12)  Members of the Claiming Lodge must stay for the festive board and will pay for their own meals. It will be necessary for such visitors to book in as usual with the Host Lodge, bearing in mind deadlines for meal bookings, but they need not disclose the reason for their visit. Indeed they may use subterfuge to disguise the reason.

13)  A Host Lodge, having received notice that members of a Claiming Lodge will be visiting, may wish to quietly let this be known to another Lodge or Lodges, which may then decide to visit at the same meeting in the hope of outnumbering the original Claiming Lodge and so collecting the Gavel that Travels for themselves. What an evening that could be!

14)  The register of the current location of the Gavel that Travels is to be completed by the Host Lodge Secretary before it is handed on to the Claiming Lodge and the Group Representative (or, in his absence, the Secretary) of the Host Lodge will ensure that he gives notice in accordance with Rule 8 above. It is vital to the scheme that the exact location is known at all times.

15)  These rules have been prepared to give a framework and consistency of approach to participating Lodges, but it is expected that Masonic goodwill will prevail in their interpretation and effect.

16)  The Group Chairman may seek to move the Gavel on in accordance with Rule 9 after a short period of time, for if a Host Lodge manages to hold onto the Gavel at its next Lodge meeting after successfully claiming it there would be a period of a month before the next available Lodge meeting.

17)  In the event of any dispute regarding the rules, their interpretation or any other issue concerning the Gavel that Travels, it is to be referred to the Group Chairman, whose decision on the dispute will be final.

GROUP OFFICERS

GROUP CHAIRMAN

 John W. Robson

Latrigg, 2 Levens Way, Silverdale, Carnforth, LA5 0TG

Tel: 01524 701486

Email: chairman@c-m-g.org.uk

GROUP SECRETARY

 Tony Hall

79 Hawkshead Avenue, Euxton, Chorley , PR7 6NZ

Tel: 01257 261748

Email: secretary@c-m-g.org.uk

THE PRIZE YOU MUST HAVE !