Pythagorean Lodge A.F. & A.M.

Est. 1861 | Meets 2nd Tuesday

13 Spring Street, Marion, MA, 02738

Robert I. Wing Traveling Gavel

Purpose, Spirit, and Intention

The purpose of The Traveling Gavel is to encourage Master Masons to exercise that most valuable right & privilege of the Sublime Degree – to travel to other Lodges, “work”, and receive “Master’s Pay”.

When traveling to another Lodge, the “work” we do is to visit with the brethren, to learn, and to share our knowledge and experiences with other Lodges. By being present in the sideline for the duration of their meeting can enrich the experience for all, and can help more than we may know in more ways than we may ever discover. The invaluable “Master’s Pay” we receive for such important “work” is the reward of fraternal fellowship and the opportunity to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood across Lodges, Districts, and Jurisdictions.

We do not accomplish this important “work”, (and thus do not receive “Master’s Pay” for it), by being present only long enough to abscond with The Gavel and return home to our own Lodge – this would not be in service of the spirit of The Gavel. We accomplish it by being fully and truly present, in a manner that is respectful of the Lodge, the brethren, and the Lodge’s traditions. In a practical and literal sense, this means that we are present for the entire duration of the Lodge’s meeting, from the opening to the closing. It also means we are encouraged to further socialize by attending dinner, and by planning to spend time after the meeting at the collation / fellowship period – where many of the best ideas, events, and memories are made.

In order to ensure that the purpose of the Traveling Gavel is not lost, and that the spirit of travel and fellowship is well-served, any and all attempts to capture The Gavel from the Lodge then in possession of it shall be governed by the following rules:

  1. Advance Notice

    1. Visiting Lodges should provide at least 24 hours’ notice to the Worshipful Master of the Lodge possessing the Gavel. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the possessing Master.

  2. Eligibility for Capture

    1. The Gavel is eligible for capture only during Regular Stated Communications of the Lodge in possession. (See Special Exceptions)
      1. The Lodge Meeting must be at the Lodge’s usual meeting place (i.e. their Lodge building) to ensure fair capture opportunity planning.
      2. >Official and Fraternal Visits< follow special, increased requirements (see “Special Exceptions”)
    2. The Gavel shall not, under any circumstances, be eligible for capture at a Lodge of: Instruction, Exemplification, or Qualification;
    3. If the Lodge in possession of the Gavel holds a joint meeting with one or more other Lodges: those Lodges meeting jointly with possessing Lodge shall not be eligible to capture the Gavel (as it would diminish the Gavel’s intended spirit of traveling beyond their Regular Meeting and/or building, the merits of Joint Meetings notwithstanding).

  3. Manpower Requirements for Regular and Special Communications

    1. A visiting lodge must have at least six (6) Master Masons – present to attempt a capture, configured in one of the following ways:
      1. Option 1: Worshipful Master (WM), two (2) other officers, and three (3) or more Master Masons.
      2. Option 2: Two (2) Elected Officers (at least one must be a Warden), three (3) other officers, and one (1) or more Master Mason.
      3. Option 3: Six (6) officers.
    2. Tiebreaker: In the event of a tie between visiting lodges, the lodge that traveled the farthest distance (Lodge to Lodge) will be awarded the Gavel.

  4. Eligibility of Members

    1. Only active Master Masons in good standing are counted toward the total.
    2. A plural member in good standing may count toward the total of any of his Lodges present and attempting to capture, provided he meets the other eligibility requirements.
    3. To ensure fairness, if a member of a visiting Lodge is also a sitting Officer of the possessing Lodge, he shall not be considered a visitor for any capturing Lodge. This supersedes any other eligibility rule.
    4. All members of the capture party, to be counted towards manpower requirements and / or tiebreakers, must be present inside the Lodge room while the Lodge is opened, and must remain in attendance until after the lodge is closed. (see May Flower Clause for exception)

  5. Capture Logging

    1. The capturing Lodge must log the capture with Pythagorean Lodge (via their website) before departing with The Gavel.

  6. Proclamation

    1. A public announcement must be made by the capturing Lodge, stating the successful capture and providing the date of their next meeting.

  7. Pythagorean Lodge A.F. & A.M. situate in Marion, MA retains all rights of ownership of The Gavel and may recall, summons, reclaim, or otherwise recover The Gavel at any time.

  1. Special Communication – Degrees

    1. If the Lodge in possession holds a Special Communication for the conferral of a Degree, the possessing Master may, at his sole discretion, allow The Gavel to be captured, giving due notice of the same. In the event of a successful capture attempt, the possessing Master is encouraged to involve the candidate(s) in the presentation of The Gavel.

  2. Table Lodge

    1. If a Lodge holds a Table Lodge while in possession of The Gavel, the possessing Master may choose to make The Gavel available for capture.

  3. Official or Fraternal Visit

    1. During an Official or Fraternal Visit, minimum Manpower requirement is doubled from 6 to 12 (as Lodges are expected to travel in higher numbers for these Visits as a baseline)
    2. Take special note of Rule 4.4 – To be eligible towards Manpower total – all party members must be in the room at Lodge Opening and remain for the duration of the meeting. Members arriving with the Suite, and not having been present in the Lodge room previously, do not count towards the capturing Lodge’s total.

  4. Stagnation

    1. In the interest of ensuring The Gavel continues to actively serve its purpose: if it is stationary for 4 regular communications of the possessing Lodge, the Manpower Requirements shall be halved (not less than 3 Master Masons).
      1. WM, 1 other officer, 1 MM
      2. 2 elected (1 should be a Warden), 1 other officer
      3. 3 officers

  5. May Flower Clause

    1. The very same night Pythagorean Lodge was gifted this Traveling Gavel, it was captured. The Gavel was away from Marion for nearly 8 years until it was finally recovered at May Flower Lodge in 2024. The capture was not without its unusual quirks. Thus: in humble commemoration of the manner in which the members of Pythagorean Lodge first reclaimed The Gavel after that nearly 8 year absence:
      1. If any member of the capturing party would arrive after the Lodge has opened (but not more than 10 minutes after it is declared Open), late members may count toward manpower requirements only if:
        1. The entire capturing party waits outside the Lodge until the late member(s) is/are present and ready.
        2. The party formally makes a demand at the door to be admitted (again – not more than 10 minutes after Lodge declared “open”).
        3. The party is admitted unshod, as the members of Pythagorean were at May Flower Lodge.