In order to capture the Traveling Gavel within the Broome-Chenango District, at least six (6) members of the same Lodge must attend a regular or special communication of the Lodge then possessing the Traveling Gavel. Of these six (6) or more visiting: At least one (1) must be the Master or a warden; At least one (1) other must be a Past Master; and At least one other must be an appointed officer.
If two or more Lodges simultaneously qualify under these rules to capture the Gavel, the winner of the Traveling Gavel shall be the Lodge with the largest number of members in attendance. In case of a tie, the winner shall be the Lodge which traveled the greatest distance.
A brother who is a member both of the Lodge which currently has the Gavel and of the Lodge which is visiting to capture the Gavel, will only count as a visitor to the Lodge which currently has the Gavel if such brother is an officer of the Lodge making the visit.
The Lodge taking the Traveling Gavel must immediately notify the District Deputy and all the Lodges in the District that they are in possession of the Traveling Gavel. The Lodge taking the Traveling Gavel must also inform the District of its meeting days and scheduled starting times.
In the event the Traveling Gavel resides in a Lodge in the Broome-Chenango District for three consecutive regular meetings it shall automatically be in the custody of the District Deputy, to be removed by him and given to another Lodge in the District at his discretion.
In February 2011 Oxford Lodge No. 175 captured the gavel from Vestal-Otseningo No. 435 so that we could get a photo of W∴ Jack Ross holding the gavel wearing his Past Master's Apron (see sidebar). However, the effort was short-lived when at the very next communication a contingent from Point of Light Lodge No. 795 arrived to take it to their lodge. This is how it should be, and we are sure J. Wilson and Jack would approve. In the photo below our Master, W∴ David Burch hands the Traveling Gavel to W∴ Paul Regan, Master of Point of Light Lodge No. 795.
