The Travelling Gavel - (Again) Held by 708

Reclaimed from its temporary holders a Cohort of Lodge Ponsonby Brethren Led by RWM Kidston returned the gavel to Lodge Ponsonby 708 where it was on display during the Installation of Bro Euan Allan.

Here it shall reside until lifted by another muster of brethren from a visiting lodge.

Have you heard of the TRAVELLING GAVEL?

"The Gavel was crafted by VW Bro Warren Howard PGC, of The Lodge of Liberal Arts No.500, from the wood of the rare Wenge tree from Equatorial Africa, in memory of MW Bro Joe McManemin PGM.

MW Bro Joe was the very model and exemplar of a good Freemason. He was a member of New Zealand, Scottish and Irish Lodges and was universally admired for his dignity, his quick wit and his humanity. He was a gentleman in the truest sense.

The engraved plates attached to the Gavel were made by W Bro Graham Waite, PM of Ara 348 IC. The Gavel was presented to MW Bro Mark Winger GM, as a gift to the Lodges of the Auckland District of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand on 30th November 2016.

It was purposed by the District Grand Master to be known a 'The Travelling Gavel' and to be utilised to promote friendship and Brotherly love by promoting the visiting of other Lodges.

The Gavel was initially presented to Ara No.1 by RW Bro Neil Ingram PDepGM and has regularly changed hands over the subsequent 8½yrs as Lodges from various Constitutions over the Auckland District have vied for its possession".

Today the Travelling Gavel is held by Lodge Ponsonby 708SC and should your lodge feel it was time they held it, well it is simple, just turn up with 5 or more visitors of your own lodge including the Master, and if no other visiting Lodge has more members than yours, it will be yours until your next meeting and or a meeting where 5 or more members plus Master will visit.

Note: Installations are excluded, it must be a Regular meeting.