“Where O’ Where has the Travelling Gavel gone, O’ Where O’ Where can it be?”

Brethren the purpose of the Travelling Gavel Program aims to foster visitation and brotherhood within our District. There are a number of rules which govern its use which are listed below for your reference. The gavel is never without a copy of the rules and the ledger of its history and travel. The Lodge that holds the gavel will remain to do so until a group of Masons fitting within the requirements of the rules visits that Lodge and request that it be relinquished to them.

“Where O where has the Travelling Gavel gone”

The members of Lorne Lodge No. 622 (Chapleau) captured the Travelling Gavel from Dyment Lodge No. 422 (Thessalon) on June 24, 2024.

Front Row Left to Right: R.W. Bro. Brad Eagleson, R.W. Bro. Brent Derochie, W. Bro. Ben Webster (Immediate Past Master of Dyment Lodge.), R.W. Bro. James Broomhead, W. Bro. Dennis McLeod (Worshipful Master of Dyment Lodge.), R.W. Bro. Graham Bertrand (DDGM for Algoma East District), R.W. Bro. Harry Lewis. Back Row Left to Right: R.W. Bro. Larry Weeks, R.W. Bro. Ian MacKenzie, W. Bro. Keith Travis, R.W. Bro. Pat Gillespie and V.W. Bro. John McKnight.

The members of Dyment Lodge No. 442 (Thessalon) captured the Travelling  Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) on January 8, 2024.

Left To Right: W. Bro. Denis McLeod, W. Bro. Rusty Joncas (Worshipful Master of Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 in Blind River), W. Bro. John Tremelling, W. Bro. Ben Webster (Worshipful Master of Dyment Lodge No. 442 in Thessalon), Bro. Tyler King, Bro. Steven Whitfield and W. Bro. Randy Bird.

The members from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 captured the Travelling Gavel from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698 on December 13, 2023.

The members from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698 captured the Travelling Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) on April 10, 2023 at the DDGM Official Visit of R.W. Bro. John K. Thomas.

Front Row (L-R) Bro. William Elliot, W. Bro. Michael Campbell (Worshipful Master of Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698), W. Bro. Rusty Joncas (Worshipful Master of Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 Blind River), Bro. Douglas Elliot.
Back Row (L-R) W. Bro. Dan Berry, W. Bro. Daniel Oberland, Bro. Reg Simon, R.W. Bro. Kenneth Pierce and R.W. Bro. George Thomas.

The members from Lorne Lodge No. 622 had captured the Travelling Gavel from Woodland Lodge No. 680 (Wawa) on March 31, 2023 at the DDGM Official Visit of R.W. Bro. John K. Thomas.

Within less then 24 hours on April 1, 2023 the members from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487  (Blind River) captured the Travelling Gavel from Lorne Lodge No. 622 (Chapleau). This was done at the DDGM Official Visit of R.W. Bro. John K. Thomas.

Front Row (L to R) Worshipful Master of Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 in Blind River W. Bro. Rusty Joncas, Worshipful Master of Lorne Lodge No. 622 in Chapleau W. Bro. Donald Warren.
Middle Row (L to R)  R.W. Bro. John K. Thomas District Deputy Grand Master of Algoma East District, W. Bro. Bernhard Wiesner, R.W. Bro. Brian Olson, R.W. Bro. Paul Astles.
Back Row (L to R) V.W. Bro. Armand Pitre, Bro. Julien Wiesner, W. Bro. Art Friesen

On June 12, 2019 the members of Hatherly Lodge No. 625 (Sault Ste. Marie) gave Woodland Lodge No. 680 (Wawa) the Travelling Gavel. This was done at the Installation and Investiture of Officers for 2019 – 2020. 

Woodland Lodge No. 680. Visitors and members at the Installation and Investiture of Officers for 2019 – 2020 Woodland Lodge is given the Travelling Gavel by Hatherly Lodge No. 625.

On December 1, 2018 Hatherly Lodge No. 625 (Sault Ste. Marie) challenged Woodland Lodge No. 680 (Wawa) for the Travelling Gavel with Hatherly prevailing 11-10. This challenge took place at Lorne Lodge No. 622 (Chapleau) on the occasion of their 1000th Regular Meeting.

Travelling Gavel goes to Hatherly Lodge No. 625 on December 1, 2018

On April 14th, 2018 Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) members captures the Travelling Gavel from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698. There was a unanimous decision made by the Brethren of Penewobikong Lodge and the District Deputy Grand Master R.W. Bro. Harry Michael Thomas to give the Traveling Gavel  to Lorne Lodge No. 622 (Chapleau).  

Travelling Gavel goes to Lorne Lodge No. 622 on April 14, 2018

On March 12th, 2018 Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698.captures the Travelling Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River).

Left to Right Front Row: Bro. William Baker,, R.W. Bro. Norm Mathie (Immediate Past Mast Elliot Lake Lodge), W .Bro. Bernhard Wiesner(Immediate Past Master Penewobikong Lodge)
Left to Right Back Row: Bro. Merv McCormick, W. Bro. Gord McCarthy, Bro. Reg Simon and W. Bro. George Thomas

On December 13th, 2017 Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) captures the Travelling Gavel from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698.

(Front Row L to R) V.W. Bro. John Stewart, Bro. Douglas Elliot (Elliot Lake Lodge candidate for the evening), W. Bro. Mickey Campbell W. Master of Elliot Lake Lodge, W. Bro. Mark Daub W. Master of Penewobikong Lodge, R. W. Bro. Brian Olson
(Back Row L to R) W. Bro. John Thomas, V. W. Bro. Armand Pitre, Bro. Rusty Joncas, V.W. Bro. Norm Pemberton. W. Bro. Bob Rae., and W. Bro. Bernhard Wiesner.

On September 11th, 2017 Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698 captures the Travelling Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River).

Left to Right : W. Bro. George Thomas, W. Bro. Mervyn McCormick, W. Bro. Mickey Campbell (Worshipful Master of Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698), W. Bro. Mark Daub (Worshipful Master of Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 Blind River), Bro. Reg Simon, Bro. Alan Oberland, Bro. Daniel Oberland and V. w. Bro. Larry Brisbois.

On June 14th, 2017 Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) captures the Travelling Gavel from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698.

Front Row Left to Right: R.W. Bro. Paul Astles, V.W. Bro. Norm Pemberton, V.W. Bro. John Stewart, W. Bro. Mickey Campbell (W.M. Elliot Lake Lodge), W. Bro. Mark Daub (W.M. Penewobikong Lodge Blind River) R.W. Bro. Brian Olson
Back Row Left to Right: V.W. Bro. Larry Brisbois, W. Bro. Art Freisen, V.W. Bro. Armand Pitre and W. Bro. Bob Rae.

On February 13th, 2017 Elliot lake Lodge No. 698  captures the Travelling Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River).

Front Row L-R Bro. Bill Baker, Bro. Mickey Campbell (SW), W. Bro. Ian McKay (PM), Worshipful Master of Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698 R.W. Bro. Norm Mathie, Worshipful Master of Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 W. Bro. Bernhard Wiesner and Bro. Bob Prout.
Back Row (L to R) W. Bro. George Thomas, W. Bro. Gord McCarhty (Secretary) and V.W. Bro. Larry Brisbois (Organist)

On October 12th, 2016 Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River) captures the Travelling Gavel from Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698

 On June 13th, 2016 Elliot Lake Lodge No. 698 captures the Travelling Gavel from Penewobikong Lodge No. 487 (Blind River).

Algoma East District Travelling Gavel – Rules of Use

1.   This gavel is for the use of the Masonic Lodges within the Algoma East District only.

2.   In order for a visiting Lodge to capture the Travelling Gavel, at least six (6) members of the same Lodge must attend a posted regular or emergent meeting of the Lodge in possession of it. Of the six (6) or more visiting: At least one (1) must be the Master or a Warden; at least one (1) must be a Past Master and at least one (1) must be an Officer other than the Master or Wardens.

3.   The gavel can be obtained at any legal meeting.

4.   The gavel must be asked for by the visiting brethren during the meeting to obtain it.

5.   The gavel is to be presented by the Worshipful Master of the possessing Lodge to the Worshipful Master or Senior Representative of the obtaining Lodge.

6.   Should more than one Lodge be present to challenge the gavel, the Lodge with the most members present will be successful in obtaining it. If each Lodge has an equal amount of members, the Lodge travelling the greater distance will obtain it. If both Lodges are from the same city and have the same amount of members present, a tie will be declared and the gavel will stay at the current Lodge unless one Lodge wishes to forfeit it.

7.   The Secretary of the obtaining Lodge must notify the District Deputy Grand Master and all Lodge Secretaries within the District as soon as possible.

8.   The Date, Lodge Name & Number, and the member information must be recorded in the accompanying ledger.

9.   The gavel must be displayed in full view in the Lodge room of the possessing Lodge at all open Lodge meetings.