The Traveling Gavel of the 17th Masonic District

There's a hand-crafted "traveling gavel" that moves among the nine lodges of the 17th Masonic District bringing out members and visiting brethren in increasing numbers and fostering fellowship at their meetings. Pride of ownership has the brethren of the lodges "going for the gavel" because it gets passed to the lodge with the most visitors.

For example, on a typically cold wintry evening the first week of January in the north-central mountains of Pennsylvania, 34 brethren from the other eight lodges -- some driving 40 miles -- visited Cowanesque Lodge No. 351 in Knoxville. Take note that Cowanesque is a small, rural lodge of only 80 members; yet there were 53 brethren attending that night for the passing of the gavel. Thirty-four were visitors.

After recognizing all visitors, it was determined that Ossea Lodge No. 317, Wellsboro, had the largest number present, seven. Gary B. Stahley, D.D.G.M., 17th Masonic District, presented the traveling gavel to Kenneth W. Mettler, W.M., of Ossea Lodge.

A few weeks later, at the stated meeting of Ossea Lodge, Cowanesque Lodge, with seven visitors, outnumbered Tioga Lodge No. 373 with five visitors, and took the gavel back. But it was only for two days, because Tioga brethren visited Cowanesque and claimed the gavel.

The rules of the traveling gavel competition are simple: A minimum of three visiting brethren from any lodge in the District is necessary to take the gavel with them to their lodge. If there are visiting brethren from two or more lodges, the largest number of visitors determines who will take the gavel. In a tie, the visitors who traveled the farthest will take the gavel.

The unique gavel was handcrafted by two past masters of Cowanesque Lodge, Hal D. Dibble, and Lynn C. Clark. It was fashioned from a piece of wood that Bro. Clark kept from a cherry tree that was cut down eight years ago by Bro. Dibble on the farm of another brother, the late Keith Owlett, P.M.. The title, "The Traveling Gavel" was laser-engraved on its head and "17th Masonic District" on its handle. The names of the nine lodges of the district are etched on a wooden resting block. While the gavel was possessed briefly by Ossea Lodge, Timothy McConnell crafted a copper carrying case.

D.D.G.M. Stahley said that "The goal for the traveling gavel is to encourage visitation among the lodges in the district and result in fun and more opportunities for fellowship. It is obviously working toward that goal." The idea for the traveling gavel came to him from Bradley A. Lewis, D.D.G.M., 22nd Masonic District.

Gary B. Stahley, D.D.G.M. (second from right), after accepting the traveling gavel from Paul P. Green, W.M., Cowanesque Lodge No. 351 (center), passes it to Kenneth W. Mettler, W.M., Ossea Lodge No. 317 (right). At left are Hal D. Dibble, P.M., and Lynn C. Clark, P.M., both of Cowanesque Lodge, who handcrafted the gavel.