Misplaced Gavel with WWII Significance Returned

During an informal visitation to Charity Lodge No. 190, Jeffersonville, on May 5, R.W. Grand Master Marvin A. Cunningham, Sr., had the unusual pleasure of presenting to Norristown Lodge No. 620 a historically significant gavel that had been misplaced for several decades.

More than 57 years ago, on March 18, 1946, Bro. Nelson Shillady, Jr. presented a gavel fashioned from a piece of teak wood that came from the deck of the USS Missouri, the ship on which the surrender of Japan was signed on Sept. 2, 1945, in Tokyo Bay. At that time, Norristown Lodge and Charity Lodge shared facilities, including a museum where the gavel was in safekeeping. Subsequently, Norristown Lodge moved and the teak wood gavel probably remained with Charity Lodge. More recently, when Charity Lodge moved to new facilities in Jeffersonville, the gavel was discovered.

Warren J. Errington, Jr., W.M. of Charity Lodge (left) requested Grand Master Cunningham to present the gavel again to Robert G. McCurdy, W.M. of Norristown Lodge (center).