The purpose of the 5th District Traveling Gavel is to promote Brotherhood and Fellowship in the true Masonic spirit.

As it is designed to promote travel and visitation between lodges of the twelve Masonic Districts in the State of Georgia, when the gavel travels from one lodge to another, it MUST travel to a new district. It cannot change lodges within a district.

The rules for the Gavel are as follows.

Note: for simplicity, the term "visiting lodge" will refer to any lodge which belongs to a district other than the district of the hosting (visited) lodge.

For example, if the gavel were in the 5th District, only a lodge from another Georgia district would be considered a "visiting lodge" and be able to gain custody of the gavel.

1. Annual Custody Exchanges.

The gavel will be awarded at the Annual Communication of the 5th Masonic District Convention to the visiting lodge in attendance with the greatest number of members present (no minimum).

Each year, the Secretary of the lodge in custody of the gavel on its last communication in August is responsible for returning it to the 5th District Secretary-Treasurer by 1 September, so that it can be presented anew.

2. Subsequent Custody Exchanges.

When a communication of the lodge in custody of the gavel is attended by four or more Members of a visiting lodge, that visiting lodge shall all obtain custody of the gavel.

a. If two or more visiting lodges are equal (above), that visiting lodge with the most Lodge Officers present shall win.

b. If two or more visiting lodges are equal (above), that visiting lodge with the most Past Masters present shall win.

c. If two or more visiting lodges are equal (above), that visiting lodge with the most recently raised Master Mason present shall win.

Record of Holdings

Please note that normally, the gavel CANNOT travel within a district.

More historical data will be entered when available.

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Please email the Secretary if you have any updates or additional information.

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