Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk

Travelling Gavel was originally presented to British Union Lodge no. 114 in December 1994 by W/Bro. Ronald E. Adams of Ipswich Endeavour Lodge No. 169 that meets in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia.

On Friday 13th May 2016, ten members of British Union visited Christchurch Lodge No. 6829 to try and regain it – and we did!

Ten brethren from BU made the journey to Christchurch Lodge joining seventeen other visitors to witness and enjoy a first class evening that epitomised everything that is good about Masonry. A great welcome; excellent ceremony and a thoroughly enjoyable Festive Board (‘Supper Table’ in BU terms…) that saw brethren sitting down in numbers more often seen at Installation Meetings – some seventy brethren enjoyed an excellent meal together.

We witnessed an excellent 1st Degree with a significant difference in that the candidate was able to make his oath on a Bible relevant to his own faith. What a clear example in demonstrating how Masonry is accepting and understanding of other faiths.

Yes, we had to perform the now customary forfeit (that for a non-singing Lodge tested us somewhat) and after an initial couple of WW1 songs sung by all (“Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag, and Smile, Smile, Smile and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary”) The BU team then had to stand alone and give what was a surprisingly enthusiastic rendition of “Dem Bones, Dem Dry Bones”… the well-known spiritual song.

BUT we did it; after a break of 5 years since British Union last regained it, the Travelling Gavel will be shown again at the Supper Table at our October meeting.

A great evening, thoroughly enjoyable, my personal thanks to James and Roger Girling for arranging it and to the other seven members of the team for giving up their time on a Friday night to achieve what had been enthusiastically planned.