TAMWORTH

77
The Gavel originated in Lodge Wyong #247 (New South Wales, Australia)
and has travelled from its home, through New South Wales, Queensland,
Australia, England, and America since it began its bon voyage in 1993. It
immigrated to America by way of New York, travelled through Connecticut,
Rhode Island and Massachusetts before visiting the White Mountain and Green
Mountain states.
The handmade piece arrived in due form for the Olive Branch Installation of
Officers, December 29, 2001 and was received by newly installed Worshipful
Master, Bruce Hart Kominz and Jeremy J. Sawyer (presiding Grand Master,
2000-2001).
The unusual Gavel was brought forth from its small,
handmade suitcase and displayed throughout the
Lodge.
An engraved plaque bears the names of all the
Lodges where the travelling Gavel has been given
temporary homes. The transient Gavel, (one of I 2
sent out “across the globe” to encourage Brother Masons to visit other Lodges and
foster unity) generally resides with a Lodge for three months or ·less. It is hoped the
gavel (made by Worshipful Brother, Rick Howes will travel through much of the
United States and Canada before returning home to Lodge Wyong.
In his first official act from the East, Kominz gave the honour of closing the Lodge
with the unique, two-toned wooden mallet to the Grand Master.
Although the Tamworth Gavel (as is sometimes called) arrived in the state of New
Hampshire on a cold winter’s
Day, it was carefully packed for the next leg of its journey across America on a warm April morning.
Horace Chase Lodge #72 (Penacook, New Hampshire) was chosen as the next honoured recipient of the gavel,
after some deliberation among the Olive Branch officers. “I think the Grand Master (Jeremy Sawyer) really likes
the gavel,” said Kominz, “and he’d like to have it for his Lodge. What the Grand Master wants the Grand
Master gets, he added, “even though he didn’t ask for it.”
Robert J. Norton Worshipful Master, Jeremy J. Sawyer (GM. 2000-2001) and Acting Grand Marshal, Albert P.
Burgess (S.G.W. 2000-2001) received the contingent bearing the gavel on a foggy Sunday, April 7 th , 2002. The
Veterans and Special Ladies Program was chosen by the Lodge as an appropriate occasion upon which to
receive the honoured implement.
As the annual program came to an end Sawyer was invited to close Horace Chase Lodge. As he admired the
gleaming wood of the Australian Gavel, Sawyer stated, “It will be a pleasure to close a Lodge, again, with the
Australian Travelling Gavel. This is the second time I’ve closed a lodge with this gavel. The first time was at
Olive Branch Lodge.”
On November 11 th 2002 the gypsy gavel left the State of New Hampshire for its next, temporary home, at Island
Pond Lodge #44 Island Pond, Vermont (constituted January 14, 1858). The Lodge is only about 15 miles from
the New Hampshire and Canadian borders, Worshipful Master; Kenneth Frizzell received the contingent from
Horace Chase Lodge at their regular stated meeting.
Although the Travelling Gavel will be missed in the Granite State, Bruce Kominz will carry on tradition by
using the gavel of his grandfather, Brother Michael “Sam” Hart, 33 rd degree Mason and Past Master of the New
Orleans, LA Lodge of Freemasons: a gavel which has travelled quite a distance in its own right.