Capturing District 14C Masonic Traveling Gavel

On August 13th, 10 members of our Lodge, Edwin J. Kiest Masonic Lodge #1310, ascended upon Garland Masonic Lodge #441 for their monthly stated meeting with the intention of claiming the Traveling Gavel for Texas Masonic District 14C.

This was my first experience participating in capturing the district’s Traveling Gavel. I had heard about this fun Masonic challenge and had also seen other Texas Masonic Lodges posting about it on Social Media. I personally haven’t done a lot of traveling, as Freemasons say, to other Lodges to experience one of the benefits of being a Freemason. There are over 800 Masonic Lodges in the state of Texas alone, which means it would be difficult for a Freemason to travel to a town in the state and not come across a Lodge.

So why have the Traveling Gavel?

The Traveling Gavel was implemented for the sole purpose of encouraging Freemasons within the same district to travel and visit other Lodges. By doing so, this creates networking and fellowship to happen amongst men of similar values but from different walks of life. Having possession of the Traveling Gavel is a source of pride for the members and equal pride for the traveling Freemasons that visit another Lodge to “capture” it to take it to their home Lodge.

For me personally, this was my second Lodge that I’ve visited and it is the second time experiencing the immediate comradery when entering since becoming a Freemason. I’ve heard stories from other Freemasons about their travels to countries overseas and receiving the same treatment.