TRAVELLING TROWEL

At the PGL Committee on Friday 28th January 2011, it was agreed that the idea of the Travelling Trowel be given a trial period in the Province.  Bro. G. White (Lodge 58) and Bro. J. Mitchell (Lodge 111) agreed to purchase the Trowel and donate it to the Province and the scheme started on 1st October 2011, with Kelso No 58 being the initial holders.

Please try and give your support to this new and worthwhile idea. The "Travelling Trowel" is intended to encourage Inter-lodge visits and promote good-hearted rivalry among the Daughter Lodges in the Province.  As a "bonus" it will also help to raise donations for Charities. A short explanation of its aims, and the rules covering its use are stated below.

Rules of Engagement and Capture

1. Season Duration: 

The Travelling Trowel Season shall run annually from 1st June to 31st May of the following year.

2. Eligibility: 

The Trowel may only be captured by Daughter Lodges within the Province of The Scottish Borders.

3. Requirements for Capture:  

To capture the Trowel a visiting Lodge must attend a Regular or Special Meeting of the Lodge currently holding the Trowel.  The Visiting Lodge must bring a Deputation of at least 5 members. 

• Honorary Members are included. 
• Only those entering as part of the Deputation will be counted. 
• Members already present, non-Deputation members, or latecomers will not count towards the 5.

4. Contributions:  

Each member of the Visiting Deputation must contribute a minimum of £2.00 to the Travelling Trowel Kitty before the Trowel can be claimed.

5. Formal Claim:  

The Brother leading the Deputation must formally claim the Trowel before the close of the meeting.

6. Multiple Visiting Lodges: 

If two or more Deputations (each with at least 5 brethren) are present: 

• The Lodge with the largest Deputation shall have first claim, subject to the Kitty payment. o If two or more have equal numbers, then:  
• The Master of the holding Lodge will decide, on the night, which Lodge captures the Trowel.

7. Additional Rules to Encourage Wider Participation: 

To ensure the Trowel circulates throughout the Province and does not repeatedly pass between the same Lodges: 

• A Lodge that has just lost possession of the Trowel may not recapture it at the next meeting it is available.
• A Lodge that has previously held the Trowel during the current season must wait until at least two other Lodges have held it before becoming eligible to capture it again. 
• If multiple qualifying Deputations are present, priority will be given to Lodges that have not yet held the Trowel during the current season. 
• No Lodge may capture the Trowel more than twice in a single season, unless no other eligible Lodge is present to claim it.

8. Notification:  Upon capture, the successful Lodge must immediately notify  The Provincial Grand Secretary and The Webmaster so that a record of its whereabouts may be maintained and future captures facilitated.

9. Custody of the Kitty:  The Master of the Lodge currently holding the Trowel is responsible for the safe custody of the Kitty.

10. End-of-Season Charity: The Lodge in possession of the Trowel as of 31st May shall decide the charity (Masonic or non-Masonic) to receive the funds. The collected amount should be donated to the chosen charity as soon as practicable after 31st May.

11. Inactivity Clause and Invitation Privilege:   

If no Lodge has claimed the Travelling Trowel within a two-month period, the Lodge currently holding it may formally invite another Daughter Lodge within the Province to bring a Deputation. The invited Lodge shall have the sole right to claim the Trowel regardless of whether other qualifying Deputations are present at the same meeting. This invitation rule overrides the restriction that a Lodge must wait until at least two other Lodges have held the Trowel before being eligible to recapture it.

12. Closing Note: The capture of the Travelling Trowel is warmly commended as a source of cheerful fraternal fun and as an engaging fundraising activity across the Province of The Scottish Borders. 

13. Approval: This document was approved by Provincial Grand Lodge 18th August 2025.

IT IS READY AND WAITING TO BE CAPTURED  FROM: The Galashiels Lodge No, 262