Tidal Wave 273
Date Worshipful Master (# Attendees)
4/7/1994 Wor. J.D. Poffenbarger Jr. (14)
7/19/1994 Wor. J.D. Poffenbarger Jr. (8)
2/4/1997 Wor. Daniel F. Hall (25)
12/2/1997 Wor. Daniel F. Hall (17)
1/6/1998 RW. Philip K. Poffenbarger Jr. (18)
1/8/1998 RW. Philip K. Poffenbarger Jr. (12)
2/10/1998 RW. Philip K. Poffenbarger Jr. (13)
12/14/2001 RW. Robert G. McBride (5)
12/2/2004 RW. Ray M. Soltis (15)
1/9/2007 Wor. P.J. Wylie (7)
Merged with Seaboard 56
Portsmouth Lodges
Portsmouth 100 Western Branch 189 Churchland 276
8/6/1996 1/31/2005 3/4/1994
1/4/2005 2/12/2007 8/2/1994
5/16/2005 11/30/1994
2/19/2007 3/13/1996
12/4/2001
1/8/2002
3/19/2002
8/17/2004
10/4/2012
1/15/2013
Records of Seaboard 56 & Related Lodges
Traveling Gavels
Suffolk Lodges
Suffolk 30 Nansemond 77 McAlister 185
12/6/1977 1/2/2002 1/8/1977
1/3/1978 3/5/2002 3/14/1978
4/1/2004 1/15/2002
33rd District Traveling Gavel
In 2019, the 33rd and 34th Masonic Districts combined and became the 33rd Masonic District. At that time, the existing Traveling Gavels from those districts were retired and a "new" Traveling Gavel was created. It was created using the jewel from the District Deputy Grand Master for the 34th Masonic District. The last DDGM was RW Philip K Poffenbarger Jr. It traveled the newly combined district with RW David Lupton and came to rest with Portsmouth 100 where it remained until February 14, 2020 when Wor. Eric Fierst and 9 members of Seaboard 56 Took it home.
Records of the now combined 33rd Masonic District
Most Visitors Present (Top 3)
Traveling Gavels were created to promote "traveling" and brotherhood among Masonic Lodges. Each has their own specific rules, but basically it requires a combination of the Worshipful Master, Line Officers, and Brethren of a visiting lodge to have the largest number of "visiting" Masons at the meeting. An Example is the a State Traveling Gavel created by Berkley Lodge No. 167. It requires a total of at least 5 visiting members of a lodge (Worshipful Master + 4) in order to obtain or qualify for it. If that lodge has at least the minimum and more than any other visiting lodge, they will leave with the Traveling Gavel, return it to their lodge and repeat the process. This page is dedicated to the highlight the records of a few of these Traveling Gavels.
Date Lodge # of Attendees
4/23/1974 Corrinthian 266 39
1/4/1996 Lake Drummand 178 38
4/4/1996 Lake Drummand 178 35
Washington-Layfayette 176
Date Worshipful Master (# Attendees)
6/7/1994 RW. Woodrow L. Brown (8)
1/5/1995 RW. Woodrow L. Brown (6)
8/9/2001 Wor. Edward L. Creecy (9)
3/4/2004 RW. Stormy Thorson (9)
2/6/2007 Wor. Phillip R. Hilton (8)
Merged with Seaboard 56
Berkley # 167 State Traveling Gavel
It first started or at least has a chronological record of lodges dating back to December 6, 1973. Click the "grey button" titled "Historical Record of Lodges" for a .pdf of those lodges between 12/6/1973 and 1/10/20. Data below is best available information and through 1/10/2020.
Seaboard 56
Date Worshipful Master (# Attendees)
7/11/1994 Wor. R.L. Lawrence (6)
6/4/1996 Wor. Thomas M. Huett III (7)
5/8/2007 Wor. J.D. Miller (9)
11/1/12 RW. Philip K. Poffenbarger Jr. (5)
1/10/20 Wor. Eric J. Fierst (5)