It seems the Festive Board fell a bit to the wayside in the 2010-2011 Masonic year here at Harmonie. This deeply saddend me, as J.W. this was an old tradition I loved and it was fast becoming iconic to Harmonie's identity as a Lodge. The warm feelings, fellowship and Brotherly love was there but not the wonderful throwback of Masonic Toasting. This pratice of formal toasting is a deep part of our Masonic heratage, ingrained around the beating heart of the Festive Board, truly the heart of the Lodge in all ages. I don't know why it was overlooked but I noticed and I can't let that happen again. Our officers worked hard last year and asked ourselves the important questions, "What could we do to make this easier?" and "What can we do so that we never lose this practice to history again?" from these questions was born the official Harmonie Lodge Festive Board Program. We went into the way back machine and looked over old Table Lodge Ritual. From that historical base designed a Festive Board program that we can all be proud of. A simple 11x15 inch 2 sided laminated program which covers all parts, from opening greetings, to toasting and the finial Tyler's Toast. We covered everything a Brother would want to know in order to enjoy this wonderful Masonic tradition. We kept it in a strong bearings of our German roots, building heavily from old German Table Lodge Ritual. In all I am very proud of the result and happy we were able to work on this project and have it for Brothers of Harmonie for many years to come. At left is the proof from the original draft of the program. You will have to come to the Festive Board to see the true finished product. Like all things in Masonry it is better to experience it than hear about it.
I will see you all around the quarry and I better see you around the Feastive Board,
Bro. D
As Junior Warden you are in charge of the Lodge while at refreshment. How can you say, "I don't know why it was overlooked"? Is that not the JW's responsibility?
ReplyDeleteThat is true but you must also work within the guidlines of what the Master wants. If the meetings run long or your stuck in the kitchen it's hard. That's why we came up with this as a guide for future Brothers, Wardens and Masters. That and if the JW does get stuck preparing the meal this will allow for others to step in, if need be. It should be said that the programs at the Festive Board are done at the
ReplyDeleteMasters will. No matter how focused a JW maybe if the Master is not into it, little can be done.
I think Bro. D. did a great job as JW. It is important to note that while his post said that the Festive Board fell a bit to the wayside, that in truth it did not. We still sat around the same table and had high quality food, drink, and fellowship. The only thing that was not as consistent as the year before was the series of toasts. The toasting actually went very well during the DDGM visit. But as Bro. D. points out it is the WM who must lead the toasting. I am very pleased with Bro. D.'s new toasting menu and was happy to have been able to contribute some ideas regarding the content. In short, I congratulate Bro. D. for a fine year as JW and for learning from the lessons of the past to get the 2011-12 year off to great head start.
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