The Table Lodge is not a mere banquet or dinner - it is a ceremony. It is complete with a Ritual which incorporates terminology of centuries ago. It includes toasts, songs, stories, and good Masonic speakers. There is no room for off-color jokes, political or religious propaganda, magicians, or vaudeville artists. The Table Lodge should be a completely separate meeting of the Lodge and not combined with anything, such as Installation of Officers or Degree Work.
The entire ceremony for a Table Lodge, from the opening of the Degree to its closing, must take place in the dining room. It must be kept simple, personal, and unsophisticated. It should not be an "extravaganza". Masonic fellowship It its best should be the only goal. As only Masons can be in attendance, the meal must be prepared and served by Masons.
The tables should be arranged in the shape of a horseshoe, preferably with all seated on the outside. The Master should sit at the center of the head table. The Senior Warden should sit at the end of the North side tables and the Junior Warden at the end of the table to the South.
It is imperative that, the Banquet Hall be properly tyled and that none be admitted unless properly avouched for. All those in attendance must be clothed as Masons and none should wear the uniforms or regalia of any, other organization.
The Table Lodge is opened on the Entered Apprentice Degree, hence the terminology - "Lodge of Entered Apprentices and one of Table Instruction". There are seven traditional Toasts. as follows:
1. To the Queen and the Craft.
2. To the Worshipful Master.
3. To the Senior and Junior Wardens.
4. To the Brethren in the Armed Forces.
5. To the Other Officers and Visiting Brethren.
6. To the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the M. W. Grand Lodge.
7. Tyler’s Toast
8. Auld Land Syne
The orders for toasting are:
Right Hand to Arms (Right hand touches glass)
Ready (Glass raised with outstretched arm)
Aim (Glass is brought to lips)
Fire, Good Fire, Fire All (Drink) 3 motions
Present Arms (Glass is brought to ready position)
The glass is then carried to the left shoulder, right shoulder,
and outstretched position thrice, then horizontally to the left,
then the right, then to the table with force.
The Following Charge Shall Be Given
W.M. Brethren, as we partake of the pleasure of this Festive Board, in the manner of our Brethern of ages past, let us be ever aware that we have opened the Holy Bible and set our Lights. The Great Light reminds us of our obligations to the Supreme Architect and to our fellow man, this Lodge is open and our pleasures must be tempered. Jollity and Good Humor shall rub shoulders with us as we break bread, one Brother with another. Good Fellowship and relaxed Sociability shall be our Companions, but this Lodge door is ever closed to coarseness and rudeness. Enjoy my Brethren - enjoy, but keep thy apron ever clean.
(*) Brethren, be seated.
The Toasts
W.M. (*)
S.W. (*)
J.W. (*)
W.M. Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens, cause the arms to be charged and aligned for the (Number as per above list.) toast.
S.W. Brethren on the Column of the North in all your grades and
stations, charge and align your arms for the (Number as per above
list.) toast of
obligation which the Worshipful Master is about to propose.
(All cannons brought down on the table in unison by all on the
North).
J.W.
Brethren on the Column of the South in all your grades and stations,
charge and align your arms for the (Number as per above list.) toast of obligation which
the Worshipful Master is about to propose.
(All cannons brought down on the table in unison by all on the
South).
W.M. Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens, are the cannons charged and aligned?
S.W. & J.W. Yes, Worshipful Master (In unison)
W.M. (***) Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, announce to the Brethren that the toast I have the pleasure to propose is that to…(Name the toast as per above list.)
S.W. Brethren on the Column of the North, the Toast that the Worshipful Master has the pleasure to propose is that to…(Name the toast as per above list.)
J.W. Brethren on the Column of the South, the Toast that the Worshipful Master has the pleasure to propose is that to…(Name the toast as per above list.)
W.M. Right hand to arms. - (Commands)
W.M. (*)
Toast to the Master.....
S.W. (*)
J.W. (*)
W.M. (*) Brothers Senior and Junior Wardens, what do you desire?
S.W. Worshipful Master, the Junior Warden and I beg to allow the arms to be charged and aligned for a Toast that we wish to propose.
W.M. Brethren in all your grades and stations, charge and align your arms for a toast that our Brothers, the Senior and Junior Wardens, wish to propose.
(All cannons brought down on the table in unison by all) (The cannons are charged)W.M. Brother Senior and Junior Wardens, are the cannons charged and aligned?
S. & J.W. Yes, Worshipful Master (In unison)
W.M. The East yields to your desires. What is the Toast that you wish to propose?
S.W. It is to you, Worshipful, (***) Brethren on the Column of the North, the Toast which the Junior Warden and I have the pleasure to propose is that to our Worshipful Master.
J.W. Brethren on the Column of the South, the Toast which the Senior Warden and I have the pleasure to propose is that to our Worshipful Master.
(The Worshipful Master sits)
S.W. Right hand to arms. - Commands)
S.W. (*)
Auld Land Syne
W.M. (*)
W.M. Brethren, cross your arms, right over left, and all join hands forming a chain, and join with me in singing "Auld Lang Syne"
(The serving Brethren should also join in the chain, and swinging arms back and forth in time with the song they all sing.)Should Auld acquaintance be forgot, An' never brought to mind? Should Auld acquaintance be forgot, An' days o' auld lang syne? CHORUS: For auld lang syne, my dear, For auld lang syne, We'll take a cup o'kindness yet For auld lang syne.
W.M. (*)
