The Festive Board

14.0 The Festive Board

The Festive Board which follows most meetings is so often the forgotten aspect of the Worshipful Master’s role. It is an important and integral part of our Freemasonry here in Spain and should be considered with as much care as the meeting in the Lodge room. We spend considered and dedicated time getting things right for the Ceremony from the weeks of memorising the words, movements and signs and once we have patted ourselves on the back for a super Ceremony, retire for refreshment at the Festive Board. How we conduct ourselves during Festive Board can be the lasting impression for any visitor. It is, therefore important that time is spent getting the protocol right. As Worshipful Master you should remember that you rule and direct the Festive Board, as you would the meeting in the Lodge room, with the support and guidance of your Director of Ceremonies. You may decide how the meal is to be conducted but, if you wish to do things differently from previous Worshipful Masters, you should take care that you are not spoiling what is an important aspect of the enjoyment of other members of the Lodge. Should you wish to amend or adapt the Lodge’s established custom and practice, then you should have good justifiable reason for doing so, there is no place for change for change’s sake.

14.1 Commencement of the Festive Board

The Director of Ceremonies will confirm that each Brother is seated correctly, that the Official Toast list and Gavel are in position near to your place setting, and that the Wardens understand their duties during the Festive Board. He will then announce you and the Brethren will receive you with any guest, arriving at you place the Director of Ceremonies will invite you to ‘Gavel.’

14.2 Grace

After you have ‘Gavelled’ the Director of Ceremonies will invite either you or the Chaplain, to offer Grace. This should be offered in silence with reverence and sincerity, there is no place for ’flippant’ irreverent graces. In the Province of Valencia, the Returning of Grace after the meal is not practiced.

14.3 The Gavel

As in the meeting, the gavel is a symbol of your authority and rule. The use of the gavel unnecessary will in turn diminish its authority, at all times it should only be used to gain the attention of the Brethren. The Director of Ceremonies will invite you to ‘Gavel’ prior to each announcement or toast to be given. The Director of Ceremonies will ensure that total silence and decorum is maintained when the gavel is sounded by you followed by your Wardens. You should not speak or attempt to give a toast until there is complete silence.

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14.4 Wine Taking

As Worshipful Master you may decide who you would like to take wine with at your festive board, there is no set way, but there are a few points that you should consider before commencing the taking of wine. The taking of wine is an honour, and acknowledgement by you to a Brother, Rank, and or Appointment. Your list should be agreed with the Director of Ceremonies beforehand, playing it ‘off the cuff’ is not acceptable. It should be kept to a small number with a maximum of up to six. Taking of wine can become detrimental to congenial conversation unless it is kept to a minimum. You should be careful not to offend Brethren. The custom and practice of the Lodge will assist you in considering who to take wine with.

Let us look at some considerations. — Some Worshipful Masters feel compelled to take wine with everybody and for everything, the question is ‘WHY’? Is it necessary to take wine with the ‘Officer's’ individually, in groups or pairs? Why single out the Officer’s? we all know them, they are only doing their job allocated to them, are not the Brethren not in office equally important? Taking wine with all the Brethren is surely sufficient.

Why take wine with personal and other guest? Are these so special or superior that they have two drinks? Traditionally in Valencia, the Junior Warden gives a speech of welcome to visiting Brethren after dinner, when their health is drunk, again surely this is sufficient? So why do it twice?

Why take wine with the Initiate? When he will receive a formal toast and, in most lodges, the traditional song of welcome, is this not sufficient?

Let us try and be constructive and suggest what wine takings are desirable during the dinner. Bearing in mind ‘Time Management’ the following is a suggested list the Worshipful Master may consider. But the custom and practice of the Lodge must be borne in mind, your Director of Ceremonies will give you guidance.

14.5 At Regular Meetings

At regular meetings, the taking of wine will be supervised by your Director of Ceremonies by the customs of your own Lodge. It may be prudent to consider the following;

 Taking of wine with your Wardens

 Taking of wine with the Officers of Grand Lodge

 Taking of wine with all the Brethren.

Only three you might ask, why not? The third category “All the Brethren” includes Officers of Provincial Grand Lodge, Officers who have sundry duties and members of sub committees, the Brother whose Birthday it is, etc, etc.

14.6 At Official Visits

On the occasion of an official Visit, by the Provincial Grand Master, His Deputy or Page 28 |of 50

Assistant the wine taking will be supervised by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies:

1. The Worshipful Master with his Wardens.

2. The WM with the Provincial Grand Master, His Deputy or Assistant.

3. The WM with the PGM, his Deputy or Assistant, and all the Brethren.

15.0 Speeches

Speeches at the Festive Board are important and should be prepared in advance, few of us can ad-lib and successfully make a meaningful speech. You should consider your speech beforehand.

Such speeches as are considered necessary at the Festive Board, should be short and to the point. Long rambling speeches tend to lose the audience and are an unnecessary interruption of the proceedings. Most certainly any speech containing doubtful and suggestive stories should never be permitted, or even considered at a Masonic Festive Board or dinner. Remember “No man can speak eloquently upon a subject he does not understand.”

It is not only you as Worshipful Master who can cut down on speeches. Unfortunately, there are occasion when comments such as “has he got it right (or wrong) this time,” or other ribald remarks are heard. Some Brethren have been heard to start a speech with “Worshipful Master, Brother Wardens, Grand Officers, Officers of Provincial Grand Rank, Past Masters Officers and Brethren” or a combination of the forgoing! Apart from the fact that the style of title is not correct it is a waste of valuable time. The preamble should not be the subject of comment on how correct or incorrect it is thought to be.

The Director of Ceremonies will give the full preamble at the commencement of proceeding there after it is only necessary to use “Worshipful Master, Brother Wardens, and Brethren. We are all Brothers; therefore no one should be offended.

16.0 Toasts

The formal toasts to be given after dinner, are laid down in the official “Toast List” which your Secretary or Director of Ceremonies will provide you with at each Festive Board, you should familiarise yourself with it, paying attention to the sequence and the pronunciation of the names and titles. It is embarrassing to all when names are mispronounced and subject to cat calls. It is recommended and good practice as Master Elect, to take advice on how to propose the Official toasts before taking your place at the Festive Board on the occasion of your Installation.

After the meal, your Director of Ceremonies will position himself behind and to your right and request you to ‘Gavel’ to bring the Brethren to Order. The Director of Ceremonies will then make the full preamble to the formal toast. When you stand to give the toast, you do not need to repeat what the Director of Ceremonies has

Page 29 |of 50 already said, it is quite sufficient to read the word on the card prefixed by “The toast is” - “The King.” Once the formal toast has commenced, they should flow in sequence without undue delay, long gaps between each are to be avoided. Such delays can cause late departures of guest and members and it is inconsiderate for those who may well have long journeys to make. Brethren who wish to ‘talk into the night’ may do so after the Tyler's Toast. Keeping an eye on ‘Time Management,’ there is no objections to toasts being taken between the course of the meal providing the serving staff are clear of the dining room.

Likewise, unless the Lodge tradition, custom and practice, are specific on the proposition of the various toasts, i.e that the Worshipful Master proposes all toasts, you should make use of Junior Brethren, to propose some of the toasts, as this will help to instil confidence in them. Ensuring that you or the Director of Ceremonies make sure they are prepared for the task they have been set, warning them that if they are proposing a toast for the first time to be brief and that doubtful and suggestive stories are taboo.

A current list of GLE Masonic Toasts, and responses is shown in Appendix 2

17.0 Masonic Fire

The “Masonic Fire” given after each toast should be treated with total decorum and should never be speeded up to the point where disrespect is shown to the Craft and the Lodge. When introducing the Masonic ‘Fire’, let us also remind ourselves of the words spoken by the Proposer of the toast. The Proposer says, ‘Brethren, please take the time from me’. With this instruction the Brethren should keep their eyes on the Proposer, who is charged with setting the pace of the ‘Fire’. If enough Brethren are primed to follow the pace of the Proposer then the remaining Brethren will effortlessly fall into pace. Run through the order of toasts to be proposed at the Festive Board. Discuss the protocols of how toasts are introduced, which have ‘Fire’; who delivers them; and why. Silent fire is used in some lodges at the Absent Brethren or Tyler’s toast, but it really has no place at our Festive Boards.

18.0 Vacating your Chair

If it is necessary for you or one of your Wardens to vacate your chair during the Festive Board, then a Brother of at least equal rank should fill them.

19.0 Consumption of Alcohol

You should remember all Masonic drinking should be in moderation as most Brethren like a drink—but nobody likes a drunk, it will be your responsibility to caution any Brother abusing this at the festive board.

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20.0 Honour and Reputation

Remember as Worshipful Master you are the principal Officer of the Lodge during your year. The Lodge will be judged by the manner you conduct yourself in and out of the Lodge and when visiting other Lodges and similar Masonic functions. You should listen to sound advice and work harmoniously with your Officers and Brethren.

21.0 Visitors and Visiting

21.1 Inviting Visitors to your Lodge

If you invite a guest to your Lodge ensure that he is aware of the starting time and the location of the Masonic Centre, or venue. Ensure you are aware of his dietary requirements, what wine he prefers and what he likes to drink after the meeting. If it is his first visit to your Lodge, introduce him, if you are not in the Chair, to the Worshipful Master. If your guest is a Grand Officer, or an active Provincial Officer, inform the Director of Ceremonies so that the necessary courtesies can be extended.

21.2 Visiting Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge

Once you become a Warden of your Lodge, you should try to attend at least one of the Grand Lodge meetings, if possible, with the Worshipful Master and the other Warden. You are expected to support the Province by attending the Annual Assembly of Provincial Grand Lodge, in support of any Brother from your Lodge who may be receiving Provincial Honours, as well as the Annual Provincial Lodge of Instruction. As Worshipful Master if you attend these meetings, you may wear your Worshipful Master’s collar, which are the only occasions you are permitted to wear your collar outside of your Lodge.

21.3 Visiting Other Lodges

During your year you will undoubtedly be invited to other Lodges but, if you are unable to accept an invitation, tender your apologies as soon as possible to the Lodge Secretary: do not leave them to be given on the night by someone else on your behalf, unless it is unavoidable. Take pride in your appearance and note the dress requirements of the Lodge you are visiting. Some Lodges require dinner Jackets on occasions, so do your utmost to conform and, obviously try to be always punctual.

Occasionally you will be asked to reply on behalf of the Visitors. When replying, try to avoid mentioning every officer of the Lodge regardless, as the Brethren are obviously aware of how the ceremony went. If an officer has performed well then this can be properly alluded to and will consequently, highlight his efforts. Avoid criticism of the workings, or an individual’s efforts, as this is most impolite. Do not use superlatives in excess when commenting on the Ceremony or some other event in the Lodge. If the occasion is not worthy of excessive praise it can become embarrassing. You may think it kind to over-praise, but other present will know it is an exaggeration and, at Page 31 |of 50 best could appear insincere. It could also cause discomfort to the recipient of the remark.

Always remember to thank the proposer of the toast and the Brethren for their kind attention to your reply. Do not embarrass your host or yourself, with unseemly behaviour, such as drinking to excess or interrupting someone making a speech, as such un-masonic behaviour cannot be tolerated. Remember you are an ambassador for your Lodge so be always courteous and discreet. It is also important that you send a letter of thanks after visiting a Lodge. For the hospitality you have received.

Finally, as the newly Installed Master you are reminded once again that “the honour, reputation and usefulness of the Lodge will materially depend on the skill and assiduity with which you manage its concerns. Forcibly impress upon your Brethren the dignity and high importance of Masonry, seriously admonish them never to disgrace it and charge them to practice out of the Lodge those duties they have been taught in it.” This is not just for your year as Worshipful Master, but for all times!

22.0 Summary

Your year as Master should only cost you what you can afford. There is no hard and fast rule about expenses. You can pay for as many guests as you like. No one should feel left out if they are not included in this. Raffles and Ladies’ Nights are all under your control and you can ask for advice from the Immediate Past master as to what he did. Do not feel obliged to follow his lead. You can have a very successful social year without having to remortgage your house. All the above advice sounds easy when reading the actions to take, etc., and it demonstrates how often a little research and preparation can prevent things going wrong. As Worshipful Master you must rule and direct your Lodge.

Do not leave it all to the Secretary, Director of Ceremonies, or Immediate Past Master to continually prompt you through the ritual and dealing with the agenda of the meeting. With a little homework, careful planning, and preparation for the meeting your command and control of the meeting will be with confidence, which will be noted, and appreciated by the Brethren, and enjoyed by yourself. Above all enjoy your year as it will pass very quickly.

‘May God grant you Health and Strength to perform the Duties of your High Office with Satisfaction to Yourself and Advantage to your Lodge’.