En: Toasts for the Festive Board
Toasts for the Festive Board
After most lodge meetings in this jurisdiction are ended, the officers and brethren will retire to the banquet room for what is often referred to as the Festive Board. This gathering is opened with a prayer, conducted with certain toasts, and closed with the Tyler’s Toast. The following are a small selection of appropriate remarks. Brethren are advised to consult with the Director of Ceremonies regarding the proper salutations and titles for the occasion, as these may be an individual lodge decision.
For health and food,
for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends,
Great Architect, we thank thee.
God bless our meat,
God quide our ways,
God give us grace
Our Lord to please.
Lord, long preserve in peace and health
Our gracious Queen Elizabeth.
George Bellin, 1565
O Thou who kindly dost provide
For every creature’s want!
We bless Thee, God of nature wide,
For all Thy goodness lent;
And, if it please Thee, Heavenly Guide,
May never worse be sent;
But whether granted, or denied,
Lord, bless us with content!
Robert Burns
Friendship and love may they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Bless our friends, bless this food;
Bless all mankind forever.
Some ha'e meat and can-na eat,
And some ha'e none that want it,
But we ha'e meat and we can eat,
And so the Lord be thank-et.
Robert Burns
The things, good Lord, that we pray for,
Give us grace to work for.
(Sir Thomas Moore)
For every cup and plateful,
God make us truly grateful.
God is great and God is good,
And we thank him for our food.
By his hand we all are fed;
Give us Lord, our daily bread.
Thank You for the world so sweet,
Thank You for the food we eat,
Thank You for birds that sing,
Thank You God, for everything.
E. Rutter Leatham
Father, who fed the small sparrows,
Give us our bread and feed our brothers.
May the GAOTU bless to our use that which His bounty has provided.
(United Kingdom)
For these and all Thy mercies given,
We bless and praise Thy Name, O Lord;
May we receive them with thanksgiving,
Ever trusting in Thy word.
To Thee alone be honour, glory,
Now and henceforth for evermore. Amen.
Pour tous ces dons, nous Te bénissons Seigneur,
Et pour Tes Grâces qui ont été données.
Reconnaissants et confiants en Ton Verbe,
Nous recevons Tes divines bontés.
Seulement à Toi soient l'honneur et la gloire,
Ce soir, demain, jusqu'à la fin du temps. Amen.
Attributed by Dr. Charles Burney (1726-1814) to "Laudi Spirituali", Florence, c. 1336.
== Visitor’s Response ==
Bro. Toastmaster and brethren; This evening I find myself a welcome visitor in your lodge. We are all visitors on this sublunary abode and as the humble representative of those who are now visiting your small part of it, I thank you for your welcome and for the pleasure of your company.
Having arrived as a stranger
I was greeted as a friend
Welcomed as a comrade
Received as a dignitary
Trusted as a confidante
And embraced as a brother
On behalf of all the visitors present
I thank you my friends and brothers for your hospitality,
And I hope we can continue our masonic journey together;
Bound by trust, supported by comradeship,
And inspired by confidence.
Dan Zrymiak
W. Bro. Toastmaster, M.W. Grand Master and brethren; It is a pleasure for me to have this opportunity to propose a toast to our visiting brethren. A visit is a most gratifying experience among freemasons. Since this lodge was constituted we have enjoyed receiving visitors from all quarters of the world. Many of our own members have had the opportunity and privilege of visiting lodges in our own country and internationally. May you continue to visit our lodge, as the hand of fellowship is always extended.
Brethren of .... Lodge, will you please be upstanding and drink with me a toast to our visiting brethren
== To our visitors ==
Bro. Toastmaster and brethren. What can I say about visiting that has not been so eloquently said by my predecessors in this pleasant duty? We are all visitors on this sublunary abode but this evening we have had the pleasure of welcoming you to our own small part of it. And I now have the humble distinction of calling my brethren to further extend that welcome. Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
To the visitors
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. District Deputy Grand Master, brethren; It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to propose, what I consider the most important toast of the evening, a toast to our visitors. A visit among freemasons is always a gratifying experience. Visiting is a form of communication. We impart and receive knowledge, ideas and, most important: expressions of friendship and brotherhood. But are we communicators? Do we pass on that which we have received from one to another? If that which is received from a brother ends with us it might as well not been said. The brethren of this lodge hope that their message of friendship and brotherhood is worthy of being passed on.
Brethren of .... Lodge, Please assist me in communicating our friendship and brotherhood and be upstanding for a toast.
To the visitors.
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and brethren; It is a pleasure to have this opportunity to propose what I consider the most important toast of the evening—a toast to our visitors. On occasions like tonight, when we are honoured by having the DDGM with us, it is also gratifying to see that so many distinguished visitors have accompanied him. I use the term distinguished advisably, since it is my belief that a visitor is someone special and should be treated as such.
Each one of the visitors here tonight comes for a reason best known to himself; respect for Grand Lodge, admiration for our DDGM, perhaps an interest in the running of our lodge. All are good reasons but underlying all is a desire to join with fellow freemasons for an evening of friendship and brotherly love; something that can never be measured in terms of worldly values. I trust that we of .... Lodge have greeted you, and treated you each and all as someone special. May you continue to be a visitor as the hand of fellowship is always extended.
Brethren of .... Lodge, will you please be upstanding and drink with me a toast to our visiting brethren
To our visitors.
A Toast to all our differences
A Toast to common ground
A Toast to what we're seeking
A Toast to what we've found
To what brings us together
To what sets us apart
A Toast to many different souls
United with one heart.
To the visitors ...
Dan Zrymiak
Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and brethren. Grand Lodge provides information, gives guidance when sought, admonishes and encourages the lodge when needed. Yet in perfect symmetry, it is often emphasized that Grand Lodge is not "they", but 'we". For without the lodges there is no Grand Lodge, and without its members there is no lodge. Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
== To Grand Lodge ==
Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and Brethren. What does Grand Lodge do? What all of us do, with varying effectiveness, is work at helping our individual members to be good citizens. Grand Lodge encourages individual lodges in the support they can give to their members. Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
To Grand Lodge.
Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and brethren. What is Grand Lodge? Grand Lodge officers, every Master, Past Master and Warden of a constituent lodge. The delegates from each lodge, at the annual session, determine the policies of Grand Lodge. We accept the authority of Grand Lodge as we determine what is that authority. A toast, brethren, to Grand Lodge.
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master, brethren; Our first Grand Lodge was constituted in 1717. It was founded to inculcate the virtues of charity, truth and brotherly love. Remember those who gave us these banners when you honour those of our own Grand Lodge who carry them forward. Brethren, please be upstanding and join me in a toast to Grand Lodge
To Grand Lodge
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and brethren; Much has been said by brethren in praise of Grand Lodge. Much can be done by brethren to support Grand Lodge. But for now I merely call on the brethren to please be upstanding for a toast.
To Grand Lodge.
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master, brethren; It is Grand Lodge that directs us, Grand Lodge that chastens us, Grand Lodge that supports us. We were advised, on being raised to the third degree that we should work to improve the morals and correct the manners of men in society. Grand Lodge works in a like manner to our benefit.
We owe Grand Lodge fidelity and obedience. And now we owe Grand Lodge a toast.
Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
== To the M. W. Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon ==
W. Bro. Toastmaster, R.W. Bro. District Deputy Grand Master and brethren; May the Most High remember in His blessings The preservation of our Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon By cementing and adorning it with every social and moral virtue including The Wisdom of King Solomon The Strength of King Hiram of Tyre’s men and materials and the Beauty of Hiram Abif’s curious and masterly workmanship So that our Grand Lodge may lead our lodges and brethren With Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice For the benefit of all Freemasonry.
To Grand Lodge.
Dan Zrymiak
== To all poor and distressed brethren ==
To all poor and distressed brethren,
Wheresoever they may be,
On the land, the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their suffering,
And a safe return to their native land, If they so desire.
(Response)
To all poor and distressed brethren.
To all poor and distressed freemasons,
Wherever they may be,
On the land, on the sea or in the air.
A speedy relief from their afflictions,
And a safe return to their native land,
If they so desire.
(Response)
To all poor and distressed brethren.
Then 'ere’s to the sons o' the Widow,
Wherever, 'owever they roam.
'Ere’s all they desire, an' if they require
A speedy return to their 'ome.
Rudyard Kipling
'Are your glasses all charged in the West and the South?' the Worshipful Master cried!
'All charged in the West'
'All charged in the South'
Came the Wardens' prompt reply.
Then to our final toast tonight, our glasses freely drain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
The mason’s social brotherhood around the festive board,
Reveals a truth more precious far, than any miser’s hoard.
We freely share the bounteous gifts, that generous hearts contain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
We meet as masons free and true, and when our work is done,
The merry song and social glass is not unduly won.
And only at our farewell pledge is pleasure mixed with pain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
Amidst our mirth we drink to all poor masons o'er the Earth,
On every shore our flag of love is gloriously unfurled.
We prize each Brother, fair or dark, who bears no moral stain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
We Masons prize that noble truth, the Scottish peasant told,
That rank is but a guinea stamp: The man himself the gold.
We meet the rich and poor alike, the equal rights maintain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
Dear brethren of the mystic tie, the night is waning fast,
Our work is done, our feast is o'er, this toast must be the last.
Good night to all, once more good night,
again that farewell strain,
(Response)
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
Pocket, heart, hand
(Repeat 3 times with gestures)
Here’s to the sons of the widow
Whenever, wherever they roam
A speedy relief to their afflictions
And if they desire,
a speedy return to their home.
To all poor and distressed Masons, wherever dispersed over the face of Earth and Water, wishing them a speedy relief from all their sufferings, and a safe return to their native country; should they so desire it.
== Other Tyler’s Toasts ==
The Craftsmen’s work.
The Final Toast.
To the Entered Apprentice
The treasure you'll encounter doesn't lie at journey’s end
Though you start in total darkness, into light you will ascend
The wealth of all you'll gain is with the price you have to pay
You will find all that you seek and more somewhere along the way
So onward, upward, candidate, be all that you can be.
Brethren, stand and toast his journey in Freemasonry
Dan Zrymiak
- Source: Brethren, please be upstanding
