Indiana Freemasons Online

Table Lodge Ceremony

The following is a room design, suggested agenda, suggested toasts, and notes for a table lodge on the Master Mason degree adopted by the Grand Lodge. It may be used in conjunction with a stated meeting. It could be used as a special celebration at a called meeting.

A lodge need not receive permission from the Grand Master to move the lodge's charter to the dining room for this event.

Room Design:

Suggested Agenda:

Open lodge on Master Mason Degree.
Welcome. Brothers "spread cement" by greeting each other.
Call from labor to refreshment.
Junior Warden directs Stewards to serve meal.
At appropriate time lodge is called from refreshment to labor.
Transact business if on stated meeting.
Close. Brothers gather around the altar at appropriate time during closing.

If the Lodge wishes they may incorporate into the meeting these suggested toasts:

To our country, our flag, and the office of president of the United States,
To our sojourning brothers,
To the founders of our Lodge,
To our Master and __________ Lodge Number _____ ,
To our charities,
To all Freemasons wheresoever dispersed. (Traditionally done by the Tyler)

Some other optional toasts may include:

To our sick and distressed brothers,
To our community,
To our state and the office of governor of the State of Indiana,
To our Indiana Masonic Home.

The Master may permit those brothers giving the toast to embellish as they see fit or he may provide a toast for them. An example, "Join with me in a toast to Joe Mason, our Master who so capably presides and to our beloved Hometown Lodge No. 223 which we hold so dear and are so proud, with me brothers to our Master and Hometown Lodge No. 223."

Other General Suggestions:
The Deacons and Stewards should have their staffs next to their places. The Wardens should have their columns at their stations. If the Junior Warden employs the Stewards to serve the meal then it is not necessary that they carry their staffs at refreshment.

It is desirable to serve the meal on china, but not mandatory. Meals may be served family style. Fellowship is the prime objective of the Table Lodge or Festive Board.

The current layout has places available for 21 brothers. If needed additional tables could be placed in the North and South, keeping the Junior Warden in the center of the South. Also this layout places a maximum of 6 brothers at each table. Larger tables could allow more seating. It may also be possible to place a brother or brothers at the ends of the tables. Again, the prime objective is fellowship. Also it is important for the flow of fellowship to have brothers placed opposite from each other. This encourages conversations among the brothers at the table. But it is important that no one sit opposite of the Master or Wardens.

If the lodge so desires it could utilize this Table Lodge layout and suggested agenda for its stated meetings

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