-
/1890ca_school_for_scandal_chromo_illustration_01_thumb.jpg) TOAST :—May Masonry ever flourish
May masonry for
ages endure,
Through rolling years preserve its prime,
And may it ever stand
secure,
And brave the rude assaults of Time.
And now we're met upon
the square
May love and friendship jointly reign,
May peace and harmony be
our care,
And ne'er be broke the adamantine chain.
[1841,
Toastmaster]
-
May the plumb line and compass, the
square, and the tools,
Direct all our actions in virtue's fair rules.
-
May each
brother mason the truth so maintain,
That all may agree
Generous free-masonry
Is the tie of all ties—life's noblest chain.
-
Toasts to the Grand Lodge:
Bro.
Toastmaster, 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, it is We. Grand Lodge is the lodges. We are the lodges. We are Grand
Lodge. Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
To Grand Lodge.
Bro. Toastmaster, 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. Grand Lodge is the lodges. We are
the lodges. We are Grand Lodge. Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
To Grand Lodge.
Bro. Toastmaster, 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 that authority is. Grand Lodge is the lodges. We are the
lodges. We are Grand Lodge. A toast, Brethren, to Grand Lodge.
Wor. Bro. Toastmaster, Very Wor. 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
Wor. Bro. Toastmaster, R. Wor. 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.
Wor. Bro. Toastmaster, R. Wor. 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 secrecy, fidelity and obedience. And now we owe Grand Lodge a
toast.
Brethren, please be upstanding for a toast.
To Grand Lodge.
-
May all the
contention amongst true Masons be,
Who better can work or who better agree.
-
May all true
masons lay aside,
Ensigns of state, that feed their pride,
And be ennobled by the
name they bear,
Distinguished by the badge they wear.
[1841,
Toast-master]
-
"A Mason's life's the life for me,
With joy we meet each other,
We pass our time with mirth and glee,
And hail each friendly brother:
In lodge no party-feuds are seen,
But careful we in this agree,
To banish care or spleen.
The Master's call, we one and all
With pleasure soon obey;
With heart and hand we ready stand,
Our duty still to pay.
But when the glass goes round,
Then mirth and glee about,
We're all happy to a man;
We laugh a little, we drink a little,
We work a little, we play a little."
....
"Th' Almighty said, 'Let there be light,'
Effulgent rays appearing.
Dispell'd the gloom, the glory bright
To this new world was cheering;
But unto Masonry alone,
Another light, so clear and bright,
In mystic rays then shone;
From east to west it spread so fast,
That, Faith and Hope unfurl'd,
We hail with joy sweet Charity,
The darling of the world.
Then while the toast goes round,
Then mirth and glee about,
Let's be happy to a man;
We'll laugh a little, we'll drink a little,
We'll work a little, and play a little."
- from J. Bisset, "Song XXX" in William Preston's Illustrations of
Masonry (1804)
-
TOAST :—To all true hearted
Freemasons.
May the sacred
rules of masonry instructive spread,
Till truth erect her long neglected head!
Till through deceitful night she dart her ray,
And beam full glorious in the blase of day !
Till men by virtuous maxims learn to move,
Till all the peopled world her laws approve ;
And Adam's race are bound in brother's love.
[1841,
Toast-master]
-
Let us toast
every brother, both ancient and young.
Who bridles his passion and governs his tongue.
-
A proper
application of the 24-inch gauge, so that we may measure out and husband our
time wisely.
-
[Tyler: tailleur, "one who
cuts", JP]
The Tyler's Toast:
'Are your glasses all charged in the West and the South?' the Worshipful
Master cries.
'All charged in the West!' 'All charged in the South,' came the
Wardens' prompt replies.
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 the 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,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.
[from
Usenet
archive]
The Tyler's Toast:
"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."
Another Tyler's Toast:
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 brethren,
Wherever they may be,
On the land, in the air or on the sea.
A speedy relief from their afictions,
And a safe return to their native land,
If they so desire.
(Response)
To all poor and distressed brethren.
-
And here's to the sons of the widow. Whenever, wherever they roam. Here's all
they require, and if they desire, A speedy return to their home.
-
'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 the 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.v And only at our farewell
pledge is pleasure mixed with pain,
Happy to meet, sorry to part, happy to meet again.v
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.
-
The Junior Wardens Toast: Worshipful Master,
I beg permission to propose a toast to __________ Lodge.
To the Lodge so close to the Hearts of its members,
To the brotherhood that has existed throughout the years
And to the interest and loyalty unshaken by adversity and unspoiled by
prosperity.
So may we reflect its integrity and stability in our daily lives.
Will the Brethren of __________ Lodge please rise and repeat after me -
To __________ Lodge No. ____,
(Ancient) Free and Accepted Masons.
[from
Usenet
archive]
-
All noblemen
and right worshipful brothers who have been grand masters.
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All the
friends of the craft.
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All faithful
and true brothers.
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All free-born
sons of the ancient and honourable craft.
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All brothers
who have been grand masters.
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As we meet
upon the level, may we part upon the square.
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Every brother
who keeps the key of knowledge from intruders, but cheerfully gives it to a
worthy brother.
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Every worthy
brother who was at first duly prepared, and whose heart still retains an awful
regard to the three great lights of masonry.
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Every brother who maintains a consistency in love, and sincerity in friendship.
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Golden eggs to
every brother, and goldfinches to our lodges.
-
Honour and
influence to every public-spirited brother.
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May the lodges
in this place be distinguished for love, peace, and harmony.
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May our
actions as masons be properly squared.
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May all
free-masons be enabled to act in a strict conformity to the rules of their
order.
-
May the
brethren of our glorious craft be ever distinguished in the world by their
regular lives, more than by their gloves and aprons.
-
May every
worthy brother who is willing to work and labour through the day, be happy at
night with his friend, his love, and a cheerful glass.
-
May masonry
flourish until nature expire,
And its glories ne'er fade till the world is on fire.
-
May concord,
peace, and harmony, subsist in all regular lodges, and always distinguish
free-masons.
-
May every
brother learn to live within the compass, and watch upon the square.
-
May the
prospect of riches never induce a mason to do that which is repugnant to virtue.
-
May peace,
harmony, and concord, subsist among free-masons, and may every idle dispute and
frivolous distinction be buried in oblivion.
-
May the
square, plumb-line, and level, regulate the conduct of every brother.
-
May masonry
prove as universal as it is honourable and useful.
-
May the
morning have no occasion to censure the night spent by free-masons.
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May every
brother have a heart to feel, and a hand to give.
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May covetous
cares be unknown to free-masons.
-
May we be more
ready to correct our own faults than to publish the errors of a brother.
-
May every
mason participate in the happiness of a brother.
-
May discord,
party rage, and insolence, be for ever rooted out from among masons.
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May all
free-masons go hand-in-hand in the road of virtue.
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May the hearts
of free-masons agree, although their heads should differ.
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May all
free-masons live in love, and die in peace.
May the gentle spirit of love animate the heart of every mason.
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May every
free-mason be distinguished by the internal ornament of an upright heart.
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May every free-mason have so much genuine philosophy, that he may neither be too
much exalted
with the smiles of prosperity, nor too much dejected with the frowns of
adversity.
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May the brethren in this place be united to one another by the bond of love.
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May unity and love be ever stamped upon
the mason's mind.
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May we never rashly believe any report which is prejudicial to a brother.
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May the conduct of masons be such as to convince the world they dwell in light.
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May no
free-mason taste the bitter apples of affliction.
-
May love
animate the heart of every mason.
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May every brother who is regularly entered be instructed in the morals of
masonry.
-
May unity, friendship, and brotherly love, ever distinguish the brethren of the
ancient craft.
-
May we never condemn that in a brother which we would pardon in ourselves.
-
May every brother use the mallet in knocking off those superfluous passions that
degrade the man.
-
May our conversation be such, that by it youth may find instruction, women
modesty, the aged respect, and all men civility.
-
May free-masons ever taste and relish the sweets of domestic contentment.
-
May the
foundation of every regular lodge be solid, its buildings sure, and its members
numerous and happy.
-
May every free-mason have health, peace, and plenty.
-
May every
free-mason find constancy in love, and sincerity in friendship.
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May the
free-mason's conscience be sound, though
his fortune be rotten.
-
May temptation
never conquer a free-mason's virtue.
-
May our evening's diversion bear the morning's reflection.
-
May the
mason's conduct be so uniform, that he may not be ashamed to take a
retrospective view of it.
-
May every
mason's conduct be enabled to act so as to have
an approved monitor.
-
May every
society instituted for the promotion of
virtue flourish.
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May the lives of
all free-masons be spent in acts of true piety highly seasoned with tranquility.
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May honor and
honesty distinguish the brethren.
-
May virtue ever
direct our actions with respect to
ourselves, justice to those with whom we deal,
mercy, love, and charity, to all mankind.
-
May no
free-mason wish for more liberty than constitutes happiness, nor more freedom
than tends to the public good.
-
May the cares
which haunt the heart of the covetous,
be unknown to the free-mason.
-
May no
free-mason desire plenty, but with the benevolent view to relieve the indigent.
-
May the
deformity of vice in other men, teach a ma-
son to abhor it in himself.
-
May all
free-masons ever taste and relish the sweets of
freedom.
-
May hypocrisy,
faction, and strife, be for ever rooted from every lodge.
-
Our royal
brother the king, and the royal and ancient
craft.
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Prosperity to
masons and masonry.
-
Relief to all
indigent brethren.
-
The grand
lodge of England.
-
The grand
lodge of Scotland.
-
The grand
lodge of Ireland.
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The female
friends of free-masons.
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The masters and wardens of all regular
lodges.
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To the memory of him who first planted
the vine.
-
To the
perpetual honour of free-masons.
-
To the memory
of the Tyrian artist.
-
To the secret
and silent.
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To the
innocent and faithful craft.
-
To him that did the temple rear,
Who lived and died within the square,
And lies interred there's none know where,
But those who master-masons are.
[1841,
Toast-master]
-
To all masons
who walk by the line.
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To all who
live within the compass and square.
-
To the
increase of perpetual friendship and peace among the ancient craft.
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To all the
kings, princes, and potentates, who propagate or protect the royal art.
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To all the
fraternity round the globe.
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To all
well-disposed masons.
To our royal most worshipful Master—the Duke of Sussex.
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To all
free-born sons of the ancient and honourable craft.
-
To all ancient
free-masons, wherever dispersed.
-
To all those
who steer their course by the three great lights of masonry.
-
To him who
first the world began.
-
To the memory
of Vitruvius, Angelo, Wren, and
other noble artists.
-
To masons, and
to masons' bairns,
And all the fair with wit and charms
Who bless the favoured masons' arms.
-
The absent
brethren of this lodge.
-
To our next
happy meeting.
-
To the ancient
sons of peace.
-
To all upright
and pure masons.
-
To every pure
and faithful heart
That still preserves the secret art.
-
To all social
free-masons.
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To all true
masons and upright,
Who saw the east where rose the light.
-
To masonry,
friendship, and love.
-
To the
nation's wealth and glory.
-
To each
faithful brother, both ancient and young,
Who governs his passions and bridles his tongue.
-
The absent
brethren of this lodge.
-
The heart
which conceals, and the tongue which never reveals.
-
The keystone
of the masonic arch.
-
The mason who
knows the true value of his tools.
-
To all true
and faithful brothers.
-
To all the
brethren of this lodge, indigent or wealthy.
-
To all firm
friends of the faithful craft.
-
The three
great lights of masonry.
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To all those
who regulate their conduct by the square,
plumb-line, and level.
-
To every
brother who has a heart to feel and a heart
to give.
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To every
brother the four comforts of life : love, liberty, health, and contentment.
-
Come, fill up
a bumper and let it go round,
May mirth and good fellowship always abound,
And may the world see
That free-masonry
Doth teach honest hearts to be jovial and free.
[1841,
Toast-master]
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/1890ca_school_for_scandal_chromo_illustration_01.jpg)