Lodge Publications Center

Table Lodge: January 16, 2004

. . . and a great time was had by all in attendance. The Minnesota River Valley (MRV) Masonic Lodge #6, located in Shakopee and serving the communities of Chaska, Prior Lake, Savage, Jordan, Belle Plaine, New Prague, and Montgomery (and all points in between), held another Table Lodge feast on January 16, 2004. We had 87 Lodge Brothers, family, Brothers from other Lodges, five recipients of the 50 year pin (celebrating 50 years of Masonry), and three potential candidates, sharing our feast.

From time immemorial, Freemasons have enjoyed meeting about a "FESTIVE board". The Table Lodge is no mere banquet or dinner - it is a special ceremony that carries out a custom in Masonry which was old when the pyramids were built. From the idea of the feast, and the desire to promote a greater degree of fellowship and kinship in Masonry, was born the Table Lodge. It is complete with a Ritual which incorporates terminology of centuries ago. It includes toasts, Masonic songs, and a good Masonic speaker. We emphasize "good Masonic Speaker"' because no other kind will do.

Marc Peterson, our Lodge Master, opened the MRV Lodge in "due form", and introduced our guests. For tonight’s celebration, Steve Johnson, who is a member of the Minnesota Grand Lodge, and is in line to be Grand Master in 2006, acted as Master of Ceremony. He explained the history of the table lodge ceremony, and described the procedures. Essentially, this ceremony is a fun-filled evening patterned after English and French military banquets of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Accompanying a seven-course meal, Steve led us in the traditional seven toasts which included toasts to our country, our flag, the office of president of the United States, to our craft, the Memory of our departed Brethren, and to all Freemasons wherever they may be.

John Loutzenhiser introduced our 50 year members and presented them with their 50-year pins The speaker for the evening was our current Grand Master, Neal Neddermeyer, discussing Masonry principles, fraternity, and Brotherhood, as well as all the good we do for each other and our communities.

To find out more about Freemasonry, ask a Masons or see our web site: http://www.mn-rivervalley.org. Potential candidates should ask a Mason for a petition.