Festive Boards

One of the masonic online discussion sites that I follow recently began a string where they asked if your lodge held any "Festive Boards"?

This was a term unknown to me but not a concept. It was thus explained;

A Festive Board is a gathering either before or after a Lodge meeting sometimes at a restaurant to enjoy the fellowship of your brother Masons.

H.L. Haywood, Masonic author writes in his book, "More About Masonry:"
"In the eighteenth century Lodges the feast bulked so large in the life of the Lodge that in many of them the members were seated at the table when the Lodges were opened and remained at it throughtout the Communication, even when degrees were confered. The result was that Masonic fellowship was good fellowship, as in a warm and fruitful soil, acquaintanceship, friendship, and affection could flourish-there was no grim and silent sitting on a bench, staring across at a wall."

I think Caribou Lodge has done a very good job at this and I truly hope to see it continue for years to come. Friendship and fellowship is difficult to foster if you never sit next to a brother and discuss life beyond the lodge.

Just my thoughts.