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Does anybody have a script/ritual for an "Agape Lodge?"

Snafu

Registered User
Hello Brothers.

I have been tasked with finding some sort of ritual or script for an "Agape Lodge." Having met with no success, I thought I might try here.

Thanks in advance!

Fraternally,
Snafu, PM
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Agape is one of the ancient Greek words that map to the modern concept of excellence. Apparently Homeric Greek had several words like that each with different implications. Odysseus and Achilles had a lot of Agape according to Homer. Or so I learned in a college literature class.

Sounds to me like an awards ceremony?

Or maybe it's an event with a meal, toasts and is tiled. The official term for that is Table Lodge. As opposed to an event with a meal and toasts but that is not tiled. The official term for that is Festive Board.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
Agape is one of the ancient Greek words that map to the modern concept of excellence. Apparently Homeric Greek had several words like that each with different implications. Odysseus and Achilles had a lot of Agape according to Homer. Or so I learned in a college literature class.

Sounds to me like an awards ceremony?

Or maybe it's an event with a meal, toasts and is tiled. The official term for that is Table Lodge. As opposed to an event with a meal and toasts but that is not tiled. The official term for that is Festive Board.
I've been to a couple of pretty formal Table Lodges and they were 'loosely' tiled with servers in and out throughout.
 

Winter

Premium Member
Agape? Wasn't that an O.T.O thing? I'll check after work and see what I can find for you.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

hanzosbm

Premium Member
Agape is one of the ancient Greek words that map to the modern concept of excellence. Apparently Homeric Greek had several words like that each with different implications. Odysseus and Achilles had a lot of Agape according to Homer. Or so I learned in a college literature class.

To add to this, agape was the original Greek word used in 1 Corinthians when describing Faith, Hope, and Love/Charity. The definition of agape is somewhere between love and charity as a universal and unconditional love.
I only add this to illustrate the link to our ritual and give some context.
 

Scoops

Registered User
Up in Scotland they call their festive boards agape, so it sounds more like a table lodge than an award ceremony to me.

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CLewey44

Registered User
Agape? Wasn't that an O.T.O thing? I'll check after work and see what I can find for you.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
I believe you are correct as well. It is a publication it looks like for one thing. May go deeper than that. Never been to a ECG or joined.
 

Snafu

Registered User
Brothers,

Thank you for your responses.
Indeed, there is a difference between a table lodge and an agape lodge. Neither (in Colorado jurisdiction) are appropriate for awards or any other "lodge business," but do have common aims in furthering fellowship. That said, the goals for these two ceremonies are quite different. With tis in mind, as of this morning, I was promised a copy of the ritual/script for an agape lodge and would hope to receive it by the end of the week.
If anybody is interested in receiving this script, please PM me and I will be happy to forward ritual for either/both Table and Agape lodge--at least as presented to me.

Thanks & regards,
Snafu
 

Winter

Premium Member
Brothers,

Thank you for your responses.
Indeed, there is a difference between a table lodge and an agape lodge. Neither (in Colorado jurisdiction) are appropriate for awards or any other "lodge business," but do have common aims in furthering fellowship. That said, the goals for these two ceremonies are quite different. With tis in mind, as of this morning, I was promised a copy of the ritual/script for an agape lodge and would hope to receive it by the end of the week.
If anybody is interested in receiving this script, please PM me and I will be happy to forward ritual for either/both Table and Agape lodge--at least as presented to me.

Thanks & regards,
Snafu
So, no relation to the O.T.O. Agape Lodge #1?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_Lodge

Not familiar with what you described. I'd be interested to see the script. Do you know the lineage of the term in your jurisdiction?

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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
My lodge here in Cali has an Agape after our Lodge of Instruction. I believe we got our script from the Masonic Restoration Foundation website.
 

Snafu

Registered User
No relation at all. Would not surprise me of the script I am yet still promised is not the same one on the Masonic Restoration Website--though I have not yet seen that script and would like to do so. I guess I'll make the trek over there and see what I can see & report back.
Sorry--I'm sure I'll be of more help, once I either find or am handed a script.
This is basically a dinner served after a short business meeting--spirits are served--and the idea is to promote fellowship, hence the term Agape (platonic love). As the Secretary, I was asked to track down a script for some structure, so at least if rules are broken, we will know in advance that we are breaking them :) . Also, the ritual itself, once located is in and of itself a form of Masonic education. The fact that I am having such a hard time tracking it down and answering these questions would seem to prove that!
More to follow. Again, thanks to all in advance.

Snafu, PM.
 

Winter

Premium Member
No relation at all. Would not surprise me of the script I am yet still promised is not the same one on the Masonic Restoration Website--though I have not yet seen that script and would like to do so. I guess I'll make the trek over there and see what I can see & report back.
Sorry--I'm sure I'll be of more help, once I either find or am handed a script.
This is basically a dinner served after a short business meeting--spirits are served--and the idea is to promote fellowship, hence the term Agape (platonic love). As the Secretary, I was asked to track down a script for some structure, so at least if rules are broken, we will know in advance that we are breaking them :) . Also, the ritual itself, once located is in and of itself a form of Masonic education. The fact that I am having such a hard time tracking it down and answering these questions would seem to prove that!
More to follow. Again, thanks to all in advance.

Snafu, PM.
Seems to me from your description that you are looking for something related to the Festive Board. Try adding that to your search terms.

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Brother JC

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
There are numerous hits online if you search for table lodge. They all vary slightly and none have the same toasts we use at ours.
 

Snafu

Registered User
Thank you. A Table lodge is a different animal & we have ritual for that. I will however try adding the term "Festive Board" to my search efforts.

Best,
Snafu
 

Snafu

Registered User
FYI, plenty of hits on "Festive Board" lodge. HOWEVER, still not what I'm looking for. I'm hoping that when I do find it (or when the local Brother who promised it, offers it...) and share it with you all, you will find it impressively enlightening.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!

Snafu
 

Keith C

Registered User
Is this "Agape Lodge" something that is commonly done in your Jurisdiction?

I can only imagine the pile of Red Tape we would have to go through in order to do something like this here in PA. I sure would never be able to look up some ritual on the Internet and have a go with it at Lodge!
 

Snafu

Registered User
Well, I would not say that is common, or I would have no problem finding the ritual I'm looking for (it will show up eventually), but yes it is done from time to time. Nothing in our bilaws to prevent it prohibit different types of meetings, i.e table Lodge, Agape Lodge... The list goes on. Our incoming WM wants to try to do it regularly... We'll see...

Thanks,
Snafu, P.M.
 
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