Military Toasties For the Adventures Club
-2006-
• All presenters of
toasts shall be forewarned •
Mr. President: “Mr. Vice, would you
please bring the Mess to order.”
Mr. Vice: “Mr. President, I now
open the Evening Mess of the Adventurers Club.”
-The Formal
Toasts-
Mr. President: “Ladies and gentlemen, please be up standing for the first of the formal toasts – Naval and Marine officers may remained seated.” (explanation to come later if necessary.)
The First Formal Toast: The Queen – The President of the Mess.
Mr. President: “Ladies – Please be seated.”
The Second Formal Toast: The Empire – The Senior officer present in the mess not currently serving as the president.
The Third Formal Toast: The Senior Service, the Navy – The Junior British Army Officer in the Mess.
• (If no British Army officer is present in the mess the junior foreign officer of the appropriate service may substitute.)
The Fourth Formal Toast: The Junior Service, the Army – The Senior British Naval or Marine Officer in the mess.
• (If no British Naval officer is present in the mess the senior foreign officer of the appropriate service may substitute.)
The Fifth Formal Toast: The Ladies – The Senior British Non-commissioned officer present in the mess; any service.
• (If no British non-com is present is in the mess the senior foreign non-com may substitute.)
The Sixth Formal Toast: To Gallantry – The Senior British Lady present in the Mess.
• (If no British lady present in the mess, the senior foreign lady may substitute.)
Mr. President: (If necessary) “Mr. Vice, will you open the Mess to the Extraordinary Toasts.”
Mr. Vice: “I now open the Mess to Extraordinary Toasts.”
-The
Extraordinary Toasts-
(Our special non-British guests - if applicable)
Visiting Royalty – The Highest ranking royal or peer present in the mess not president of the Mess.
• (By alphabetical order of Country – Title, Name and country, e.g.: His Royal Highness King Olav of Sweden.)
Foreign Heads of State – The President of the Mess.
• (By date of establishment and rank – rank, name and country, e.g.: Mr. Vice President Johnson of the United States.)
Foreign Ambassadors: (By alphabetical order of Country) – Mr. Vice
Foreign Flag Rank Officers, Navy – The Second Senior Army Officer present in the mess.
Foreign General Officers, Army or Marine – The Second Senior Naval Officer present in the mess.
{Rules: Clarifications, omissions, special orders and/or exceptions – Mr. President’s explanations of the toasting etiquette. - Etc.}
Mr. President: “Mr. Vice, will you please open the Mess to General Toasts.”
Mr. Vice: “The Mess is now open to requests for General Toasts.”
-General
Toasts-
(Members request of Mr. Vice the honor of presenting a toast; Mr. Vice responds with a desire for a descriptions of the toast; requester replies with vagaries as to the nature of the toast; Mr. Vice does his best to interpret the vagaries to Mr. President so that he may be allowed to grant the toast; Mr. President replies with acceptance (usually) of the request; Mr. Vice informs the requester of acceptance or denial; requester, if allowed, presents the toast with its true meaning; Mess responds.)
After appropriate time Mr. Vice is requested to limit toasts three more requests; upon completion:
-Closing
General Toasts-
Mr. President: “Mr. Vice, will you please present our final toast.”
-Ultimate
Toast-
Absent friends – Mister Vice
- Closing -
Mr. President: “Mr. Vice, will you please adjourn the mess.”
Mr. Vice: “Ladies and Gentlemen of the Adventures Club I now call this Mess to be closed. ‘God Save the Queen.’”