St. John The Evangalist Day
In Freemasonry, our two patron saints are St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist; the latter of whom is celebrated
with this evening's festivities. Originally, a banquet was held for each of the Saints Johns annually. St. John the Baptist
day is celebrated on the summer solstice, June 24. On June 24, 1717, the first recorded St. John's Day Banquet was to celebrate
the formation of the Grand Lodge of England and the installation of its first Grand Master. It was at this time Freemasonry
become known to the world. There was a great feast, now known as the Feast of Holy Saint John, on this occasion. The menu was
as follows:
9 dishes of fowl, three in a dish (2 roasted and 1 boyled with oyster sauce)
3 Yorkshire Hams