Page 142 - MustangEbook

2. Mr. Vice will rise and say, “Ladies and It is sometimes appropriate to include the
Gentlemen”. This is the cue for all to rise, toast of the day after the Loyal Toast:
leaving their glasses on the table. The
Vice proposes the toast by saying, “May I Monday – Our Ships at Sea
propose a toast to the President of the
Republic of Singapore”. Tuesday – Our Men

3. The Band-in-Attendance will play the Wednesday – Ourselves
National Anthem (half score and no
singing). When the anthem is over, Mr Thursday – A Bloody War and Sickly
Vice raises the glass and continues by Season
saying, “To the President”.
Friday – A Willing Foe and Sea Room
4. All present will then raise their glasses
and repeat, “The President”. They will Saturday – Wives and Sweethearts
then drink their toasts and resume their
seats.
Sunday – Absent Friends
It is not necessary or proper to drain the glass
at the completion of each toast. It is POINT OF ORDER
disrespectful for anyone not to participate in a
toast. A mere touch of the glass to the lips During the dinner, a member of the mess may
satisfies the ceremonial requirement. wish to be recognised for some appropriate
reason.
If there are foreign guests in the dining-in, it
may be considered an appropriate gesture to In such a case, the member will stand and ask
propose a toast to his/her Head of State. The to be recognised by saying, “Mr. Vice, I have
order of precedence is based on alphabetical a point of order.”
order of the countries. However, if foreign
guests are present in person, the toasts are Society, the military and the Royal Navy took
made in the order of protocol. The officer the drinking of port to their hearts. It is from
concerned should be consulted beforehand to these origins that different organisations have
ascertain his/her agreement. This toast is developed their own customs and traditions.
customarily followed by the national anthem There are those who believe that the decanter
of the country concerned.
should not touch the table (those who like to
keep the sediment in suspension) and those
RSN TOAST OF THE DAY who keep the decanter in contact with the
table (as an initiative test) is also a practice in
In the navy, there is a toast for each day of the the Navy.
week. Normally these toasts are used at
special occasions and mess dinners, but they
may be used at any time. The toast is typically Mr. Vice responds by calling the individual’s
given by the youngest person present at the rank and name, at which time the member, in
gathering. a polite and forthright manner, cites his or her
point of order. Mr. Vice may then solicit the