Early Taverns

It will be remembered that the four lodges which constituted the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 were held at public houses which at that date were generally called ‘taverns’ or ‘inns’ and for at least 150 years subsequent to that date Masonic lodges continued to be held on licensed premises, very few prior to 1860 having acquired their own buildings and temples.

From the year 1869 or thereabouts the erection of ‘Masonic Halls’ began to be frequent and at the present time (1935 – ed) those lodges meeting at hotels are in the minority.

Objections by prejudiced people have been made that Modern Freemasonry originated in taverns and inns but such objections are manifestly absurd when it is remembered that for a century or more after the formation of Grand Lodge not only Masonic bodies but all kinds of societies – social, religious and educational - held their meetings in taverns for the simple reason that very few other suitable public places were available or in existence.

It is related of a worthy seventeenth century bishop that he said, “taverns are the busy man ’s recreation, the idle man’s business, the melancholy man’s sanctuary, and the stranger’s welcome.”

Two or three hundred years ago the lives of the people – not merely the lower orders, who to a great extent were too poor to patronise them, but the middle and higher classes to a far greater extent than obtains today, centred their social life there. Theatres and music halls even in London were few and far between and were practically unknown in the provinces, there were no cheap newspapers, and the taverns with their homely atmosphere were the meeting places where the gossip and news of the day were disseminated.

The 100 years following the founding of Grand Lodge also saw the founding of the Hanoverian dynasty in this country, the reigns of the first three Georges covering the entire period. After the serious and sober governments of William and Mary and Queen Anne there was a remarkable revulsion of public feeling, and to put it mildly the courts of George I and George II were noted for loose living and licentiousness and their example was reflected in the mode of living of all classes of the people, more particularly of course of the leisured and wealthy classes.

Club life involving much ‘dining’ and ‘wining’ became the rage and societies and associations having headquarters at taverns came into existence by the score, some having some object or purpose to justify them but most being merely an excuse for frequent banqueting and festivity and members of the fair sex were not by any means in all cases rigidly excluded.

Masonry was of course influenced by the spirit of the time and many practices existed which would not now be tolerated but it is gratifying to note that on the whole the actual lodge meetings were conducted with decorum and dignity. However, while even at this time there were many serious and earnest Masons it is unquestionable that there were also many of whom the lodges existed merely for the social side and the ceremonies were regarded as just a prelude to the night’s festivities – a state of mind which I am afraid exists to a large extent today. Heavy drinking was as fashionable in some Masonic circles as it was outside in the ‘uninitiated and popular’ world.

The principal liquid refreshments consisted of beer and wine (meaning port or burgundy) and those who could afford it sparkling wines from France. 200 years ago, rum was practically the only spirit in use – gin was beginning to be distilled, but whisky had not yet found its way over the Border.

The records and Minutes of the old lodges

throughout the country have many hundreds of references to fines and penalties which were inflicted on the brethren for offences and misdemeanours in and during lodge hours, these offences of very varied character, perhaps the most frequent being an appearance while under the influence of alcohol or as most Minutes record it in the quaint phraseology of the time, “disguised in liquor”, the fines on such occasions being usually cheerfully paid. Swearing and bad language or quarrelsome behaviour were also subject to penalties.

In the early days smoking in lodge was freely indulged in but was later strictly forbidden while the lodge was ‘at labour’ and such prohibition was enforced by fines on offenders.

It should be borne in mind that in most cases the lodge remained open till the close of the evening – about 10 o’clock, the first part being devoted to Masonic ceremonies and afterwards the Brethren indulged in supper and refreshments until it was time to ‘close the lodge’. It was only on ‘feast’ days and special anniversaries that anything of the nature of a dinner was partaken of, the ordinary lodge suppers generally consisting of cold meats or bread and cheese accompanied by a generous allowance of ‘ale’. As I have previously mentioned the period during which Grand Lodge was formed and for a century afterwards was one which saw heavy drinking which was customary amongst both the highest and the lowest and the indulgence in profane language was very frequent. Indeed, it was quite fashionable or considered not at all unusual to introduce it in ordinary conversation.

Determined endeavours to check both these extremes in lodge were made, the fines or penalties ranging from three pence (1.5p) to half a guinea (52.5p) according to the status of the lodge and its members, the general average being sixpence (2.5p) to one shilling (5p).

In some lodges a member could be fined half a crown (12.5p) for “an escape in point of decent language”, up to half a guinea for “insobriety”. In other lodges a member could come into the lodge “disguised in liquor” and swear as well for sixpence. Other fines were for divulging the secrets (2.5p) and drinking unclothed (6p).

Taken from a paper by Bro. Frederick Fleeman PPGJW and delivered to Howe & Charnwood Lodge of Instruction, Leicestershire & Rutland No. 1007 (EC) in 1935.

Full explanation of the above can bee seen in Cross

William Hogarth’s, Night 1738 showing a master going home the worse for wear.

Keys October 2018 (Freemasonry) by Neil Grant Macleod - Issuu