I
Early Taverns
t 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.
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.
From the year 1869 or thereabouts the erection of ‘Masonic Halls’ began to be frequent Club life involving much ‘dining’ and ‘wining’ and at the present time (1935 – ed) those became the rage and societies and associalodges meeting at hotels are in the minority. tions having headquarters at taverns came into existence by the score, some having Objections by prejudiced people have been some object or purpose to justify them but made that Modern Freemasonry originated in most being merely an excuse for frequent taverns and inns but such objections are banqueting and festivity and members of the manifestly absurd when it is remembered fair sex were not by any means in all cases that for a century or more after the formation rigidly excluded. of Grand Lodge not only Masonic bodies but all kinds of societies – social, religious and Masonry was of course influenced by the educational - held their meetings in taverns spirit of the time and many practices existed for the simple reason that very few other which would not now be tolerated but it is suitable public places were available or in exgratifying to note that on the whole the actual istence. lodge meetings were conducted with decoIt is related of a worthy seventeenth century rum and dignity. bishop that he said, “taverns are the busy However, while even at this time there were man’s recreation, the idle man’s business, the many serious and earnest Masons it is unmelancholy man’s sanctuary, and the questionable that there were also many of stranger’s welcome.” whom the lodges existed merely for the social 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.
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 100 years following the founding of Grand Lodge also saw the founding of the The records and Minutes of the old lodges
Cross Keys October 2022
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