The Universal Language of Freemasonry - ArchiMeD - Johannes ...

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Chapter 2 – Historical Background
2.1 England, the Isle of Club Life
England is the officially accepted land of birth of Freemasonry. The previous
section has already provided information about the formation of the first Grand
Lodge of London in 1717, which came about by the congregation of the four
lodges prevailing there, and of the first laws and constitutions given to the
Masonic fraternity. In this chapter we would like to discuss a peculiarity of
English Freemasonry: it distinguishes itself from its fellow organizations in other
countries with regard to its sociability. In the initial years of their institution, the
Masons used to meet in taverns since as a group they did not possess enough
means to rent or own a lodge room. Such meetings were called "table lodges":
"The table lodge was so common in the early 18 th century that it may be
presumed that most meetings were of that character. In simple language it merely
meant that the lodge met for dinner and as they sat around the table, eating and
drinking, the degree was conferred." 90
The early brethren did not yet possess carpets with Masonic symbols on them
but used to draw their "tracing boards" with chalk on the floor of the tavern.
After the meeting, the youngest Entered Apprentice had to wash the secret
drawings away with "mop and pail." 91 Until today, British Masonry has kept a
certain convivial character trait not so common to the Masonry of other
countries. Besides being a very charitable organization, it has maintained the
clubable fashion that sometimes even includes the whole family:
Ein gesellschaftlicher Wesenszug der britischen Freimaurerei ist die
Tendenz zum Klubleben, d.h., man findet nicht selten in den
Logenhäusern - vor allem an den Wochenenden - ein reges geselliges
Leben unter Einschluß von Familienmitgliedern und Freunden. Die
Logen bieten in eigener Regie Getränke und Speisen an. Die Brüder
leisten im Wechsel die verschiedenen Dienste. Die Loge wird zum Klub
- oder nach deutschen Sprachgebrauch zum Stammlokal, allerdings mit
dem Unterschied, daß keine Öffentlichkeit besteht. 92
There probably is no nation on the face of the globe that is as "clubable" as
the English. As an introduction to our chapter, we would like to trace back the
invention of the English word "club." An old-time definition was given by John
Aubrey (1726 - 1700): "We use now the word Clubbe for a sodality at a taverne
or drinking-house." 93 We can find another early use of this expression in a
review published by Daniel Defoe from 1704 - 1717, bearing the title Review,
90 CME, p. 388.
91 Cf. CME, p. 123.
92 Kischke, p. 31.
93 Cf. "Studies in the Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, II. Some Old-Time Clubs and Societies," ed. by Bro.
Walter Dorsey; cited in The Master Mason, Dec. 1925, p. 989.