Charge your Glasses
One of the many things that often strikes new Freemasons is the formal toast list at the festive board. For many, if not most, people, the only formal toasting they see is the occasional wedding. In Dorset, this is even more of a novelty because of the “Dorset Fire”.
On my initiation my father explained that it was a special Dorset tradition. In reality, lots of Masonic Lodges fire, but definitely not all; and I haven’t seen anything more complicated than what we do in Dorset – although I bet they are out there somewhere!
Even within the Province there is variety. Many Lodges clap, but a few still use firing glasses to bang on the table (or on little squares of Formica, to save cutting holes in the tablecloth!). There are subtle, and not so subtle, changes in speed, cadence and rhythm; and, sometimes even the word vary. My father was horrified that certain members of a certain Lodge sang “prosper the lorries” – well I say he was horrified, he was clearly, actually most amused but he had a persona to maintain.
On my initiation he patiently explained that in the East of the Province we always sing “prosper the men” never going into the singular regardless of who is being toasted. In the West they sang man if the toast was to a specific individual. This “tradition” seems to have largely disappeared, with the more logical western version being much more common – although I must admit I stay in the plural in his memory.
But how did this tradition arise? Why is it called firing? In fact, the answer to one question solves the other. This was not originally a Masonic tradition but a military one. It is generally believed that it started in French regiments during the 18th century. At this time the French were still considered the pre-eminent army of Europe and their uniforms and traditions were often copied by the soldiers of other armies.
The fire was not always symbolic. There is an account of a dinner held in honour of the Prince Regent where Grenadiers Guardsmen were lined up outside and fired a volley to each toast and in the Royal Navy it was not unknown for a canon or even a broadside to be fired to honour a toast. We know that there has always been a strong connection between the armed forces and Masonry, with both regimental lodges and both active soldiers and veterans joining Masonry to find a similar masculine camaraderie to that which they enjoyed in the military. It is perhaps not surprising that a military tradition was quickly absorbed into Masonry.
I also have found two accounts of early Masonic Fires, the first is from a book “Three Distinct Knocks” of 1760, as Deacons are mentioned it must be an Ancients Lodge:
“Every man has a Glass set him and a large Bowl of Punch, or what they like, is set in the Centre of the Table; and the senior Deacon charges (as they call it) in the North and East, and the junior Deacon in the South and West; for it is their duty to do so, i.e., to fill all the Glasses.
Then the Master takes up his Glass, and gives a Toast to the King and the Craft, with Three Times Three in the Prentice’s; and they all say Ditto, and drink all together, minding the Master’s Motion: They do the same with the empty Glass that he doth; that is, he draws it across his Throat Three Times…, and then makes Three Offers to put it down; At the third, they all set their Glasses down together, which they call firing: Then they hold the Left-hand Breast-high, and clap Nine Times with The Right, their Foot going at the same Time: When this is done , they all sit down.”
In the second account the WM commands “to order, Brethren, charge for the First Toast”. The Brethren pour their own wine. The SW reports “We are all charged”. The toast is then put and the brethren ordered to look to the WM and copy him. The WM says “Right hand to your arms, to order”. All raise their cannon (that’s what they called the glass) and hold it out at arm’s length; when the WM gives the order to fire. They then drink the whole contents of their glasses, keeping in time with the WM and then return to order. Still keeping time with the WM, each brother places his cannon on his left, then on his right then returns to order. After doing this three times they strike the table three times with the cannon, each time with greater force. They then clap their hands five times, four and one. This is repeated three times, after which they shout “VIVAT!” three times and snap their fingers three times.
As we can see the Brethren take their time from the Master – although nowadays it is often the DC. This is part of the tradition, so when visiting another Lodge always copy their fire, and keep to their speed. It is not only polite it is part of a longstanding tradition.
Martin Adlem
Lodge of Amity No.137
