MAGreenDragonTavern

Green Dragon Tavern

From New England Craftsman, Vol. I, No. 9, June 1906, Page 318:

The following account of the Green Dragon Tavern is condensed from that given in the Centennial Memorial of the Lodge of St. Andrew, whose history for a considerable while was associated with this famous building and which lodge has for nearly a century and a half owned the property.

Noted landmarks, which call to mind associations with the early history of the nation, always possess a peculiar interest to all lovers of their country, and the story belonging' to them is awakening, as well as instructive.

Among the famous places of Huston, in past days, was a widely known and celebrated building called the "Green Dragon Tavern," situated on the border of a mill pond which is now Union Street, and near the corner of Hanover Street; in its day it was the best hostelry of the town.

The celebrity of the "'Green Dragon," however, is not due to any remembered excellence of hospitable entertainment, but for the social and political public and private gatherings of the people, with other interesting local incidents, for three-fourths of a century antecedent to the American Revolution: and above all, for tje stirring, patriotic, no less than timely measures determined under its root by the heroic men of '76, who brought to pass that memorable epoch.

It was indeed the cradle of Rebellion; the chosen asylum, where the Revolutionary master spirits who organized successful resistance to British aggression on the liberties of the colonies took grave counsel together.

To the Masonic Fraternity of Massachusetts, the old "Green Dragon' presents associations of a special significance. It was here within its walls that the Free Masonry of the Commonwealth was preserved in Grand Lodge jurisdiction, bright and vigorous; where its charities, its hospitalities, and its good tidings were kept up between the years 1775 and 1792, a period which witnessed the disruption by reason of the war for Independence of important branches of the Order in Massachusetts. Still further, this was the scene of Warren's most intimate political and Masonic associations, with the patriots and Masons of his time.

No picture of the "Green Dragon Tavern" of any description is known to be in existence, save the one presented with this sketch which was engraved for the Lodge of St. Andrew from a model which the Hon. N. B. Shurtleff prepared some years since with his usual accurate and thorough Knowledge of ancient noted Boston houses. From this model in wood, llle present picture has been made.

With perhaps the single exception of Faneuil Hall, there was no public building in Boston at the close of the eiRhteenth century which had acquired a more extensive notoriety or filled a larger place in the local history of the town than the old Green Dragon Tavern. In 1697 the Tavern was kept by John Cary, and was at that early day and perhaps earlier known as the Green Dragon Tavern. In 1764 the property was purchased by St. Andrew's Lodge, when it took the name of Freemasons' Arms, at which time a Square and Compasses was placed on the front of the building. It however soon after dropped this title, and was popularly known as Masons' Hall, by which name it continued to be designated until the removal of the Lodge, when it resumed its ancient title of Green Dragon Tavern.

Feasts were frequently held in the long room of the famous tavern by the Masons of that time, one of which occurred December 20, 1773 at which was present Joseph Warren. Esq., Grand Master, and other brethren to the number of thirty-eight. An incident of the festival is mentioned as follows:—The Lodge having reached a convenient resting place in its "work", the brethren were called from labor to refreshment,— and refreshment in those days was what the word in its common acceptation implies. At this interesting period of the proceedings, Brother Oliver (the Closet Steward) never failed promptly to present himself at the door, in his best "bib and tucker," hearing a huge Punch Howl!— one half resting on his correspondingly huge abdominal protuberance, the other supported by his brawny arms. Thus prepared for the encounter, the brethren being seated in order with their glasses in hand, he with dignified solemnity and fully impressed with the magnitude of the business before him, slowly commenced his tour of duty, paying his respects first to the Master in the 'East", and then passing regularly around the hall, until the members were all supplied, or in the technical language of the day "all charged,"'and waiting the order of the Master. He then slowly retired, with the benedictions of his brethren, and a consciousness of having faithfully performed his share in the "work" of the evening.

Such a scene would not commend itself to favor at the present time; but it was one of a class common, not only in the Lodges, but with modifications, in the social, civil, literary and religious society of that early day, when

"The funeral bak'd meats
Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables."

But it is perhaps to the political associations which cluster around its name, that the Green Dragon Tavern is more particularly indebted for its historic celebrity. It was here that many of the most important and eventful of the political transaction preceding the Revolution were, if not positively inaugurated, discussed, matured and put in execution. This was undoubtedly due to the fact that the hall in this building was the only room in the northern section of the town, excepting one used for popular assemblies, that was suitable for this purpose.

It must not be inferred that the Revolutionary patriots who held their meetings in this Tavern met as Masons, or used Masonry as a cover for their purposes, for others than Masons were associated with them.

The hall was used as a central ami safe place for the meetings of private committees and rallying clubs, with which Warren as chairman of the "Committee of Safety"' was in frequent consultation and directed their movements.

Boston was full of clubs and caucuses at that time which were used with effect to secure unity of action; among these was "The Sons of Liberty"' and the "Caucus—Pro Bono Publico", of which Warren was the leading spirit. Among the most active of the Sons of Liberty was Paul Revere. They were so careful that their meetings should be kept secret that every time they met every person swore upon the Bible that nothing should be revealed except to Samuel Adams, John Hancock, Dr. Warren and Dr. Church. It is undoubtedly true that the famous Boston Tea Party was organized in this Tavern and largely by the members of the Lodge of St. Andrew. It may safely assumed, that from the year 1767, when the Revenue Acts were passed imposing a tax on tea, creating a Board of Customs, and legalizing Writs of Assistance, to the close of the War of Independence, there was not another public house in the whole country and assuredly not in Massachusetts where so much of the secret history of the Revolutionary period was made, as at the Old Green Dragon Tavern.