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Besides
the academical and vocational exercises required of
candidates for the Bar, there have always been social
duties to be performed. The custom of eating together in
Hall helps to foster a sense of community and
continuity, at all levels of the society. Until the
later seventeenth century the Inns of Court were
residential law schools, and students were required to
keep a certain number of terms (and learning vacations)
by being physically present in the Inn. At certain times
of the year, especially Christmas, keeping term also
included participation in the 'revels', which included a
stately measure paced around the fire (a survival of the
medieval hove-dance), and 'the old song of mirth and
solace'.
The
age-old test of residence is presence at dinner in Hall
on a certain number of days. Exact definition became
necessary only when residence in the true sense ceased.
In the seventeenth century the requirement was four
years in commons, but in 1762 by agreement between the
four inns this was reduced to twelve terms, and thus it
remained until 1968, when it was further reduced (as a
general rule) to eight. In 1798 the number of dinners
required for keeping a term was fixed as three, and that
(with certain qualifications) has remained the rule
until the present. A dinner is counted only if the
student is present when grace is said before and after
the meal. The grace before dinner is, Benedictus
benedicat; and after dinner, Benedicto
benedicatur.
The
custom of blowing a horn to summon members to Hall is
first recorded in 1621, and the Inn possesses a horn
dated 1786. The practice of horn-blowing was
discontinued in 1886 when the then Head Porter ran short
of breath, though in 1937 Master MacKinnon presented a
new horn and the custom enjoyed a brief revival.

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Winding the Horn. Mr Lakin, the Head
Porter, performing an ancient duty. |
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Gowns are
still worn in Hall. They were formerly required in the
Church as well, and in all public places. The student's
gown, which dates from the sixteenth century, has wings
on the shoulders instead of sleeves, and a flap on the
back. The Bar gown was formerly of fine black cloth,
with black velvet decoration; but in 1685 a mourning
gown of black stuff was adopted on the death of Charles
II, and this has been used ever since. The most
distinctive feature of the gown is the diminutive black
mourning hood worn over the left shoulder. In the
seventeenth century the benchers (or at least those who
had been readers) wore more elaborate gowns with black
lace and tufts; but these did not survive. Benchers now
wear the gowns of judges and queen's counsel, or (if not
so entitled) the Bar gown.
The Inn
has a fine collection of plate, which is displayed on
ceremonial occasions and guest days. The oldest item is
a silver-gilt standing cup in the form of a melon or
pomegranate, supported on tendrils; it was made by
William Holborne in 1563, and the records show that it
was bought by the Inn in that year for £20. Most of the
old silver went missing during the civil war, when the
Inn was largely deserted, and some later pieces have
been sold or exchanged in more recent times. The
collection was substantially augmented from the bequest
of Master Schiller (d. 1946). |