Surly Club (mid 1700s)
The Surly Club was a merry bunch of fellows who met once a week to “teach and perfect one another in the Art and Mystery of foul language.” Potential members were tested by how ill tempered and rude they could be.
Members were expected to interrupt each other, talk back in the crudest way possible, insult, cajole, brag about their money or job, and be as nasty as they could be to mock any ceremony the group may try to conduct. Those who were caught doing something so rebellious as using manners or kind language were heaped with abuse and banned from the club.
