Sentence:  You see, at that time, in the Duchy of Brunswick, or Braunschweig, now part of Germany, it was the custom for friendly groups to drink from the same receptacle, in this case a <WSD>jorum</WSD>, or basin—a good idea, rightly understood, in that it made for "communitas", or community, ... 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A large vessel for drinking (usually alcoholic beverages).