BRETHREN-L Archives
Archiver > BRETHREN > 2000-09 > 0968158445
From: Linda Squires <>
Subject: Re: Kanes and International Order of Good Templars
Date: Tue, 05 Sep 2000 08:54:05 -0400
References: <f2.25bc45e.26e1793b@aol.com>
Galen,
The IOGT (this calls it the Independent Order of Good Templars) is
described at this web page:
http://www.lindesmith.org/library/tlclevin.html
"Similarly, the Independent Order of Good Templars, the largest
temperance membership organization in American
history, was so involved in reform work that it worried about being
branded solely as an association of
ex-drunkards (67). While lifelong abstainers were important to the
organization, a central focus of the Good
Templars was helping inebriates to become and stay abstinent. Good
Templars were urged to "run and speak to
that young man who is contracting vicious habits--gain his consent that
you shall propose his name for membership
in the lodge" (68, p.8). In the initiation ritual of the Good Templars,
those members "free from the undying curse of
appetite" were encouraged to "fully sympathize with the confirmed
inebriate" (69, p.57). Those being initiated into
the Charity Order were urged to "study well the nature of this
appetite"; they were told that reformed individuals
sometimes relapsed, and reminded that their task was to go to "thy
reclaimed brother" in his "awful hour." And they
took pride in pointing out "the many official positions now filled by
worthy men who have been reclaimed and
reformed, given back to their families and community . . . by the labors
of the Good Templars" (68, p.6).
In the latter half of the 19th century the Sons of Temperance, the Good
Templars, and a host of smaller fraternal
groups, functioned in much the same manner that A.A. does today. They
provided addicts who joined their
organizations with encouragement, friendship and a social life free from
alcohol. They went to inebriates in times of
need, and in some cases offered financial support as well."
I read that it was started in England. I have an old copy of one of
their financial reports from the 1800's which is from England. (I found
it on e-bay)
Linda
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