The Templars of Honor and Temperance, also known as the Tempel Riddare Orden, is a fraternal order that was founded in the United States in 1845 to promote the values of the temperance movement. Founded as the Marshall Temperance Fraternity, the Templars organized as a result of a schism within the older Sons of Temperance, when some felt that the organization did not have an elaborated enough ritual. The new group changed its name several times, first to "Marshall Temple, No. 1, Sons of Honor", then to "Marshall Temple of Honor, No. 1, Sons of Temperance". In 1846, the National Temple of the Templars of Honor and Temperance of the United States was instituted in New York.[1]
The society has a secret ritual which was based on the medieval Knights Templar, the story of Damon and Pythias as well as Jonathan and David. The ritual worked six degrees and is said to have shown Masonic influence. The group was led by a "Supreme Council" and subordinate groups included "Grand Councils" and "Great Temples".[2]
As a secret society and fraternal organization, it has signs, hand grips, passwords and emblems.
The organization is active in Scandinavia, where it is known as Tempel Riddare Orden ("The Order of the Knight Templars").[3]
References edit
- ^ Alan Axelrod International Encyclopedia of Secret Societies and Fraternal Orders New York; Facts on File, inc 1997 p.239
- ^ Alvin J. Schmidt Fraternal Orders (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press), 1930, pp.330-1
- ^ "Ordenssällskap i Sverige 1875-1899". www.arnell.cc.