The Sons of Temperance is a brotherhood of men who promoted the temperance movement and mutual support. The group was founded in 1842 in New York City. It began spreading rapidly during the 1840s throughout the United States and parts of Canada.
United States and Canada
Membership
The organization originally had a highly restricted membership. In order to become a member, a man had to be nominated by an existing brother. Three other brothers would then investigate his life to determine if they thought he was worthy of membership. The Sons of Temperance required a two-dollar initiation fee, an amount equal to a week's wages of an ordinary worker. In addition, the weekly membership fee was six cents. It had secret rituals, signs, passwords, hand grips and regalia. Currently, membership in the Sons of Temperance has three degrees, Love, Purity, and Fidelity.
Membership of women
Women were initially admitted only as guests. For a while a female auxiliary, the Daughters of Temperance, were active. These were first created in the English chapters of the order after a public outcry against females meeting with males in secret lodges. Daughter of Temperance lodges were created that worked with, but were not governed by the Sons of Temperance. The idea soon crossed the Atlantic to North America. At the 22nd Annual Session held June 21, 1866 at Montreal, "ladies" were admitted to full membership.
Membership of Blacks
A proposal to form a separate division of black members was voted down in 1844. In Ohio, the Grand Division admitted a black member in 1849, raising the issue of social equality. In the years following the American Civil War, two Grand Divisions and a number of subordinate divisions were formed exclusively of "colored members." By the early 1880s, "most" divisions initiated members with "no distinction on account of color."
Benefits of membership
The constitution of the Sons of Temperance required the brotherhood to pay thirty dollars to cover the burial costs of any brother who died. In short, the organization acted as an insurance company. It required the payment of fifteen dollars for the funeral costs of a member's dead wife. A bylaw required fellow brothers to visit any sick brother at least once a day, and one of the orders of business at each meeting was to identify any brothers who were ill.
The Order of the Sons of Temperance was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1849, the first division being formed in an area of Liverpool known as 'Old Gory'. By 1855, it was sufficiently widespread that a charter was granted by the parent body for the institution, on 6 April 1855, of the National Division of Great Britain and Ireland. The arcane ceremonies, etc. have long since been modernised. The society has ceased the provision of life insurance, savings, etc. as evidenced by their website but is continuing its social, fraternal and educational activities.
Australia
The Order was established in the then colony of New South Wales by a Dr Hobbs, Baptist minister. In 1868, a National Division was established, with Bro George Lucas as first Most Worthy Patriarch. Over the years they agitated on issues around temperance, and set up a Friendly Society. The Friendly Society now appears to have ceased. At present they are concentrating on education and furthering the temperance cause. As a teetotal society they are continuing, and will be enhancing, their social, fraternal and educational activities.
