The Templars of Honor and Temperance established in the United States in 1845 as the Marshall Temperance Fraternity as part of the

temperance movement The temperance movement is a social movement promoting temperance or complete abstinence from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Participants in the movement typically criticize alcohol intoxication or promote teetotalism, and its leaders emph ...

. The Templars were formed as a result of a schism within the older

Sons of Temperance The Sons of Temperance was and 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 o ...

, 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. The society had a secret ritual which was based on the medieval

Knights Templar , colors = White mantle with a red cross , colors_label = Attire , march = , mascot = Two knights riding a single horse , equipment ...

, the story of

Damon and Pythias The story of Damon (; grc-gre, Δάμων, gen. Δάμωνος) and Pythias (; or ; or Phintias, ) is a legend in Greek historic writings illustrating the Pythagorean ideal of friendship. Pythias is accused of and charged with plotting against ...

as well as Jonathan and David. The ritual worked six degrees and is said to have shown

Masonic Freemasonry or Masonry refers to Fraternity, fraternal organisations that trace their origins to the local guilds of Stonemasonry, stonemasons that, from the end of the 13th century, regulated the qualifications of stonemasons and their inte ...

influence. The group was led by a "Supreme Council" and subordinate groups included "Grand Councils" and "Great Temples". It is a secret fraternal order whose signs, hand grips, passwords and emblems closely resemble those of the Masons and the Odd Fellows. The organization does still exist in

Scandinavia Scandinavia; Sámi languages: /. ( ) is a subregion#Europe, subregion in Northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. In English usage, ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, ...

, where it is known as Tempel Riddare Orden ("The Order of the Knight Templars").

References

External links

Tempel Riddare OrdenTempel Riddare Orden i SverigeTemplars of Honor and Temperance
{{DEFAULTSORT:Templars Of Honor And Temperance Organizations established in 1845 Temperance organizations Temperance organizations in the United States