History
A 1908 Independent Order of Rechabites certificate for the instatement of a member as Deputy High Tent Chief RulerThe Independent Order of Rechabites was founded on 25 August 1835 as the Salford Unity of Rechabites, in the city of Salford, Lancashire, England.[3] Their first lodge was "Tent Ebenezer #1" and soon "tents" were founded for adult females (over the age of 12), boys (aged 12–16), and for children of both sexes (age 5-12), as well as other adult males (age 16 and up.)[1] In describing the heritage of the Independent Order of Rechabites, a circa 1892 newspaper in Leeds said:[4]
If any order in the world has a claim to call itself an Ancient Order it is that of the Rechabites. As we learn from the Scriptures, a command was laid over 2,700 years ago upon the sons of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, that they should drink no wine, neither they nor their sons forever; and the injunction has been obeyed to this day. At various periods in modern history have travelers come upon the lineal descendants of these Rechabites of old, in Spain, in the districts visited by Dr. Wolff, and in the neighborhood of the Dead Sea, still adhering faithfully to their total abstinence principles. Other orders may claim the questionable honor of being founded by extremely mythical personages, but the Independent Order of Rechabites, if it cannot prove an uninterrupted kind of apostolic succession from Rechab, can show that it has at least a continuity and similarity of aim that effectually connect it with the Rechabites of old. The promise of Jeremiah that for their faithfulness in adhering to the command of their forefathers they should not want a man of the house of Rechab to stand before the Lord forever has literally been fulfilled. There is no break in the chain, and for nearly 3,000 years a living testimony of total abstienence has been upheld on the earth.[4]
The rituals and ceremonies of the Rechabites vary from place to place but the order promoted three degrees, Knight of Temperance, Knight of Fortitude, and Covenanted Knight of Justice. Lodges are called tents because Jehonadab (or Jonadab) commanded the Biblical sons of Rechab to live in tents[3] (Jeremiah 35:6-7) and the governing body, in England at least, was called the Movable Committee, meeting in a different city every two years. Membership remains open to all who would sign a pledge to completely abstain from alcohol except for religious or medical purposes. There were also death and sickness benefits.[1]
From the late 18th century a number of Friendly Societies had been set up to help working-class people with such things as health insurance and death benefits. Generally these societies held their meetings in pubs. In the 1830s a group of Manchester Methodists became concerned that by encouraging working men to attend public houses to pay their friendly society dues, then the societies were harming the men's health and financial situation and threatening their moral welfare, rather than helping them. To counter this they set up a new Friendly Society called the Independent Order of Rechabites, named after the nomadic, abstaining Rechabites of the Old Testament. The IOR were an offshoot of the Calathumpians, then a diverse collection of social reformers of independent religious views.[citation needed] The organization was still active in the middle 20th century; Sir David Cannadine (British historian, born in Birmingham in 1950) described in 2019 attending a Rechabite meeting with his grandparents who were members.[5]
A branch may be known as a "Tent", since the biblical Rechabites lived exclusively in tents. Each Tent is ruled by a High Chief Ruler, assisted by a High Deputy Ruler, Corresponding Secretary, Sick and Tent Stewards, Inside and Outside Guardians, a Levite of the Tent and a number of Elders. Before one could join the Rechabites and benefit from their insurance and saving scheme a document has to be signed swearing that the proposed member and his family would not drink any alcoholic beverages. This document is known as The Pledge and represents a solemn promise. The initials "IOR" on a tombstone may indicate that the deceased was a member of the organisation.[citation needed]
The Victoria District of the Independent Order of Rechabites currently has 17 Tents and 5 Regions, while the Queensland District of The Independent Order of Rechabites currently has four Tents and two social committees.[6][7]
Australia
In Australia the IOR was first established in Tasmania in 1843, soon spreading to other states. Members of the IOR were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship.IOR was active in Victoria and in 1876 it established 'Tent' 138 in Bung Bong rural Victoria.[10][11] The Building was also used for community purposes including meetings of the 'Farmers Club'[12] and as a Church of England.[13]
In 1991, IOR Victoria combined with the IOR in other states to form a national private health fund. Members wishing to join IOR's health fund were no longer required to sign a pledge of abstinence from alcohol.[14] In 2005 the IOR health fund was sold to HCF Health Insurance, and the rest of the organisation continued as a temperance promoting organisation. In 2008, 38.5 million dollars of its funds management was transferred to the Foresters Friendly Society.[15] As of 2024, the Independent Order of Rechabites retains a state branch in Victoria, with a number of affiliated tents.
Source: Wikipedia as at 4Oct2025
Victoria Rechabites
The Victoria District No. 82 was established in the 28th January 1861 with the transfer of Star of Australia Felix Tent No. 4 of the Tasmania District and Mount Alexander Tent No. 9 of the Tasmania District.
The Victoria District of Rechabites (District No. 82) was established in the 28th January 1861 with the transfer of Star of Australia Felix Tent No. 4 of the Tasmania District (which was established in Melbourne on the 25th January 1847) and Mount Alexander Tent No. 9 of the Tasmania District (began in Castlemaine on the 26th January 1860).
These two Rechabite Tents went on to become the first Tents of the new Victorian District with the Star of Australia Felix becoming Tent No. 1 and Mount Alexander Tent being Tent No. 2. It is interesting to note that Star of Felix Tent No.1 still meets today and is the oldest surviving Rechabite Tent of any Friendly Society in Australasia.
It is also interesting to note that from Victorian District, the South Australian District, known as Albert District No. 83 was formed on the 17th February 1865, and New South Wales District No. 85 was formed but the foundation collapsed and was reformed six years later on 24th September 1884. Also from Victoria District, Western Australia District No. 88 was established on the 29th January 1872 and the Queensland District No. 87 was established on the 18th May 1872.
In its heyday the Victoria Rechabites’ membership numbers grew and grew to the extent that there were at one stage in excess of 36,000 members associated with the Victorian Rechabites in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s covering approximately 250 operating Tents.
Sadly this is not the case today as with age and infirmity, membership has declined to the level that there are now only 700 registered members here in Victoria who endeavour to keep the Rechabite ideals and traditions alive by attending the regular quarterly Tent and Region meetings held. Certainly we have had some new members sign a “Pledge” agreeing to abstain from drinking alcohol, but not enough to make an impact on membership numbers.
As of now there are 17 tents and 5 Regions of the Victorian Rechabites still actively operating today upholding the ideals of an alcohol free lifestyle.
In 1920 the decision was made to purchase a building to house the Victorian Rechabite operation. This building still stands today and is directly diagonally opposite the Victorian Markets in Elizabeth Street Melbourne.
Even though each State had its own benefit funds, in April 1991 the States merged their health funds and under the National Health Act registered its own health fund known as IOR Australia Pty Ltd and this operated successfully until 2005 when it was taken over by the Hospital Contribution Fund, more commonly known as HCF.
In 1986 / 87 the Victorian State Board made the decision to purchase 25 acres of land in Wantirna to create a retirement village for Rechabite members with accommodation in 2 bed room units as well as 120 bed hostel and 30 bed nursing home accommodation. This village was somewhat of a first here in Victoria, where all three levels of accommodation were available on the one site.
However as the years progressed, in 2001 all State based organisations merged into one National body based in Melbourne when the IOR Friendly Society Ltd was formed, and when further Government legislation was pressed upon us in August 2007, the decision was made to demutualise, and a new organisation known as IOR Group Ltd was formed. The new organisation however had no provision for fraternal activities and it was necessary for those States who wished to continue in their own right could do so with a financial grant as part of the demutualisation process, and from this the Independent Order of Rechabites Fraternity (Victoria) Inc. was formed.
During 2011 the Victoria Rechabites helped celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rechabite Fraternity with celebrations being held around the State at Tent and Region meetings and as mentioned above that the membership has declined, there are still 17 Tents and 5 Regions still actively operating today.
The Victorian Fraternity also have and maintain connections with the Dalgarno Institute (Coalition of Alcohol & Drug Educators), Melbourne Total Abstinence Society, Women’s Christian Temperance Union and more recently the National Alliance for Action on Alcohol.
Source: https://www.australianrechabites.org.au/states/vic-rechabites/ as at 4Oct2025
Independent Order of Rachabites Salford Unity Victoria District No82 Tent No129 1905 James Sell Signatories: FW Kruger; HJ Gunner; W. Bell; John Tully; R Toogood; LH Smith
No comments:
Post a Comment