The Templars of Honor and Temperance is an organization formed in 1845. It was in the U.S. The group currently exists in Scandinavia. It accepts as members men of high moral character. The brotherhood is based on five principles. They’re abstaining from alcohol, truth, brotherly love, purity and fidelity.
Its goals are simple. They are to
- Bring together in fellowship men of high ethical ideals.
- Work against the use of alcohol and intoxicating drugs.
- Give each member full freedom in religious and political opinions, with a duty to follow his own conscience.
The Templars of Honor and Temperance is a secret fraternal order. Its regalia, emblems, ceremonies, and general activities are similar to those of other such orders.
The order began as the Marshall Temperance Fraternity. It then became the Marshall Temple. Next it was the Sons of Honor. Finally it became the Templars of Honor and Temperance.
The Templars of Honor and Temperance order currently has 119 chapters or temples. They are in Denmark, Faroe Islands, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden.
The first European temple was formed in Sweden. It was by a Swedish member who returned home from the US. That was in 1887. Temples were introduced into Denmark in 1904. Into Norway in 1922. Into the Faroe Islands in 1933. They came to Iceland in 1949. And they came to Finland in 1952. The largest number are in Sweden. The largest in Norway. The order is known in Scandinavia as Tempel Riddare Orden.
In 2004 a parallel order for women was formed. It is the Tempel Byggare Orden. (That’s “Temple Builders Order.”) The newer order is based on the same principles as the older order. It also has the same general purpose. The two orders work closely. They also share some meetings in common.
The Templars of Honor and Temperance no longer exists in the US. Perhaps because of the failure of Prohibition. But it remains successful in Scandinavia. This may be because of often strong temperance sentiment there. In some areas abstinence is the norm.
Templars of Honor and Temperance: : Tempel Riddare Orden
Resources
- Tempel Riddare Orden.
- Temperance Groups Around the World.
- World’s Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
- National Prohibition of Alcohol
- Furnas, J. The Late Demon Rum. NY: Putnam’s Sons.
- Temperance in the US. (One a 7-part series.)