THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES

Rechabite members

Formed in Lancashire in 1835, the Independent Order of Rechabites (I.O.R) was a temperance friendly society. It took its name from a biblical tribe who, according to the Book of Jeremiah “drank no wine”. The I.O.R named their local branches Tents, which were grouped into Districts according to location and given an individual number. Like many other Victorian societies they were both selective and secretive in nature. Before joining, a person was required to take a pledge of total abstinence and abide by a lengthy list of rules. They also functioned as a fraternal organisation, whereby social events such as tea parties, day trips, fetes, galas and concerts were organised. As non-drinkers, in an age where there was little entertainment outside of the confines of the many drinking establishments, the I.O.R provided opportunities for an alternative teetotal lifestyle. There was a formal initiation process and the wearing of sashes at all meetings and functions was compulsory. The colour white was chosen as an emblem of Christian purity.

I.O.R. Crest

The I.O.R were almost always present at temperance demonstrations and meetings and were recognisable by their colourful banners and other regalia featuring the Rechabite crest.

The Rechabite crest is a mix of Masonic and religious symbols. It represents many aspects of the Order’s ethos. For example, located above the shield is a beehive, a traditional symbol meaning hard work or industry. Next to the beehive is a wheatsheaf, denoting plenty. Of interest is the inclusion of Tents in the middle of the crest, representing both the origins of the Order and the chosen name for their branches.

By 1843 the Order boasted more than 1,000 Tents with a membership of almost 30,000. Its members were recruited from the ranks of skilled workers, shopkeepers and clerks. The purpose of the society was to provide both funeral and sickness benefits to members who were not able to work because of poor health or injury. Its head office was in Manchester and the Order was presided over by an annually elected High Chief Rechabite.

Formed in 1838 in Birmingham, by 1845 the Birmingham District (No 21) had established Tents throughout the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire and included several located in the Black Country.

BIRMINGHAM DISTRCT, No. 21 in 1845

Birmingham District Tents 1838-1845 (based on Richardson Campbell Rechabite History, p.174)

Unfortunately, by the end of the 1850’s most of the Tents in the District had closed. Mismanagement at the highest levels, a failed attempt to change friendly society law and some negative publicity in the form of a series of very public letters from Irish politician Daniel O’Connor resulted in a crisis of confidence which led to the closure of many Districts. This was known as ‘the Enrolment Crisis’. By 1854, membership of the Order was less than 6,000. The Birmingham District survived, but with only three Tents: two in Birmingham and one in Leamington. Fortunately, the 1870’s witnessed both a temperance revival and changes in friendly society laws, and this, coupled with a Rechabite recruitment drive saw the Order recover and begin to thrive. Most of the Birmingham District Tents were reopened. By the end of the 19th century, the District had 2,319 members located in fifty Tents.

High Profile Members

The honorary membership scheme, whereby individuals who did not need the financial support of the Order but were keen to promote the Rechabite ideals of temperance and thrift, could join the organisation, enabled high status individuals to become members. They could both take an active part in its day-to-day business matters and provide a highly visible presence essential for promotional purposes. Amongst these honorary members were various dignitaries including Frederick Temple, who was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1896-1902, Dr John Barnado the founder of the children’s homes, the Lord Bishop of Exeter, the Lord Bishop of Newcastle, and the Mayor of Birmingham. The latter was Alderman William White, a Quaker and temperance advocate who had been elected to office in 1883. Other high profile Rechabites included the 2nd Earl of Lichfield, Thomas George Anson and Conrad Adderley Dillon, the second son of the sixteenth Viscount Dillon. He was an active temperance worker, being Chairman of the National Temperance League and a member of the executive committee of the Church of England Temperance Society. Also inaugurated was Temple’s wife, Beatrice, a temperance worker and later founder of the Temple Lodge Home for Inebriate Women in London.

The United Order of Female Rechabites

Unlike many other friendly societies, the I.O.R was unique in admitting women. Whilst the need for women to be included was clearly understood, they were not permitted to be part of the main body of the I.O.R. As a result, the United Order of Female Rechabites (U.O.F. R) was formed in 1836. Districts were established in various locations throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The first female Tent in the Birmingham District, the Birmingham St Mary’s Tent was established in 1839. Other Tents were quickly instituted in Leamington, Warwick, Coventry, West Bromwich, Redditch and Wolverhampton. The U.O.F.R was also affected by the enrolment crisis which resulted in the amalgamation of the I.O.R and the U.O.F.R. Women only Tents were established in some Districts, but the inclusion of women in mixed Tents was problematic due to a lack of consensus over their financial entitlements. In the Birmingham District there was only a single female Tent, The Beehive, which was in Rugby.

The Independent Order of Rechabites and the British Women’s Temperance Association

The British Women’s Temperance Association (B.W.T.A) had a direct effect on the Rechabite establishment. The 1880’s was the decade in which changes were made to the election of women to the position of Rechabite District officers, most notably Lady Henry Somerset and Gwenllian Morgan. They were both present at the 1889 Rechabite High Movable Conference in Nottingham as representatives of their respective Districts. (Lady Somerset for Hereford and Radnor and Gwenllian Morgan for Brecknockshire). Gwenllian Morgan was the first woman to hold the office of mayor in Wales. She was a member of the B.W.T.A Executive Committee.

Gwenllian Morgan

Lady Henry Somerset and Gwenllian Morgan

Lady Henry Somerset was initiated in January 1889 at the Rechabite Tent in Hereford. Following the ceremony, she spoke at length about her pride in becoming a member of an organisation that adhered to the values that she, as a teetotaller and social reformer could relate to. The inclusion of the two women at the High Movable Conference created interest in various newspapers and in most cases the event was seen as something of a novelty. The Women’s Gazette and Weekly News, however, unsurprisingly, were more enthusiastic in their reportage.

Members of the conference were entertained to tea by the Nottingham Branch of the British Women’s Temperance Association. Such an invitation by the temperance women is a novelty at the conferences of the order, but the delegates mustered strongly and about 200 partook of the cup that cheers. After some time spent in the conversation, a public meeting was held. The platform was as befitted the occasion remarkable for the ascendancy of the fair sex, for Mrs Pearson presided and was supported by Lady Somerset and Miss Morgan (who are both delegates accredited to the conference of the order).[1]

Lady Elizabeth Biddulph

Mrs Margaret Bright Lucas

One month after Lady Somerset’s initiation, another aristocrat, Lady Elizabeth Biddulph, became a member of the Order. She was initiated in the same tent as her fellow B.W.T.A colleague. Lady Biddulph was a future president of the Women’s Total Abstinence Union, a member of the Church of England Temperance Society and one of the founder members of the Ledbury Temperance Union.

First to be initiated into the I.O.R, however, was Margaret Bright Lucas, the sister of Birmingham M.P John Bright. Bright Lucas was the President of the British Women’s Temperance Association from 1879-1889. Following her death in 1890, she was succeeded in the role by Lady Henry Somerset. She was also a Grand Worthy Vice Templar of the Good Templars between the years 1875-79. The Independent Order of Good Templars was a temperance fraternal society which included in their ranks, unlike most Victorian organisations, many women in senior positions. Another key figure in the B.W.T.A Lorna Ormiston Chant, joined the Order in 1887 and when addressing temperance meetings often referred to herself as a Rechabite.

The Independent Order of Rechabites is still a going concern. Located in Bury it now trades as an ethical financial institution under the name Healthy Investment. Read about their history at www.healthyinvestment.co.uk

[1] Women’s Gazette and Weekly News, Saturday 17th August 1889.

 With grateful thanks to Neale Richardson, University of Birmingham, for this contribution to our archive pages.

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