[From Rechabite History, 1911]

Opening of a Second Tent.

At the same meeting at which the General Rules were adopted, November 21st, 1835, it was resolved that the " Good Samaritan " Tent, No. 2, be opened at the Temperance Coffee House of John Holt, in Brown Street, Salford, being about three months after the opening of the first Tent. John Holt was a very able speaker on the temperance question and an earnest worker in the movement. Many tributes of respect were paid to him as one of the earliest labourers in the cause of perfect sobriety. For a long time before his death he was troubled with heart disease and knew that his end was near. On the evening of his death he lectured at Stalybridge and addressed the meeting as one descending to the grave, and hoped his hearers would consider him in that position while he was speaking of the evils of intemperance and the blessings of total abstinence. He spoke for upwards of an hour, then went to his lodgings, took supper, and died without his illness being perceived or known by the people in the house.

The opening of " Good Samaritan " Tent, No. 2, caused the subject of Rechabitism to be much discussed, and, strange as it may appear, the principal advocates of temperance viewed it as an innovation that ought to be put down, and though they did not go the length of denouncing the system, yet their influence was exerted to prevent its progress.

In the Preston Temperance Advocate for October, 1835, the following appears : Teetotal Order-—a number of persons are already incorporated in Stockport to form an Order of this sort ; several in Manchester are also making arrangements for the same, and it is intended to call a general meeting to form rules and regulations for the whole country.

At the third meeting of the Executive Council, which was held on December 5th, 1835, the propriety of issuing dispensations to the Tents was discussed and a deputation appointed to ascertain the cost, which, however, did not prove successful at that date. At this meeting the colours for the sashes were decided upon preparatory to the first Rechabite Procession which was to be held on New Year’s Day, 1836; those for the Executive Council to be purple, with rosettes varied in purple, red, and white. It was agreed to get a banner painted and also to add Bros. Timothy Hough and Joseph Smith to the Council. Authority was also given for the opening of " Felicity " Tent, No. 3, at Mrs. Brown’s Temperance Hotel in Oldham Street, Manchester.

The Procession on January 1st, 1836, was a grand success, considering the season, and it was remarkable as being the first procession of abstainers, so far as known, in Britain. The members of the Executive Council wore purple sashes, with rosettes of purple, red, and white.

In January, 1836, the following letter appeared in the Preston Temperance Advocate:—

ORDER OF THE RECHABITES.

Sin,—I am directed to inform you that a secret Order, on the principles of abstinence from all intoxicating liquors, is established at Mrs. Meadowcroft’s Temperance Hotel, Bolton Street, Salford, for the purpose of raising a sick and burial fund. The Society is called The Independent Order of Rechabites (see Jeremiah xxxv.), and though they have only met a few times, they have upwards of one hundred members. The Executive Council of the Order are about to open another Society in Salford, and one in Manchester; and they intend, as soon as the General Laws of the Order are printed, to visit the surrounding towns to explain the nature of the institution, for the purpose of opening other societies in connection with the one established in Salford, and they flatter themselves that the Order will in a short time be extended throughout the United Kingdom. The Executive Council intend to forward you a copy of the General Laws as soon as possible—I am, sir, yours, etc.,

December 5th, 1835. JOSEPH THOMPSON.

The fourth meeting of the Executive Council appears to have been held on January 23rd, 1836, when it was resolved to open " Source of Happiness "Tent, No. 4, at Stockport. The members of this Tent were before this date a local isolated Temperance Benefit Society. This Tent was opened by Nicholas Gregson, H.C.R., Edward Richards, H.Ð.R., and Joseph Thompson, C. S., and soon became a very flourishing Tent.

This fourth meeting of the Executive Council also decided to add 25 per cent to the cost price of goods sold to the Tents to assist in defraying the necessary expenses of the management of the Order, a resolution which showed that they understood the best way of meeting the wants of the Order at the time.

It was also resolved that each member of the Executive Council shall be able to read correctly and to write legibly and also to have been initiated into the Order at least 12 months. This was singular for a society that had only existed for so short a time, yet they must have known the requirements of the times.

It was also provided that the Executive Council should be elected " at the first quarterly Committee of past and present officers " held after the Annual Movable Committee, at which no brother except Past Chief Rulers could be present except in the case of new Tents, when the Chief Rulers should have the power to vote. It does not appear that this rule, although passed, was ever acted upon, nor could it be with satisfaction, because as the Order extended the officers of Tents at a distance would have been prevented from attending by the expense, and the whole power of election would have been vested in the Tents in Manchester and Salford.

The fifth meeting of the Executive Council (which were vital meetings for the Order in these days) was held on February 6th, 1836, when it was resolved that one representative from each Tent should meet the Executive Council on February 28th, 1836, to consider the propriety of forming a funeral fund for the Order and to make rules for its government. It was also resolved to obtain a seal for the Order, which was got and afterwards used for sealing the certificates with sealing wax up to June, 1843.

The meeting in reference to the Order Funeral Fund was held at the house of Bro. Joseph Thompson, CS., and a code of rules were adopted. The payments to be upon the levy system and a separate set of officers and Committee were appointed to manage it. The officers were as follows : Anthony Crossley, President ; Robert Lodge, Vice-President ; Joseph Smith, Secretary ; and Joseph Thompson, Treasurer.

The following were the rules of the Order Funeral Fund, the title page being as follows : —

RULES

to be observed by the members of the
FUNERAL FUND.
of the
INDEPENDENT ORDER
of
RECHABITES,

Instituted in
Salford, 28th February, 1836.

Printed at the Temperance Printing Office by Bro. Morris, C. R.,
Corbett’s Court, 125, Cannon Street. 1836.

RULES.

LAWS, AND REGULATIONS
of the
FUNERAL FUND.

RULE 1.—OBJECTS.

The object of this institution is to provide a fund in order to present a gift to the representatives of a deceased member or his lawful wife, to enable them to bury the deceased in a respectable manner, and shall be denominated " The Independent Order of Rechabites Funeral Fund."

RULE II.

That the number of members shall not be limited.

RULE III.

That no person be admitted a member of the fund (except the present members of the Rechabite Order) whose age exceeds forty-five years or under nineteen years of age, except according to the General Laws of the Order, or who is not a subscribing member to some Tent and of a healthy constitution at the time of his admission.

RULE IY.—OFFICERS.

That the affairs of this fund be conducted by a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Committee, who shall continue in office twelve months, with the exception of the Secretary, who shall remain in office so long as he gives satisfaction to the Society.

RULE V.

That the Committee be composed of one present or past officer and one brother from each Tent in the Order. Such present or past officer and brother to be chosen by the members of his own Tent during Tent business, and the Committee to choose its own President, Vice-President, and Secretary.

RULE VI.

That any of the principal officers not being in attendance within fifteen minutes from the time of meeting shall be fined the sum of one shilling, and if not in attendance during the meeting he shall be fined the sum of two shillings and sixpence.

RULE VII.

That the Secretary shall keep a just and correct account of all monies paid or received on account of the Fund, and produce his accounts, books, or other documents at each meeting, or whenever the committee think proper to call upon him for that purpose; he shall have power to examine the Pence Book of every Tent as often as he may think necessary, in order that he may be enabled to ascertain that all members good upon the books are regularly returned to the Funeral Fund. He shall also keep a register of the name, age, trade, and residence of every member of the Fund belonging to each Tent, and of those members who are entered on the funeral list but are not entitled to the funeral gift.

RULE VIII.

That any Tent shall be permitted to inspect the book of the Secretary through the medium of a Past or Present C.R. , and in case of the Secretary’s refusal he shall be fined the sum of one pound.

RULE IX.

That the Treasurer’s and Secretary’s accounts be examined at each half-yearly meeting, and the President shall sign the same if correct.

RULE X.

That a book shall be kept in which shall be recorded the proceedings of each meeting.

RULE XI.

That the general meetings of this Fund shall take place twice in each year, namely, on Whit Monday and on Christmas Day, at one o’clock p.m.

RULE XII.

That any Tent neglecting to send two delegates to the half-yearly meeting, if within the distance of twelve miles, shall be fined the sum of ten shillings for such neglect, such sum shall be applied to the general purposes of the Fund. All Tenth being at a greater distance than twelve miles, as aforesaid, shall be allowed to send only one deputy to each half-yearly meeting, and in case of neglect or refusal to send such deputy shall be fined the above-named sum of ten shillings, such fines to be applied to the general purposes of the Fund.

RULE XIII.

That the committee meetings shall be held at such places as the committee may think most desirable.

RULE XIV.

That each and every Tent shall pay the sum of one shilling per member from the funds of the Tent, in order to raise a fund for the interment of members or their lawful wives, and to defray the necessary expenses in the formation of this society.

RULE XV.

That any Tent initiating a member being more than thirty-five years of age shall pay one-half of his over-age money into this fund.

RULE XVI.

That any Tent being more than five miles from Salford, shall on the death of any of its members of their wives (such deceased member being good upon the books of this Fund and of his Tent), pay to the representative of such deceased member or his lawful wife, the usual funeral allowance from the funds of the Tent, to be repaid by the officers of the Funeral Fund on receiving a written application signed by the C.R., DR., and Secretary of the Tent.

RULE XVII.

That every newly-initiated brother shall be returned good upon the books of this Fund for the space of nine months before he becomes entitled to the funeral gift for himself or his wife in case of death.

RULE XVIII.

That a return be sent to the Secretary every two months of all members good upon the books of each Tent signed by the C.R., D.R., and Secretary of the Tent, and if any improper return be sent in (with a view to defraud), they shall be fined the sum of one pound one shilling.

RULE XIX.

That each Tent sending in their returns of the members entitled to the benefits of this Fund, shall send the sum of one shilling for each newly-made brother who has not previously had his name enrolled as a member on the books of this fund, and likewise their quota due to the Fund for funerals during the last two months.

RULE XX.

Any brother having drawn his card or clearance, his Tent shall be compelled to keep him good upon the books of this Fund for the space of six months.

RULE XXI.

That any brother being returned bad upon the books of this Fund shall, on on being returned good by his Tent, pay the sum of one shilling as a newly-initiated member.

RULE XXII.

That the widow of a deceased member shall be entitled to the funeral gift on payment of sixpence per quarter to the Fund, and remaining a constant member of the abstinence society, but should she marry, or break the abstinence pledge, she shall forfeit all claim to the funds of this Society.

RULE XXIII.

That any member neglecting to pay his pence, or who shall be in arrears more than thirteen weeks, shall have no benefit in case of death happening before thirteen succeeding weeks after he has paid up such arrears, of which notice shall be given to the Secretary of the Funeral Fund in writing, who shall note the same ill a hook kept for that puropse.

RULE XXIV.

That when it pleases the Almighty to remove a brother or his lawful wife from this world to another by death, such brother being good upon the books of this Fund, notice shall be given by the representatives of the deceased to the C.R. of the Tent he belongs, whose business it shall be to inform the Secretary of this Fund, who shall, upon ascertaining the fact, give a cheque to the Treasurer signed by himself, the President and Vice-President of the Fund, which cheque shall be a sufficient receipt to the Treasurer for the payment of the money.

RULE XXV.

That in case there be a dispute as to who is the legal representative of a deceased brother or his wife, the stewards of such Tent to which the said deceased brother or his wife belonged, shall take the entire management of the funeral into their own hands and decently and respectably inter the dead. After which they shall summon a Committee of the Tent, and in case there is any overplus after deducting all reasonable expenses, the Committee shall determine to whom the remaining money shall be paid.

RULE XXVI.

That should any doubts arise respecting the marriage of any brother claiming the funeral allowance of his wife, he shall produce a marriage certificate if possible or some such other documents or witness as the Tent may require.

RULE XXVII.

That no new law or alteration of an old one shall be made without a copy of it being sent to each Tent in the Order (six months at least) before such intended new law or alteration be brought before the consideration of the delegates (at a General Meeting), and if carried by a majority at such meeting shall be binding upon the Order.

RULE XXVIII.

That each member of the Order shall purchase a. copy of these laws through the medium of the officers of his Tent.

OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR.

President, Mr. Anthony Crossley, Bridge Street, Manchester ; Vice-President, Mr. Lodge, Shaws Brows, Salford ; Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Thompson, 27, Islington Street, Salford; Secretary, Mr. Joseph Smith, 5, Pleasant Street, Salford.

James Morris, Printer.

Formation of New Tents.

The sixth meeting of the Executive was held on February 7th, 1836, the day following the fifth meeting, when it was resolved that the Tent to be No. 6 should be opened at George Brierley’s Coffee House, in Deansgate, Manchester, and one to be No. 7 to be opened at James Totten’s house in Queen Street, Hulme.

" Jonadab " Tent, No. 6, was therefore opened on February 26th, 1836, and " Philanthropic " Tent, No. 7, was opened on March 9th, 1836. The Tent arranged to be No. 5 (" Royal Oak "), through some unavoidable delay was not opened till March 14th, 1836. " Good Samaritan " Tent, No. 8, was also opened soon after this at the house of a person named Leah at Stockport. At this meeting of the Executive Council it was agreed to allow persons over forty-five years of age to become honorary members by a payment of ten shillings on admission.

In April, 1836, " Samson " Tent, No. 9, was opened at Rochdale, and also "Benevolent " Tent, No. 10, at Manchester. In May " Charity " Tent, No. 11, was opened at Warrington, and also " Purity " Tent, No. 12, in that same town.

In the Preston Temperance Advocate for May, 1836, the Editor, Mr. Joseph Livesey, writes

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF RECHABITES.

I have been favoured with the rules of this Order of teetotallers, but they are too lengthy for insertion. They state their object to be " to improve the morals of our brethren, to promote brotherly love, to relieve the distressed, to administer to the wants and necessities of the afflicted, and to smooth the dying pillow, and therefore the members of this Order do bind themselves under a most solemn obligation, firmly to unite, sincerely to love, and inflexibly to stand by each other in sickness or in health, in prosperous or in adverse circumstances." Mr. J. Thompson, 27, Islington Street, Salford, is the Corresponding Secretary.

On May 11th, 1836, it was resolved to recommend several rules to a meeting of delegates to be held on Whit-Monday, 1836. This meeting was intended to be the first Annual Movable Committee, but for some reason the date agreed upon was not adhered to and the business went on as usual.

In June, 1836, " Wisdom " Tbnt, No. 13, was opened at Stalybridge, C’ Perseverance " Tent, No. 14, at St. Helens, " Tranquility " Tent, No. 15, at Rochdale, " Jonadab " Tent, No. 16, at Newton Moor, " Patience " Tent, No. 17, at Wigan, and " Philanthropist " Tent, No. 18, at Oldham.

In July, 1836, " Zion " Tent, No. 19, one of the most noted in the Order, was opened at Liverpool, " Israel " Tent, No. 20, at Ashton-under-Lyne, " Mount of Olives " Tent, No. 21, at Lymm, in Cheshire, " Mona Union " Tent, No. 22, at Douglas, Isle of Man, and " Good Samaritan " Tent, No. 23, at Runcorn.

In August, 1836, " Perseverance " Tent, No. 24, was opened at Eccles, " Hope of Salford " Tent, No. 25, at Salford, " Derwent Side " Tent, No. 26, at Cockermouth, in Cumberland, and " St. Paul’s " Tent, No. 27, at Hanley, in Staffordshire. This in the very first year of the existence of the Order 27 Tents, some of them as far away as Cumberland, Staffordshire, and the Isle of Man, had been formed, and we must think very highly of these pioneers and consider that this grand work was done by men in a humble sphere of life amid a storm of prejudice without and not a small amount of that green-eyed monster jealously within ; and they began this work without funds, so that their firmness, perseverance, honesty of purpose, and general ability must commend them to the respect of all who have reflected upon their difficulties and what they had to contend with, and we should also be proud of the success that attended their labours.

TROUBLES AHEAD.

About midsummer, 1836, an agitation commenced in the Order which did a lot of mischief through a lot of busybodies suspecting their neighbours and causing a feeling that all was not right, and also an alarm in reference to the ideas of one certain individual in reference to his opinions on reform. So far was this carried that an illegal delegate meeting was appointed to be held at Prescot, near Liverpool, and representatives from the Isle of Man were induced to attend. Unpleasant as this was to the Executive Council, yet they did not relax their efforts to restore peace and harmony. A meeting evidently was held at Prescot, because the following advertisement appeared on page 280 of the Star of Temperance of August 27th, 1836 : —NOTICE TO RECHABITES.

At a meeting of Rechabites held at Prescot on the 2nd August, 1836, at the time of the Prescot Festival, it was deemed expedient to call a special preparatory delegate meeting to be held at Mr. Lawless’ Temperance Hotel (No. 11 Tent), Warrington, on the first Monday in September, 1836, at 11 o’clock in the morning to take into consideration the present state of the Order and to adopt such plans as will ensure its future permanency and success.

N.B.—Each Tent is affectionately requested to send a delegate.

The foregoing was not a bad advertisement, but the Executive Council pushed forward their work and resolved to call the delegates of the Tents together on August 29th, 1836, so as at the same time to celebrate the first anniversary of the Order.

The following announcement of the first annual festival appears in the Star of Temperance of August 27th, 1836, page 279 :— RECHABITES, —The members of the Rechabite Society intended to dine and take tea together on Monday, August 29th, in the Town Hall, Salford. The dinner, we understand, will be confined to the members of the Society, but the tea party, which will commence at six o’clock in the evening, will be open to the public by ticket.

First Anniversary.

The very rapid growth of the Order rendered it necessary to have a representative gathering from all the Tents, which was held in the Town Hall, Salford, on August 29th, 1836, at which the following officers and delegates were present, two delegates being allowed for each Tent :— Nicholas Gregson, H.O.R. Edward Richards, H.D.R

John Holt, Treasurer.

Joseph Thompson, C.S.

Members. of the Executive

Robert Joynson,
Thomas Crowther,
Timothy Hough,
John Jackson,

Council.

Joseph Smith,

1 Ebenezer Tent Stanley Wood and Thomas Grundy.

2 Good Samaritan William Armitt ,, Thomas Ridings.

3 Felicity William Ellison ,, James Larkin.

4 Source of Happiness Peter Crossley ,, George Bradburn.

,5 Royal Oak S. Cundy ,, William Butterworth.

6 Jonadab James Rigby ,, John Ridings.

7 Philanthropic John Pattison ,, David Greenwood.

9 Samson John Moffat , , James Cropper.

10 Benevolent William Grimshaw ,, Thomas Hobson.

11 Charity William Waring ,, William Chorley

12 Purity Richurd Farrah ,, William Phillips.

13 Wisdom William Roper ,, Richard Makin.

14 Perseverance H. Linhurst ,, John Leadlock.

16 Jonadab John Nuttall ,, William Heppingstone

18 Philanthropist Joseph Ainsworth ,, John Lomas.

19 Zion James Sparr ,, John Robinson.

20 Israel Joseph Bardsley ,, Benjamin Booth.

23 Good Samaritan John Lowe

25 Hope of Salford Thomas Chadwick ,, John Taylor.

26 Derwent Side Richard Cook

27 St Paul’s Charles Salt

Tents Nos 8, 15, 17, 21, 22, and 24 were not represented.

The delegates appointed Joseph Bardsley, of Ashton, President; William Chorley, of Warrington, Vice-President; and William Ellison, of Manchester, Secretary. They then proceeded to consider the constitution and duties of the Executive Council, which was found to require very little alteration ; but the number of members was increased by adding Stanley Wood, John Larkin, and William Grimshaw. At this meeting it was resolved " That applications for new Tents should be made in the name of the Tent requesting the privilege of opening the same," and also that the officers of the Tent nearest the town from whence the application is made be empowered to open such Tent, application being first made to the Executive Council, but should there be no Tent nearer than Salford the Council shall send one of its own members to open the Tent for which application has been made. At the business meeting a searching investigation was made into the rumours that had led to the illegal and imprudent summoning of delegates and was proved to be without foundation. Confidence was restored, and each delegate pledged himself to do all he could to promote and spread the Order. This meeting of delegates terminated as all such meetings ought, in arousing the town to a sense of the importance of the cause in which the Rechabites were engaged, and was successful in cementing that spirit of friendship necessary to carry forward the great work which hitherto had been so successful in its progress and operations. After transacting other business the delegates met the members of the Manchester and Salford Tents at a public dinner, of which the following report appeared in the Temperance Journal of Saturday, September 10th, 1836 :— " On Monday, August 29th, the Independent Order of Rechabites held their first anniversary in the large room of the Town Hall, Salford. About two o’clock, some 300 members sat down to a splendid dinner prepared by Mrs. Meadowcroft. After dinner a procession was formed, which, headed by the ilechabite Band, walked through the principal streets of Manchester and Salford. Soon after six o’clock, 700 persons sat down to tea—the party consisting of Rechabites, their wives and sweethearts—and a sight more magnificent was seldom, if ever, seen. There was sobriety and propriety of conduct, there was richness and elegance of dress, there was health and beauty beaming all round, and the knots of white ribbons displayed by the females evinced their love for the Temperance cause, to promote which they are capable of becoming most powerful auxiliaries. The company were addressed by .R. B. Grindrod, Esq.. Mr. Thomson, CS., and Mr. John Holt; there was singing by Mr. Richards, Mr. Larkin, the poet, and some friends from Liverpool."

In October, 1836, Bro. Nicholas Gregson, high Chief Ruler, left this country for America, and before leaving was presented with a set of initiation books, also copies of General Rules and Tent books, and was empowered to institute Tents in that country. He did not, however, succeed in that object and was never heard of after leaving.

In November, 1836, the first membership certificates were printed and were sold to the members at one shilling each, the Corresponding Secretary receiving twopence for attaching the Order seal and inserting the names of the High Officers. These certificates were afterwards reduced in price to twopence halfpenny, as the Executive Council were ultimately not allowed to charge a profit on goods, it having been agreed that the management expenses were to be met by a direct levy for that purpose.

About this time the idea of dividing the Order into Districts was first advocated in the " Zion " Tent, Liverpool, who made an application to the Executive Council on the subject, when the Council resolved " That the request of the Liverpool friends to form a District to extend ten miles in each direction from the Liverpool Exchange and be called No. 2 District of the Salford Unity of the Independent Order of Rechabites be acceeded to."

The foregoing resolution was subsequently modified by the first Movable Conference, when the Liverpool District was numbered five.

The idea of forming Districts with independent government, once mooted, spread in every direction. The Tents in each locality submitted their claims, and it soon became evident that the No. 1 District would be confined to Manchester and Salford. The District idea was a valuable suggestion and there was a danger of the matter being carried too far.

During this period the Order continued to make progress; new Tents were opened at Edgeley, Keighley, Bradford, Bolton, Liverpool, Longton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Macclesfield, Stockport, Blackburn, Manchester, Sheffield, Heywood, and Wrexham, bringing the number of Tents up to 41, showing an increase of 15 in the three months between the delegate meeting in August to the first Movable Conference, which was held at Stockport at Christmas, 1836.

It is remarkable that during this period most of the temperance advocates and writers were silent on the subject of Rechabitism which was growing up all around them, influencing their meetings and bidding fair to stimulate the temperance movement throughout the country and also to bring about many important reforms in Societies connected with the drinking system. The editors of the Temperance Journal and the Isle of Man Guardian alone were bold in the cause and by continual notices kept the Order before the temperance public.

It was also a curious coincidence that the ancient family of the Rechabites with their continued existence as a distinct race, as proved by a traveller in the twelfth century and confirmed by the celebrated traveller Wolfe, should then be brought forward by the American abstainers as a proof of the practicability of the continuous practice of abstinence at the very time when our friends were trying to establish an Order of abstainers bearing the illustrious name of that illustrious family whose very existence among the nations was considered a miracle.

The American writers quoted stated that the preservation of the Rechabites was due to their total abstinence, and that these Rechabites through all the wanderings of the Israelites and through all the revolutions of the Jews had been benefited by their principles, and because of them they had finally obtained the promise of the favour of our Heavenly Father for ever. Abstinnce had preserved them for 2,500 years. Neither the conquests nor the ravages of Roman or Macedonian armies nor the sword of Mahomet seemed to have harmed them, so that while the Jews were scattered over all the earth and the mighty kingdoms and peoples of Babylon, of Ammon, of Moab, of Edom, etc.. were utterly destroyed, the little family of Rechabites remained and increased, differing from all around them in religion and customs, but still unmolested, a standing monument of the truth of God’s word and affording the most incontrovertible evidence in favour of entire abstinence from all that can intoxicate.