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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-03-29, Page 7Wednesday, March 29, 2017 • Signal Star 7 The Independent Order of Good Templars in Goderich Aminute book of the Independent Order of Good Templars is all that remains of one of Goderich's earliest and most powerful temper- ance societies. Although the book covers less than a year (May 6, 1867 -April 6, 1868) .of the society's activities, it is a unique window into Victorian ideals of sobri- ety, industry and morality. In mid -nineteenth cen- tury Ontario, as work moved from the farm to the factory, drunkenness was deemed a blight upon humanity. Clergy- men, social reformers, women's groups and industrialists argued that intoxicating drinks led to every social evil. Laziness, immorality, insanity, debauchery, violence, crime, disease, poverty and abuse were all blamed on liquor. As a way to battle 'sin in a bot- tle,' a myriad of temper- ance societies sprang up throughout North America. The Independent Order of Good Templars was established in the United States in 1851 to 'liberate' humanity from the social evils of alcoholism. The Good Templars drew heavily upon the rituals, regalia, and tides of free- masonry. Unlike the free- masons, though, the Good Templars allowed women into its ranks. In fact, from what can learned from the Goder- ich temple's minute books, women comprised almost half of the mem- bership and held high offices in the Goderich lodge. Goderich Temple #223 of the Good Templars was formed in the fall of 1866. A public meeting at Crabb's Victoria Hall on October 11 attracted a Huron History David Yates large audience. With speeches "full of vigour and earnestness',' the crowd was 'urged' of "the necessity of embracing and sustaining by all means the principle of total abstinence, as the only means of lessening the evils of intemper- ance," according to the "Huron Signal." From this initial meeting, the Good Templars lodge of Goder- ich seems to have been formed. In the early years, the Good Templars con- ducted their weekly meetings in church base- ments, shops, the freema- sons' hall, and the Mechanics Institutes. Within the temple, new candidates were exam- ined, voted upon and ini- tiated into the order. Can- didates seeking initiation swore an obligation on the Bible that they would not drink, sell, or pur- chase alcoholic bever- ages. Further, they were to report in open lodge any brother or sister seen drinking, selling or pur- chasing the same. In return, they offered mem- bers `friendship, hope and charity.' The Good Templars were a thriving order in Goderich. In the 11 months recorded in the minutes, the temple ini- tiated 163 candidates, at least 54 of whom were women. Many were hus- band and wife couples who were devoted to the temperance cause or, perhaps, looking for support for a family member suffering from alcoholism. Much like the modern Alcoholics Anonymous, the Tem- plars pledged to support each other in their strug- gles against the Demon Rum. At least one brother who had been so "severely wounded in the knee as to render him unable to care for himself" was given. financial assistance until he recovered his health. Within a months, the same brother was expelled for violating article II of the constitu- tion which forbade drinking alcohol. Many warriors enlisted in the temperance cru- sade but, as in every bat- tle, there were casualties. Article II of the constitu- tion was strictly enforced. The minute book records 25 Templars were charged with violating the article. Nine of those accused were 'expelled' from the Order and their names erased from the registry because they refused to appear before the investigating commit- tee. Yet, the others showed 'contrition' and submitted themselves to temple discipline. They were welcomed back into the Order if they re- signed the constitution. In the 11 months covered in the minute book, no female Templar was ever accused of violating arti- cle II. One lapsed brother was, W. T. Cox, the edi- tor of the 'Huron Signal.' Andrew Holman in "A Sense of Their Duty," (2000) said that Cox became incapacitated by drink. After found guilty of violating article II, Cox asked to be re- admitted to the temple fellowship. Sadly, alco- holism eventually ruined Cox. In 1875, Holman recounts that Cox admitted that "my hand forgotten its cun- ning and my brain the Independent Order of Good Templars. power of constructive labour" because of alcohol. Some of the town's most prominent citizens were. Templars. Samuel Platt, the discoverer of salt in the area; Samuel Sloane, a wealthy grain merchant; Edward Cam- paigne, the county gaoler; shopkeepers William Sharman and Stephen Yates and, at least, one clergyman were members. Aside from the endless Temperance lectures and revivals, the Goder- ich Good Templars enjoyed a vibrant social life. They regularly received invitations from other area temples to attend 'tea meetings.' On February 13, 1868, the Good Templars hosted a 'Temperance Soiree' in which the 'Sig- nal' reported that "the attendance was so large that it was difficult for all to find room." The paper said there was food for 2,000 people who came to hear Toronto Police Magistrate, Alex McNabb, deliver a force- ful two hour lecture that held the audience "in a state of deepest atten- tion." The Good Tem- plars had their own musical Band of Hope for entertainment. In February 1872, they co - hosted with the Sons of Temperance an evening of "Penny Readings" which were so well enjoyed that the 'Signal' editor hoped to see them "continued during the remainder of the winter." In May 1867 the Tem- plars held a tea -picnic in honour of the Queen's birthday, but there was also a note in the June 24, 1867 minutes "to find something for the mem- bers of this lodge to do on the 1st of July said being the celebration of the Confederation of the Provinces." As membership grew, the Templars required more space for their meetings. From about 1868 to 1873, the Good Templars and the Sons of Temperance met in a Contributed Photo Temperance Hall on West street just east of the post office. In 1873, the tem- perance societies bought the lot on the southeast corner of North and Nel- son streets from the town and erected a Temper- ance Hall in 1875. This hall existed until it was razed in 1926 to make way for the MacKay Centre. Social historian Andrew Holman claims that the Goderich lodge of Good Templars was active until 1890 but, if so, it lacked the promi- nence of its early years. The closed world of the lodge gave way to the new temperance socie- ties like the Women's Christian Temperance Union formed locally in 1871. The Good Tem- plars wanted to help their lodge brothers and sisters as individuals. The new temperance bodies, like the WCTU, were more militantly ambitious. They wanted to revolutionize all of society's drinking habits.