The IOR was a fraternal society which started in America in 1842 and
about the same time in Canada. I need to know whether it is still
going in either country. If so, could you tell me its contact details.
If not, could you tell me when it ceased operations. It would help to
have some idea of the extent of the organisation at different times in
its history.

Hi there,

According to a page on the temperance movement in the 1840's
(http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/temperance_orders.htm),
the IOR in the US is defunct, although it gives no details on when it
happened.

In Australia, however, the IOR is still going strong. Their website
can be found at http://www.ior.org.au/, although it's mostly related
to the health insurance plan that the society operates there.

-Deadlychiapet-ga

tent--

I think deadlychipet is right, it's no longer active in the US. But I
don't think it's limited to Australia, here's a link to the Rechabite
Friendly Society in Manchester England:
http://www.rechabite.co.uk/
They specifically identify themselves with the Independent Order of
Rechabites:
http://www.rechabite.co.uk/museum/how.shtml

I did find this history of the movement on the Isle of Man, you might
find it helpful:
http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/history/socs/rechab.htm
There's an email address on this page of someone who might be able to
answer your questions"
http://www.rechabite.co.uk/museum/research.shtml

See also:
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/temperance_orders.htm
http://www.bks.no/bauroom.htm

Good question! Good luck!

Timothy

Hi,

Sorry I couldn't find more, the most likely lead seemed to be Wheaton
University: National Christian Association (Secret Societies) files.
Perhaps contacting the librarian may reveal whether they have anything
of value.

http://www.wheaton.edu/learnres/ARCSC/collects/sc29/related.htm

The Independent Order of Rechabites are mentioned under the Subject
Files and bibliography.

Regards,

Yes deadlychiap is correct. I am currently writing from the centre of
Melbourne City, Australia where very close to me is a huge old sign
embossed on very old building probably from around 100 years ago that
says in full INDEPENDANT ORDER OF RECHABITES.  The sign must be at
least 4 or 5 metres long but hardly noticable now unless you weere
looking for it.  Wont go on anymore as the above is not related to
what you were looking for I would'nt think

 John from Melbourne

There is also a UK societies research newsletter available in PDF form
at http://www.open.ac.uk/socialsciences/fsrg/fsrgsubset/fsrginfopops/friendlyn4.pdf

You might contact them as there may be Rechabites in canada and the
US, but without a web presence.

Dear Tent, 

As your name might indicate, you probably have knowledge of the
Rechabites' history and organizational structure. However, I done a
*thorough* search online (usuing search terms such as:
 Independent Order Rechabites  - and going through all ~600 documents
American Rechabites "Friendly Society" ) 
and found no answers to your question, when did the society had ceased
to exist. May I point, that there are no archive records after the
1930s both in the Unites States and Canada, if that amounts to
something.

I am leaving you my list of links, may they be helpful in your search.

Note: according to a British dicussion group
(www.mail-archive.com/nottsgen-l@rootsweb.com/ msg01379.html), The
Curator of the Rechabite Collection is Ann French at the national
Museum of Labour History 103 Princess St. Manchester M1 6DD, England
UK. Of course, she archives and documents British Rechabites, but she
may be helpful.

Another note: if you're doing a genealogical research, I have found
several interesting sites you may want to use.

US - 
Founded 1842 in the US; and was very small
(http://www.bks.no/bauroom.htm); resisted drinking; was organized in
"tents" rather than chapters or lodges; mentioned in
http://www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/chronology_fraternal_organizations_america.htm
as "debunked" www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/
fraternalism/temperance_orders.htm ; apparently, it did well in the
19th century, as several sources reveal (California
http://www.coastalpost.com/smileys/history.htm ;
Until 1860 - http://www.linshaw.com/omtp/vol4no11.html 
In 1895 - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/gordonchilds/studios/brown.htm

Also these sources might help: 
Degree Service of the Independent Order of Rechabites of North
America. Washington, DC: N. Bunch; 1886.
Initiation Service, Installation, and Order of Procedure at Funerals
of the Independent Order of Rechabites of North America. Washington,
DC: N. Bunch; 1886.

Canada - 
Legal listing 1910 -
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/privlaw/7595/7246.html

Australia - 
Addresses - http://www.afsa.com.au/afsa_files/Members%20of%20AFSA/Members_of_AFSA.html
Archival Information -
http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/research/condon/sass/sass-list.asp?AuthorLetter=I
http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/cguide/pr/regcoop1.htm 
South Australia - www.takver.com/history/lh_gifs/secsoc03.htm  
West Australia - http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au:81/search/dhealth/dhealth/-5,-1,0,B/frameset&F=dhealth+insurance&3,,4
History - http://blueroom.net.au/thehall/history.html ;
http://www.maps.jcu.edu.au/hist/quack/structure/fs.html
www.ior.org.au - in Australia (their Health Insurance). 

UK - 
(1993) «The Independent Order of Rechabites as a Friendly Society in
nineteenth-century England», in Caldeira, I & Botto, M. I. D., (eds.)
Archive holdings until 1930s -
www.sussex.ac.uk/library/massobs/tclists/WT47.html
Isle of Mann - www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/
history/socs/rechab.htm
Scotalnd - Documents in U. of Glasgow -
http://www.archives.gla.ac.uk/collects/catalog/ascols-i.html#ior
Wales - U. of Swasea - until 1930s -
http://www.swansea.gov.uk/archives/book/societiesrecords.htm and also
this 1931 boklet - http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Cardiff_Blue_Ribbon_Choir/Prog_3.html
http://www.open.ac.uk/socialsciences/sociology/socsubset/socinfopops/socires_g.html
- research on the IOR

New Zealand - 
Until 1981 - Archival info. www.nram.org.nz/e/41/x2664.html

Hello from "tent".

Thanks to all of you who have posted comments to my question. As you
may have guessed from its wording, I already have a fair amount of
information about the IOR in the UK and Australia!

Although it is not directly related to my inquiry, I would like to
hear from John in Melbourne about the location of the sign on the old
building (assuming the sign itself is old), as I am interested in IOR
memorabilia.

Anyone who is wondering about the origin of the name "Rechabites"
might like to visit the following sites, which explain where it comes
from!
http://www.bible.org/public/easton/t0003080.htm
http://www.searchgodsword.org/con/ttt/view.cgi?number=T471

Dear Tent, 
             Just happen to run past your post which I had forgot
about and decided to check it out again and seen my name and your
request.  Its  the middle of the night here but I made sure I drove
home past building that I thought was that with the big sign.  Sure
enough it is there bold as brass and bigger than what I described to
you. It is no doubt an original RECHABITES building and original
RECHABITES sign. The building is a large three story high beautiful
old building of a very odd shape being a wedge shape to take account
of steep corner it is situated on. The address is Corner Elizabeth St
and Leicester St with Elizabeth st being probably the main street of
Melbourne, (pop. 3.5M
). The sign was obviously buily into the building as it was erected
and I see there is actually two huge signs of around 6 -7 metres;
bigger than what I first told you. The two signs on either side of the
building have separating them the words HEADQUARTERS right on the
pointy end of wedge,(where just enough space exists for such a sign.
This then, must have been the Victorian headquaters of the RECHABITES.
Victoria is the second most populous state of Australia
The building  features the period architecture of the time and I would
think it would have been built very early this century, or before.
Certainly
it is in a choice piece of central Melbourne's best real estate so
could not
have been much later. The signs actually stand out far more than I
first thought by the way so many would have noticed this sign and
building both.  Is there anything else you need that I can get hold of
easy. If so, just back via this medium

  John From Melbourne  P.S If you would like a photo you may ned to
give me a little time.