The International Order of Good Templars is a temperance organisation, founded in the United States in 1851.
Vignette (top): The parable of the Good Samaritan. Vignettes (clockwise from bottom): First drink – social. Second drink at a bar. Drinking & gambling. Goes home drunk to young wife. Pawns his clothes. Poverty & delirium. Recovery – signs the pledge. Prosperity & happy home. Certificate of Membership: This is to Certify, that — is a worthy Member in good standing of — Lodge N° — held at — State of —. In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto affixed the Seal of our Lodge this — day of — A.D. 18 —. Secretary. W.C.
In 1875 the Order established a branch, the ‘Never Surrender’ Lodge in the small mining settlement of Lamplough, in central Victoria. My husband’s 3rd great grandfather, George Young (1826-1890), and George’s son John (1856-1928), both gold miners, became officers of the Lodge. George’s daughter Alice (1859 – 1935) , aged 17, was also a member, holding the office of Worthy Treasurer. George was Worthy Financial Secretary and John was Worthy Marshall.
In 1876 the Avoca Mail reported that at a concert put on by the Lodge, Mr Young—presumably either George or his son John—‘did good [unreadable]’. From the context it appears that his performance was either a song or two or perhaps a few jokes. It is a little frustrating not to be able to read the badly scanned text.
The International Order of Good Templars still exists, but I have found no more newspaper mentions of the Lamplough Lodge after this one in 1876; I don’t know when it dissolved.
Initials
IOGT = Independent Order of Good Templars
GWCT = Grand Worthy Chief Templar
WCT = Worthy Chief Templar
PWCT = Past Worthy Chief Templar
WVT = Worthy Vice Templar
WS = Worthy Secretary
WC = Worthy Chaplain
WM = Worthy Marshall
WIG = Worthy Inside Guard
WOG = Worthy Outside Guard
WAS = Worthy Assistant Secretary
WT = Worthy Treasurer
WFS = Worthy Financial Secretary
WDM = Worthy Deputy Marshall
WRHS = Worthy Right Hand Supporter
WLHS = Worthy Left Hand Supporter
People mentioned and their roles
- Sister M. J. [Josephine] Matthews (1842-1909) Lodge Deputy; Worthy Outside Guard
- Sister Driscoll representing the Grand Lodge
- Bro Smith representing the Grand Lodge
- Bro W. B. Matthews L.D. (1831-1879) Worthy Chief Templar; Grand Worthy Chief Templar
- Bro James William French (1825-1896) Past Worthy Chief Templar
- Bro William Fish (1831-1893) Worthy Vice Templar
- Bro John Cartwright (1855-1902) Worthy Secretary
- Sister Christina Wellington (1852-1919) Worthy Chaplain
- Bro James Henry French (1849-1915) Worthy Marshall; Worthy Right Hand Supporter
- Sister M. A. Hanson (1822-1885) Worthy Assistant Secretary
- Sister Emma Fish (1833 -1910) Worthy Treasurer; Worthy Vice Templar
- Bro Samuel Fish (1854-1905) Worthy Financial Secretary
- Sister Hannah Fish (1856-1891) Right Supporter; Worthy Deputy Marshall
- Sister Ann French (1825-1901) Left Supporter; Worthy Chaplain
- Brother Kay L.D. of the Good Endeavour; either John Kay (1824-1892) or his son John Kay (1845-1907)
- Brother Barlow of the Star of Glenmona
- Brother James Butt (1844-1907) Worthy Chief Templar
- Brother George Grey (1830-1891) Worthy Secretary
- Alice Young (1859 – 1935) Worthy Treasurer
- George Young (1826-1890) Worthy Financial Secretary
- John Young (1856-1928) Worthy Marshall
- Sister Ann Grey (1850- )Worthy Inside Guard
- Sister Elizabeth Frazer Worthy Left Hand Supporter
- Miss Hammond vocalist at concert January 1876
- Mr Brooks performer at concert January 1876
- Mr Avison (1841-1902) played harmonium at concert January 1876
Further reading
- IOGT International (now Movendi International): history https://movendi.ngo/who-we-are/the-movendi-way/who-we-are/the-history/
- Turnbull, William W The Good Templars : a history of the rise and progress of the Independent Order of Good Templars. 1901 retrieved from https://archive.org/details/goodtemplars00turn
- Echoes from the Bush. (1873, August 5). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 – 1912), , p. 3 (SECOND EDITION). Retrieved June 8, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article197668264
- Avoca: THE I.O.R. & I.O.G.T. ANNIVERSARY. (1874, October 30). The Avoca Mail, p. 2. Retrieved from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202697166
This post was previously published at https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/2017/04/13/l-is-for-never-surrender-lodge-no-187-i-o-g-t-lamplough/
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