The Independent Order of Rechabites (IOR), also known as the Sons and Daughters of Rechab is a friendly society founded in England in 1835 as part of the wider British temperance movement to promote total abstinence from alcoholic beverages. This type of sash was worn by a Past District Chief Ruler. This particular sash belonged to Lieutenant Colonel William McGregor Cairncross. He lived at the property now known as 'Medlow', although during his occupancy it was known as 'Willcyrus', named after two of his sons - Sergeant William McGregor Cairncross and Trooper Cyrus Hay Cairncross, who served with the 2nd Scottish Horse during the Boer War and in British units in the First World War. Lt Col Cairncross served at the Victoria Barracks in Melbourne for 25 years and designed a water bottle used by Australian colonial troops. During the Boer War he was controller of stores at Victoria Barracks. He died 24 May 1903 at his home.Pointed collar / sash; white silk / satin front with 3 x red stripes down each side; yellow stripes along edges; red satin backing; metallic gold tassels on the outer edge; colourful woven text and design on white segments on each side; one side "Independent Order of Rechabites SALFORD UNITY" around shield emblem; sheild with - beehive, sword and flame and wheat sheaf above, inside shield lamb, all-seeing eye, sun, moon with seven stars, snake, two birds, three white arrow heads, rose, clover and thistle symbols, "PEACE & PLENTY THE REWARD OF TEMPERANCE" in banner below; other side "PAST CHIEF RULER", crossed flags of Royal Standard of Great Britain, USA and Scotland above with triangle in centre of flags, text "TRUTH, FORTITUDE, JUSTICE" "IOR" in centre of triangle, 3 x overlapping shields below main text: one with flag of USA, one with symbols of Rechabites, one with the Royal Standard of Great Britain.independent order of rechabites, surrey hills tent no 309, regalia, william cairncross, william mcgregor cairncross, sash

Independence Order of Rechabites 1. History of Rechabites in Surrey Hills. (3 pages single sided) 2. Excerpt from The Rechabite Journal 1 March 1889 p. 66. “News from the tents” (1 page) 3. Surrey Hills Tent No. 309 Victoria District, Independent Order of Rechabites. (15 pages single sided) 4. The Rechabite Register of Tents 15 December 1909 (6 pages single sided) 5. Independent Order of Rechabites (Victoria) Inc. document with notes on history and emblem of Rechabites. (5 pages single sided) (2 copies). 6. Rechabite Acrostic, Motto, Order list of regulations. (5 pages single sided) 7. Rechabite Hall Property Account Balance Sheet for year ending 31 May 1953 (one page single sided) 8. Independent Order of Rechabites Surrey Hills Annual Meeting Business Paper, 12th – 13th March 1946 (4 pages A3 single sided) 9. Syllabus “Something for Everyone” list of events during 1940. Membership fees, A “Safe” Friendly Society, Hawthorn Tent No. 50 I.O.R. (2 pages single sided) 10. “An Invitation from the Officers and Members of the Surrey Hills Tent, No. 309 Syllabus for 1940” (2 pages single sided) 11. Surrey Hills Tent No. 309 Jubilee Banquet, Saturday, 11 February 1939 (6 pages single sided) 12. 42nd Anniversary Celebration “Back to Surrey Hills” in the Rechabite Hall, Saturday, 14th February 1931 (three pages A5 single sided) 13. 42nd Anniversary Celebration “Back to Surrey Hills” in the Rechabite Hall, Canterbury Road, Saturday, 14th February 1931 (one page A6) 14. General Report of the purchase of land and building of the Rechabite Hall, Canterbury Rd, Surrey Hills, 30 November 1930. (three pages single sided) 15. 41st Anniversary of Surrey Hills Tent No. 309 I.O.R. 4th March 1930 (one page single sided) 16. The Melbourne Concert Party presents the Fest of Music, Mirth, Melody and Merriment. Rechabite Hall, Canterbury Rd, Surrey Hills, Tuesday, 4th September 1928 Menu of songs. (one page A5) 17. Program of the 40th Anniversary Celebration Surrey Hills Tent 309 I.O.R. 16th February 1928. (one page A6) 18. William Sneddon, Thomas Hogg, Joseph Stephenson being the registered proprietors of Lot one and two on Bourke Road being the trustees for the time being of Surrey Hills Tent No. 309. (Two pages A3 single sided) 19. Programme of songs (no date). (One page and notes below hand written of the following district officers who were present. 20. Surrey Hills Tent 309 Syllabus 1926. (one page A6) 21. Surrey Hills Tent I.O.R. United Tent Minutes of previous meeting 28th May 1918 22. ‘Agenda’ Tuesday, 2 June 1914 23. “Pleasant Sunday Afternoon” in the Surrey Hall, Surrey Hills on Sunday, 31st May also a Grand Musical Entertainment on Monday, 1st June, Re-Union past and present members on Tuesday, 2 June and conclude with Grand Picture Show on Monday evening, 8th June. (no year stated. A5.) 24. Letter to Dear Bro from GB Wyatt dated 17 June 1913. (one page) 25. Pleasant Afternoon Service, Sunday, 26th June and Grand Concert at Bioscope Entertainment on Monday, 27th June with Programme of songs and recitation by Mr Will Elder. (no year listed) (one page) 26. Twentieth Anniversary of Surrey Hills Tent No. 309 on Monday, 12 July Programme. (one page) 27. 6 x A6 pages of Opening Meetings in New Rechabite Hall and Syllabus for half year ending May, 1926. 28. Anniversary Concert 9th February 1926 Programme. 29. Meeting programme Syllabus 1921. (A6 one page) 30. A grand Picture Night of “The Two Glasses” on Monday, 8th June. Semi-Jubilee Celebrations. (no year listed). (one page A5) 31. A grand Picture Night of “The Two Glasses” on Monday, 8th June. Semi-Jubilee Celebrations. (no year listed). (one page A5) 32. Semi-Jubilee Celebrations Sunday, 14th May 1914 Programme. (two pages A5) 33. Letter to Bro Stephenson from W Wilson dated 16th June 1913. (one page A5) 34. Letter to “Dear Sir & Bro” from Stephenson dated 11 June 1913 (one page A6) 35. Letter to W Wilson from Dr R L Forsyth dated 15 June 1912 (one page A5) 36. Letter to Dr Forsyth from Secretary to No. 309 I.O.R. dated 12th June 1912 37. Letter to W Wilson from Dr R L Forsyth dated June 1912 (date undecipherable) (one page A5) 38. Letter from Robl B Batten, Secretary Hawthorn Tent No. 50 to Secretary Tent 309, dated 2nd December 1911. (one page A5) 39. Letter to W Wilson from (undecipherable name) dated 7 August 1911. Did have telephone number of 169 Canterbury. (one page) 40. Grand Concert and Bioscope Entertainment Programme, 10th July 1911 (one page) 41. Jubilee Group Demonstration Public Meeting held at Box Hill Recreation Hall, Monday, 26th September 1910. 42. Appeal re: Early Closing of Liquor Bars. (one page) 43. Bioscope Entertainment “How a Great Newspaper is Produced” Lecture, Monday, 1st August 1910. (one page) 44. A Edments brochure of Melbourne Supply Stores. (two pages A4) 45. Town of Camberwell Public Notice that Alcoholic Stimulants is most potent and deadly. 1st May 1908. (one page A4) 46. Joint Installation programme dated Tuesday, 17th December 1907. (One page) 47. Letter to Dear Friend from C M Rotherham dated 5 June 1913 (one page single sided) 48. Twenty-First Anniversary Sunday and Monday, 26 & 27 June (no year stated) Programme. (one page) 49. A Grand Concert & Bioscope Entertainment to celebrate the seventieth anniversary on Tuesday evening, 15th May 1906 programme. (one page single sided) 50. Grand Comedy Evening, Monday 15 June 1903 “Arabian Nights” programme. (one page single sided). 51. Keith Wilson’s talk “Building a community – growth and outreach of Surrey Hills Independent Order of Rechabites Tent 309. 1903 – 1920” dated Tuesday, 17th June 1914. (5 pages single sided) 52. 1912 Members list from Secretary William Wilson ‘Longview’ Surrey Hills. (one page A4) 53. The Rechabite newsletter Vol. 74 No. 6. November 1983. 54. The Rechabite newsletter Vol 75 No. 1. October – December 1985. 55. Note to Sue on Holiday Inn note paper size A6 from Val dated 25 May 2015. 56. “Salford Park” Wantirna Retirement at its Best. The Rechabite Community Villages Announce a Unique Opportunity poster. (one page single sided) rechabites, independent order of rechabites, surrey hills independent order of rechabites, tent 309