Historical information

Certificate issued by the Independent Order of Rechabites Temperance Friendly Society to Victorian state school children who had passed the temperance physiology examination.

The Independent Order of Rechabites began in Salford, England in 1835. It was named after Rechab, a leader in the Old Testament, who instructed his tribe to refrain from drinking alcohol. During the Industrial Revolution the idea of temperance became popular as damage was caused to families by alcohol. In Australia it was first established in Tasmania in the mid 1800s. In 1847 a branch was created in Victoria, and it then spread to other States. Members were provided with assistance during times of sickness, death and hardship.
The Victoria District of Rechabites (District No. 82) was established in the 28th January 1861
In its heyday the Victoria Rechabites’ membership numbers grew and grew to the extent that there were at one stage in excess of 36,000 members associated with the Victorian Rechabites in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s covering approximately 250 operating Tents.

Significance

The certificate was issued to Helen Marion Blackman in 1949. Helen was a resident in the City of Moorabbin.

Physical description

Certificate issued by the Independent Order of Rechabites Temperance Friendly Society to Victorian state school children who had passed the temperance physiology examination.

Inscriptions & markings

Independent Order of Rechabites - Salford Unity