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Masonic Parade? Berwick on Tweed - 19th June 1937
© Rosslyn Templars
Since we posted this interesting photograph several months ago we have received several enquiries asking what the organisation parading is or was. A number of suggestions have been offered but none of them were correct. We can now that the parade is being led by a Salvation Army Band and the main body is that of the International Order of Good Templars (IOGT). The Order originated in Syracuse, New York State, USA, in 1852. It later spread to many parts of the world including Scotland. It was conceived as a temperance organisation and remains so to this day.
The choice of name was not, we believe, accidental. 'Good' Templars implies that there were other Templars who were not good. Many have heard the saying: 'As drunk as a Templar' referring to the debaucheries of the Knights Templar of the Middle Ages. In the light of that Order's title was well chosen.
The Order borrowed from Freemasonry possibly because of the large numbers of Freemasons who were involved in the Order. At least one Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland was also a Grand Master of the Good Templars of Scotland.
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