Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Man in Templars of Honor and Temperance Regalia
ca. 1850
Maker not marked
USA
Daguerreotype in case; leather, glass, silver, metal, cloth
case, closed: 4.75"h x 3.75"w x .75"d
Special Acquisitions Fund
91.024.1

Daguerreotype of a young man wearing embroidered collar and apron with symbols of Templars of Honor and Temperance fraternity. Rosettes on collar, and a flowered tablecloth are tinted blue; in maroon leather case with gilt liner and flocked green velvet.

The young subject of this portrait proudly wears the regalia of the Templars of Honor and Temperance. Members of this group swore wore an oath “…of abstinence [from alcohol] and fraternity.” They also declared “our enemy is alcohol; our war one of extermination.” In developing their ritual, the Templars of Honor drew on Masonic and other fraternal groups for inspiration. Their regalia included aprons and collars and they employed some similar symbols to those used in Freemasonry and Odd Fellowship.