Regalia from the Goods Templars temperance lodge in Glyngøre
In 1880, the Independent Order of Good Templars (I.O.G.T. for short) came to Denmark and quickly spread throughout the country. The I.O.G.T. was a temperance lodge where, unlike the temperance societies, you could not simply join if you wanted to join the temperance cause. The lodges required you to be nominated by an existing lodge member. You were then examined to see if you were worthy of membership, and finally, all members had to vote on whether your membership was approved.
During Order meetings, members addressed each other as brothers and sisters and all wore regalia. The regalia were meant to highlight the rank and function of the member in the lodge, thus blurring their social standing in society outside the lodge.
Members of the Order were divided into five different degrees. The first degree was the degree of initiation, which was symbolized by white regalia. This was followed by the degree of fidelity, which was characterized by blue regalia. The third degree, the degree of mercy, was marked with violet regalia, while scarlet regalia signified the fourth degree, the degree of justice. The regalia for the fifth and final degree, the degree of Unity, was, like the fourth degree, scarlet but equipped with a violet collar.
Rising through the ranks required a recommendation from the lodge. In practice, this meant that members took on work in the service of the lodge. This could be done by running for one of the many official positions or by volunteering for various committees.
The regalia in Museum Salling’s collection belonged to fisherman Anders Iversen (1857-1938), who was a member of the I.O.G.T in Glyngøre. The color of the regalia indicates that Anders Iversen achieved the 4th degree, the degree of righteousness within the order. In addition, the two letters SM on the regalia indicate that he served as Grand Master of the Order.
Lodge meetings were conducted according to carefully defined regulations and rituals under the leadership of a system of elected officials such as the Grand Master. It was the Supreme Templar who presided over the meetings, was responsible for ensuring that the laws of the lodge were observed and that the other officials fulfilled their duties.
