GOOD TEMPLARS, ORDER OF, a secret society established in ten tral New York in 1851, mainly ,through the energy and skill of Nathaniel Curtis, reformed by the Washingtonians. Its basis is total abstinence from intoxicating liquor as a beverage, and the prohibition of its manufacture, importation, and sale for that purpose. It has a liberal financial basis, secured by quarterly pass-words obtainable only on payment of dues. It aims to diffuse its principles tk•ough the press, lectures, and meetings. The subordinate lodges, averaging each 100 members, hold weekly meetings; the county or district lodges are composed of delegates from the subordinate lodges, and meet monthly or quarterly; the supreme representative body, or the inter national grand lodge, or most worthy grand lodge of all the world, meets triennially. Each state, kingdom, or other political division has its right worthy grand lodge, which meets annually, and elects representatives to the supreme body. There are degrees and
methods of recognition. The first lodge in England was formed in Birmingham, May, 1868; the second in Glasgow. Scotland, 1869. In 1874 there were in the United King dom 3,743 lodges, and 210,255 members: In the United States and a few foreign places, exclusive of England, there were, Jan. 31, 1880, 5,905 lodges, and 254,993 members. There are now 64 grand lodges in the United States, England, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Madagascar, and India, and the total number of members is estimated at 617, 733. Nearly 200,000 children in the order of gond templars are pledged to total absti nence. Since the origin of the soeiety, 2,900,804 persons have become members, of 290,000 had been inebriates, and of these 145,000 have kept the pledge and been active laborers in the reform.