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Sons of Temperance: A friendly neighbourhood Friendly Society, 1911

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About this object

Registration label from Fremantle, red, rectangular, dated 03 February 1911. 

Envelope is addressed to 'Mrs Emily Nielson/Married Woman/Fremantle.' 

Also attached: WA Black Swan 2d Red postage stamp(s); Black ink postmark from Fremantle (B28 type).

Object details
Museum accession number
H2020.884
Type
Registration label
Label Date
03/02/1911
Label Place
Fremantle
Addressed to
Mrs Emily Nielson/Married Woman/Fremantle
Style
print letters
Shape
rectangular
Colour
red
More object details
REGISTRATION LABEL
Label number
1869
COVER
Cover media
long cover
Cover illustration
illustrated
Cover text
W.A. Grand Division, No.5/Sons of Temperance Benefit Society/Registered under Friendly/Societies' Act
MARKS & STAMPS
Postmark type
B28
Postage stamp type
WA Black Swan 2d Red
FRONT MARKS
Postmark cancellation
Fremantle
Other marks on front

Boxed UNCLAIMED

REVERSE MARKS
Other marks on reverse

manuscript message on reverse

Sons of Temperance

A friendly neighbourhood Friendly Society, 1911

Picture this. You’ve just broken your leg in nineteenth century Perth, making it impossible to work. Your boss isn’t exactly keen on footing the bill for your medical expenses, or covering your lost wages while you recover. Luckily, you have a little friendly support to rely on.

newspaper ad
Advertising for the Sons of Temperance from 1882, featuring their three 'degrees’: love, purity and fidelity.
Credit: "Sons of Temperance", 1882, The Temperance Advocate, Perth, (courtesy of the National Library of Australia, Trove, article identifier 257719786)

Friendly societies provided financial support before the advent of government welfare, protecting workers and their families from financial distress caused by illness, injury, or death. Members paid small, regular fortnightly contributions in exchange for benefits such as medical care, funeral cover, and sick pay. Beyond financial aid, they also fostered a sense of community through regular meetings, providing entertainment, and support particularly in emerging mining and rural areas.

Originally founded in New York in 1842, the WA Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance Friendly Society was established in Fremantle in 1878. Membership contributions were notably smaller than those of other friendly societies, as the Sons were also devoted to encouraging temperance habits among the working classes of the Western Australian colony.

Unlike many other societies, the Sons began admitting female members known as ‘Daughters of Temperance’ in 1892, making it possible that the addressee of this letter, Mrs Emily Nielson, was a member herself.

Despite their philanthropic activities, friendly societies faced their own controversies, especially in their resemblance to secret societies like Freemasonry. Many had their own regalia and sashes, their own discrete practises and traditions. To join the Sons of Temperance, for example, candidates had to be nominated and investigated by an existing ‘brother’ to determine whether they were worthy of membership.

In 1896, the Catholic Church actually prohibited its followers from joining the Sons of Temperance, concerned that such organisations were supplanting the role of the Church. 

portrait of a man
 Members of the Sons of Temperance wore regalia such as these on special occasions, festivities or marches to signify their association with the society.
Credit: Image courtesy of University of Newcastle Australia, Living Histories Special Collection (BJFSM0164)
regalia
 Members of the Sons of Temperance wore regalia such as these on special occasions, festivities or marches to signify their association with the society.
Credit: Image courtesy of University of Newcastle Australia, Living Histories Special Collection (BJFSM0806)

Friendly societies eventually declined as government welfare legislation made employers increasingly responsible for offering sick leave and medical benefits to workers. As leisure opportunities expanded in the 20th century, the socialising benefits of regular meetings also became less important.

Additional reading
  • Wettenhall, R. (2018, August 31), ‘Australia’s Friendly History’, PURSUIT: University of Melbourne, < https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/australia-s-friendlyhistory >, accessed April 2024
  • 'Sons of Temperance’ (1882, April 15). The Temperance Advocate (Perth, WA : 1882), p. 3. < http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257719786 > accessed April 2024
Citations and licences
Cite this page
Western Australian Museum 2025, Sons of Temperance: A friendly neighbourhood Friendly Society, 1911 , accessed 27 May 2025, <https://collections.museum.wa.gov.au/collection/hanekamp-postal-collection/object/12>.
Text licence
Text content on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Image licence
Unless stated otherwise, images on this page are copyright © Western Australian Museum, 2025
Questions or feedback
Enquire about image reuse
If the email links above do not work, please email your feedback/enquiries to reception@museum.wa.gov.au using the subject https://collections.museum.wa.gov.au/collection/hanekamp-postal-collection/object/12

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Hanekamp Postal Collection

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