Rechabite
a member of a section of the Kenites, called in Hebrew rechabim, from Rechab (= the horseman; rachab = to ride), the father of Jonadab, who enjoined his descendants to abstain from wine, from building houses, sowing seed, and planting vineyards, and commanded them to dwell in tents (Jer. xxxv: 2-19). Wolff mentions an interview he had with a nomadic Jew near Senaa, who claimed to be a descendant of Jonadab, stating that his tribe were 60,- 000 in number, and adhered to their ancient laws, and that they were a living fulfillment of the prophecy of Jer. xxxv: 19. Hence, one who abstains from alcoholic beverages; a teetotaler.
Also a member of the Independent Order of Rechabites, a friendly society founded on temperance principles, "so that abstainers could be united together, and have the privileges of a benefit society as well." The first meeting was held at the Temperance Hotel, Bolton street, Salford, Lancaster, England, Aug. 25, 1835. The Rechabite pledge is extremely stringent and far-reaching, but the order is steadily increasing in Great Britain, and has been introduced into the United States, Canada and Australia. Their lodges are called "tents" in allusion to Jer. xxxv: 7. The Independent Order of Rechabite was established in the United States in 1842. Its headquarters are at Washington, D. C. The total number of members in the United States on Jan. 1, 1921, was 538,078.