Friends of the Temple.—This religious sect was founded in 1353 at Würtemherg, Germany, by Rev. Christopher Hoffman. The members were also called Friends of Jerusalem because of the interest they took in that city, believing that it will he the "mother and queen of the nations in the approaching Messianic kingdom on earth." One of the chief aims of the society is the establishment of Christian colonies in the Holy Land, six having been planted there that have achieved a fair measure of success. Soon after the organization of the society in the old country some of its members came to America and within ten years an organization was perfected in this country, where it is known as the "Temple Society of the United States."

In 1910 there were three local congregations—two in the State of New York and one in Kansas. The society in Jerusalem is regarded as the chief organization, and its president exercises general supervision over the branches in Germany and America. Each church has a minister and elders. In doctrine the church accepts the essential features of the Christian system, though it holds to no creed but the Bible, which it believes has been neglected or in some cases misinterpreted. It does not countenance membership in secret societies, and the great aim is to build up a "spiritual temple" according to apostolic precept.

This sect was established in Saline county, Kan., sometime in the '80s, and in the census report of 1890 was reported as having a membership of 55. In the next fifteen years the number of organizations in the United States decreased by one, but the membership of the one church in Kansas increased to 150.