Ku Klux Klan Secrets Exposed Part 9

IOWA GRAND MASTER'S STATEMENT

Amos N. Alberson of Was.h.i.+ngton, Iowa, grand master of that state, has directed a communication to all Masonic lodges under his jurisdiction as follows:

"Whereas, It has become known to your grand master that a certain 'Ku Klux Klan' has been and is now organizing within this jurisdiction an alleged 'secret and invisible empire'; and,

"Whereas, It is reported that its organizers and agents have stated and intimated to members of our craft that the said 'Ku Klux Klan' is in effect an adjunct of Freemasonry and in accord with its principles and purposes; and,

"Whereas, Any such statement or intimation is absolutely false and untrue, in that Masonry can not and does not approve of or ally itself with any organization or movement, secret or public, that proposes to subvert or supersede the processes of orderly representative government 'of the people, for the people, and by the people'; nor one that appeals to bigotry and endeavors to foster hatred of any nationality, cla.s.s, religious faith or sect, as such.

THE SOLEMN CHARGE

"Therefore, I, Amos N. Alberson, grand master of Masons in Iowa, do solemnly charge each and all of the regular Masons in Iowa, now as heretofore when you were made a Mason, that 'in the state you are to be a quiet and peaceable subject, true to your government and just to your country; you are not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently submit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the government of the country in which you live.'

CITES MASONIC OBLIGATION

"Furthermore, I charge each and all, that as our fathers have framed the truly Masonic principles of liberty and conscience, equality before the law, and fraternity among men into the const.i.tutions of this nation and state, we as Free Masons and citizens of this republic are obligated to perform our full moral and civic duty, to promote and enforce an orderly administration of justice and equity, acting openly that it may be known of all men."

Grand Master Alberson further orders and directs "that this letter to the craft be read aloud at the next meeting, whether regular or special, of each lodge throughout this jurisdiction; that it shall be made of record, and due notice of the same circulated among the brethrens, that it may come to the knowledge of all Masons in Iowa."

MISSOURI'S ACTION ON KLAN

William F. Johnson, grand master of the Carterlin Grand Lodge of Missouri Ancient-Free and Accepted Masons made this statement at the annual meeting of the grand lodge, which indorsed it:

"As the impression seems to prevail in some sections, that the Masonic fraternity is directly or indirectly a.s.sociated with or furthering this secret organization (Ku Klux Klan), and as I have been asked on numerous occasions what relations, if any, our fraternity bears to such secret society or order, it is well that the seal of disapproval be positively placed by this grand lodge upon this secret organization, which a.s.sumes to itself the right and authority to administer law and punish crimes.

"Nothing is more destructive of free government than secret control.

The arraying of race against race, color against color, sect against sect is destructive of peace and harmony, which is the great end we, as Free Masons, have in view. We profess and boast that we are true to our government and just to our country.

IS SUBVERSIVE OF THE REPUBLIC

"We can not, as Free Masons and good citizens, recognize the right of any secret society or combination of men to a.s.sume unto themselves the right to administer law and to inflict punishment upon their fellow men. Such an a.s.sumption is subversive of our republican inst.i.tutions, contrary to the great principles of Free Masonry.

"An organization that practices censors.h.i.+p of private conduct behind the midnight anonymity of mask and robe, and enforces its secret decrees with the weapons of whips and tar and feathers must ultimately merit and receive the condemnation of those who believe in courts, open justice and good citizens.h.i.+p."

CHAPTER X

KU KLUX KLAN AND THE NEGRO

_Members of the Klan take an oath to Bring about White Supremacy, notwithstanding the Const.i.tution, which guarantees the Negro Equal Rights._

Under the const.i.tution of the United States, the negro is guaranteed equal rights with all other citizens. When the President of the United States is sworn into office he takes an oath to uphold the const.i.tution and the laws pa.s.sed under it. Every senator, congressman, governor and other important officer in the United States and in each of the states is sworn to uphold the const.i.tution.

But the members of the Ku Klux Klan take an oath that puts the const.i.tution at naught. They swear to bring about "white supremacy."

Taken in conjunction with the speeches and writings of their leaders, this oath shows that the Klansmen intend to work together to create strife against the negro, to belittle him and his family, his churches, his business, his social societies and other things that are dear to him. The Klan is determined to put the negro out of business in the United States and to drive him back to Africa.

As is all other main objects--the warfare on Jews, Catholics and foreign born--the Klan intends to follow its own laws in dealing with the negro. The writings of its leaders are very plain on that point.

In his oath the Klansman swears:

"I swear that I will most zealously and valiantly s.h.i.+eld and preserve by any and all justifiable means and methods White Supremacy----

"All to which I have sworn by this oath. I will seal with my blood by Thou my witness, Almighty G.o.d. Amen."

Prominent lawyers who have examined this oath declare that it really is an oath upholding mob rule and that any time the Klansman is given orders he will follow his leaders in a crusade outside the const.i.tution of the United States that might lead to serious trouble and bloodshed.

Chaplain Ridley of the Ku Klux Klan has written in _The Searchlight_ on white supremacy as follows:

"Back in the days of the reconstruction the fathers gathered at the call of the low, shrill whistle and rode into immortal fame, rescuing a threatened civilization and making real once more the White Man's Supremacy. Klansmen of to-day, whether they a.s.semble in the mountains of Maine, or 'neath the shadows of the great Rockies, or on the plains of the Wonderful West, or amid the trailing vines and wild flowers of Dixie, meet to keep alive the memory of these men and preserve the traditions of those days when the souls of men were tried as if by fire."

In Texas a white man who testified in behalf of an accused negro--he merely told the truth under oath as he knew it--was tarred and feathered by masked men.

_The Searchlight_ has printed column after column of anti-negro stuff, mostly under anonymous names or under the t.i.tles of organizations whose addresses are not given. One such resolution adopted by the "Patriotic Societies of Atlanta" condemns Rev. Ashby Jones, a minister, for inviting an honorable negro to an interracial meeting and for addressing the negro as "mister."

Here are some of the t.i.tles of articles in _The Searchlight_, showing its evident purpose of stirring up racial feelings:

"Social Equality Put Under Ban."

"Negroes Must Serve on Chain Gangs Now."

"Separate Cars for Negroes."

"White Woman Marries a Negro."

_The Searchlight_ condemned President Harding for appointing Henry Lincoln Johnson, a negro, as register of deeds.

CHAPTER XI

THE KU KLUX KLAN AND WOMEN

Here is the proclamation issued by Imperial Wizard Simmons, making Mrs. Elizabeth Tyler his "grand chief of staff" to have charge of the women's organization to be affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan:

"To all Genii, Grand Dragons and Hydras of Realms, Grand Goblins and Kleagles of Domains, Grand t.i.tans and Furies of Provinces, Giants, Exalted Cyclops and Terrors of Cantons, and to all citizens of the Invisible Empire, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, in the name of our valiant and venerated dead, I affectionately greet you:

"In view of our Nation's need and as an additional force in helping on the great work of conserving, protecting and making effective the great principles of our Anglo-Saxon civilization and American ideals and inst.i.tutions, the Imperial Kloncilium, in regular session a.s.sembled, after deliberate care and earnest prayer, decided that there shall be established within the bounds and under the supreme authority and government of the Invisible Empire an organization that will admit the splendid women of our great national commonwealth, who are now citizens with us in directing the affairs of the Nation. Which decision of the Imperial Kloncilium I have officially ratified after serious, careful and devoted consideration of all matters and things involved by this move.