The Modern Ku Klux Klan

by Henry P. Fry

This first section binds a “citizen” to obey “unconditionally” laws he has never seen and is not permitted to see, and also to obey all laws that may be enacted in the future regardless of whether he approves of the laws or not. Any man who takes this obligation and keeps it, gives “Emperor” William Joseph Simmons a blank check on his life, his liberty of thought, and his entire actions. Any one who doubts my statement has but to read this section of the oath. It is there in plain English. Regardless of the merits of the organization, no fraternal order man ought to be a member of any society in which he has so little voice in the management of its affairs, and the head of which has so framed the constitution that he will enjoy a lifetime of “easy money.” And the incorporators of the “Invisible Empire” say in their application for a charter of the “Knights of the Ku Klux Klan” that they want to be classed with the Masons and Knights of Pythias! In both those orders, the constitution and laws of the order are always open for the inspection of any member who cares to see them, and I have yet to hear of an official of Pythianism or Masonry who has been chosen to hold a position for life. Some officials have held office on merit for many years, but their tenure for life is not fixed in the constitutions.

Under the second section of the oath, in the first clause, is found the words:

“I ... do most solemnly pledge, promise and swear, that I will diligently guard and faithfully foster every interest of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and will maintain its social cast and dignity.”

This is a sweeping declaration that every interest of this organization must be held paramount, and the slightest deviation from absolute obedience and loyalty to “Emperor” Simmons, who is the organization, would mean that the offender had broken his oath. “Maintaining its social cast and dignity”—whatever that means may indeed be a very hard obligation to keep.

“I swear that I will pay promptly all just and legal demands made upon me to defray the expenses of my Klan and this Order, when same are due or called for.”

Here we find that the avarice and greed that permeates the whole system of organized Ku Kluxism has even been incorporated into the oath. When a Klan is chartered, a per capita tax of $1.85 for each member is required to be sent to the Imperial Palace. If the organization has 650,000 members, as has been claimed, then there will be derived from dues alone an annual revenue of $1,202,500. In order to insure the payment of this vast sum, the “Emperor” has sworn all his “subjects” to keep up the golden stream that flows into the coffers of the “Invisible Empire.” Under this section, it would also be possible to levy an assessment on all of the members, which they would be bound to pay, or else they would be guilty of violating their obligations. No amount of payment is specified. When a person assumes the obligation, he gives “Emperor” Simmons a blank check on his bank account.

“I swear that I will never allow personal friendship, blood or family relationship, nor personal, political, or professional prejudice, malice, or ill will, to influence me in casting my vote for the election or rejection of an applicant for membership in this Order.”

The “Invisible Empire” wants more “citizens.” More “citizens” mean more money. Under a ruling of the organization no person can be blackballed unless objectors are prepared to stand up in open lodge and state just what are their objections, and then they might be admonished to “lay off.” In the present system of propagation the Kleagle is the court of last resort as to the persons who become charter members of a Klan.

Much capital is made by the organization of the fact that each person who becomes a “citizen” of the “Invisible Empire” is required to take a solemn oath to support the Constitution of the United States. While this is true, the allegiance to the Constitution and the law, is, in my opinion, pure camouflage for the purpose of concealing the deadly fangs of this illegal oath. In considering this point, it should be borne in mind that the members of the original Ku Klux Klan also took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, which oath can be found in the Prescript of the Order. Just how much weight the original Ku Kluxes attached to the Constitution of the United States when it became necessary to put the fear of God into a “carpet-bagger” or negro is a matter of more or less doubt. They were organized as a matter of necessity for the purpose of policing a section of the country where political madness and hatred reigned supreme. As will be shown further along, a Ku Klux Klan in Beaumont, Texas, in May, 1921, although all of its members had sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, arrested a citizen without a warrant, tried him with a jury, convicted him, and acted as his executioners in total violation of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution. It has been proven in one instance that swearing allegiance to the United States Constitution had but little effect, in preventing members of the “Invisible Empire” from committing acts of lawlessness. Hence, I believe that the pious and patriotic clause in the oath of “Emperor” Simmons’ organization is sheer camouflage, because the very document shows on its face that the Ku Klux oath is considered paramount to any other tie or obligation.

In order to prove this latter statement, I call special attention to the following clause, which illustrates fully the relative importance the “Invisible Empire” attaches to the Constitution of the United States and the Ku Klux obligation: