The Modern Ku Klux Klan

by Henry P. Fry

“8. Do you believe in and will you faithfully strive for the eternal maintenance of white supremacy?

“9. Will you faithfully obey our constitution and laws, and conform willingly to all our usages, requirements and regulations?

“10. Can you always be depended on?”

In the above questions, the references to the Jew and the negro are obvious. The third question, “Are you absolutely opposed to and free of any allegiance of any nature to any cause, government, sect, people or ruler that is foreign to the United States of America?” refers to the Catholic, in which the Pope is considered a foreign ruler, and the allegiance mentioned means spiritual allegiance as well as political. It will be seen later, upon studying the Prescript of the original Klan, that no such questions were asked of applicants for membership and no such restrictions imposed.

After the “alien” has satisfactorily answered the above ten questions, and has made his “donation,” the first two sections of the obligation are administered, after which follow many papers of tiresome conversation.

After walking the candidate several times around the “Klavern,” giving the various stationed officers the opportunity to spout forth “Simmonsese,” the “alien” is led to the Exalted Cyclops who addresses a long “charge” to him, admonishing him of the great seriousness of the organization, and offering him an opportunity to retire and proceed no further. This offer is very largely a “bluff,” because by this time the curiosity of the “alien” is at such a state that he would not think of retiring, and invariably he signifies that he desires to remain for the entire performance. There is more walking around, more verbose tommyrot, and then the remainder of the oath is administered, and the candidate is ready for “naturalization.”

The “ceremony of naturalization” of the “Invisible Empire” is a sacrilegious parody on the holy rite of baptism, following a threat of death if the “alien” violated his obligation to “use any and all justifiable means and methods” to carry out the work of the political machine! There is no fraternal order in America which has ever dared to do this, and I look back upon the fact that I “baptized” a number of men, who ought to have known better, with a feeling of regret and humiliation.

After the “alien” has taken the entire obligation he is asked by the Exalted Cyclops: “Sir, have you assumed without mental reservation your Oath of Allegiance to the ‘Invisible Empire’”? The “alien” answers in the affirmative.

The Exalted Cyclops then warns him: “Mortal man cannot assume a more binding oath; character and courage alone will enable you to keep it. Always remember that to keep this oath means to you honor, happiness, and life; but to violate it means disgrace, dishonor and death. May happiness, honor and life be yours.”

Having been duly warned of death and dishonor, the “alien” is then led to the “sacred altar” where rests the American flag, upon which is the Holy Bible, opened at twelfth of—Romans—which Simmons says is his “spiritual charter”—and across the pages of the Word of God is a naked dagger, grim reminder of the preceding warning of the snake. The Exalted Cyclops raises a glass of water, and “dedicates” the “alien,” setting him apart from the men of his daily association to the lofty service of the “Invisible Empire.” He is then caused to kneel upon his right knee, and a parody on the beautiful hymn, “Just as I am Without One Plea,” is sung by those of the elect who can carry a tune. Behind the “sacred altar” burns the “fiery cross,” which is an upright piece of wood with a cross arm, in which are set burning candles. When the singing is concluded, the Exalted Cyclops advances to the candidate and after dedicating him further, pours water on his shoulder, his head, throws a few drops in the air, making his dedication “in body,” “in mind,” “in spirit,” and “in life.” Having thus sacrilegiously “baptized” the alien into the “Invisible Empire of Ku Kluxism,” the “Kludd,” the chaplain of the Klan—very often a minister of the gospel—steps forward and delivers a prayer to God to aid the candidate to keep his obligation, the idea being, no doubt, that if God cannot or will not prevent the “alien” from “keeping his mouth shut,” the dagger or the secret bullet of the Ku Klux will!