Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-09

M a. n.
ems Of Memphis Finds - szare's NesI
catches Ku-Kinx, IsHu GraciOnsly
Lets Them go scott Free-shOWs the
Nest Egg.
From the Memphis BalleIin. April 7.
EDITORS BULLETI1.-An organization
known as the Ku-Klux Khan has for some
time caused much excitement in this State.
BY some it has been treated seriously, but
a large majority Of people have supposed it
i q myth. In order 10 satisfy myself of the
objects OF the organization, have for
several weeks tracted its members to their
place of meeting, and becoming convinced
that il was my duty to break it mp in this
city, / tonight captured about twenty
young men as they came from their Den
on Beal street. Upon one Of them / found
papers which may be of interest to the pub
lie, and which i hand you for publication.
The names of the members Of the
''Itrand Cyelopcan ConnciP' found among
the records, are for the present withheld.
| have no comments to make upon the
records furnished for publication, but leave
the public to Judge Of the effect Epon the
A'i~AN ~ ohNh al SdulLdtlOI
to carry out the objects set forth in the
oath. S. B. BEAUMONT,
Superintendent M. p.
ORGANIZATION.
The name of this den shall be the Su-
preme Cyclopean Council, and its officers
shall consist Of Grand Cyclops, Vice
Grand Cyclops and Secretary. All funds
coming into the association shall be under
the control of the three officers above
named, and two directors to be elected, who
shall act as a supervising council, and their
decision upon all questions shall be final.
The meetings shall be called by the Grand
Cyclops, when he deems it necessary, and
shall be done through the papers in the
cipher of the organization.
OBJECT.
The object of this organization is for the
purpose of protecting the people Of the
South from the band of murderers and
robbers now preying upon them, even to
the last -assassination-and we
pledge ourselves one to the other that
nothing shall be allowed to deviate us from
this noble object.
ENTRANCE.
Entrance TO the lodge room will be OBJ
tanned through the medium of two raps in
quick succession, to be followed by two
slow ones. The Inside Sentinel will say
"our trust )" the outside applicant will
answer, SIS in God" He will then be adj
mitted, and upon giving the grip as de-
tailed in another place, he can take his
seat"
INITIATION.
All candidates shall be balloted for in
open council, and if any applicant receive
three black balls he cannot be admitted.
As soon az a candidate is elected. he shall
be introduced by a brother appointed by
the Grand Cyclops. The members of the
lodge, all shrouded, will rise and receive
him and conduct him into the middle of
the room. Each member of the order shall
have drawn dagger or other weapon in
his hand, pointed toward the candidate,
and each member will be required in the
presence of the candidate, to swear that
should said candidate prove recreant to the
oath which he is about to take that he will
kill him, and make it his SPECIAL duty to
do so on the first safe opportunity. As soon
az the shrouded brothers have taken the
above oath, the following charge and
oath shall be administered by the Grand
Cyclops, or, in his absence, the Vice
Grand
Here in the presence of this skull and
the members here assembled, | solemnly
swear to be true to the order, to its mem
bers Individually and collectively. and
should l ever, by sign, word, or deed, be-
tray a secret, or member of the Brother
hood, that the skull upon which / now
look may he counterpart of mine, and |
hope that all the social relations which /
now enjoy may be sundered, that hon
esty in men or virtue in females may not
be known in my family and generation.
and that all who own my name shall be
branded IA dogs and harlots. | further
swear to obey implicitly the orders of the
Grand Cyclops, regularly issued through
his Council, and as soon az | receive an or
der to fulfill it. | again swear that. should
member Of this order be in danger, that,
even at the risk of my life | will defend
and endeavor to save him; that | will
give no outward sign or hint that person
may know Of the existence of the X. X.
X, unless authorized by the Grand CycIops,
and that each member of this order as
soon as the sign is given, l will recognize,
defend and protect as brother. i further
swear that | will, under and in all circum-
stances, bear true allegiance TO the South
and her interests, as interpreted by the Su-
p-eme Cyclopean Council, and when / re-
receive its orders, should l be even in the
embraces Of my wife, will leave her to obey
them. further swear that all Radicals
and negroes, who have placed themselves
opposite to the interests of the owners of
the soil of Tennessee shall forever be my
enemy, and that under no circumstance
will have other connection with them, if
| can help it than TO welcome them
with bloody hands TO hospitabe graves
That my family, and the family of Radi-
cal shall never interchange visits, and |
further pray that the God Of the South
land, whom ! now invoke, shall strike me
dead should | ever, either in letter or in
spirit, infringe upon the things set forth in
this oath. To all of which | swear in
honesty of heart and sincerity of purpose.
SO help me God"
In regard TO the grip, your committee
would report that the simplest plan, and
at the same time the best, would be a
common meeting of palms,->at the same
time using the interlOcking Of little fng
ers, and pressure of thumbs on the back
Of the hand. Nour committee will practi-
cally explain it. The word Of danger we
would suggest to be for the present, eli
LAM Sabacthdni," which We wonld recon-
mend to all members to commit TO their
memory. In regard to other things sub
mitted 10 your committee, We would ask
for further time, and would excuse our
selves, upon the plea that one of our mem
beers has been sick. All of which is re-
specially submitted.
ONE Of that curious class of men, the