The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-22
RITUAL OF KU.KLUX KHAN
A COPY FOUND UNEXPECTEDLY IN A
NEW YORK LIBRARY.
The 1Grand Wizard" Ordered All
Burned When the order Disband-
ed, hut This One Escaped.
Kansas City Star.

in New York, ever since the university IL
brary was moved to Morningside Heights.
there have been unearthed from time to time
many treasures which have lain dust-cov-
cred and forgotten for years. A recent dis
covery. however. is. perhaps. the most in
teresting of the lot. This is a manual OF
the Ku-Kiux Khan organization, which ter
rorized the South for so many years.
The ritual. for such it is. is yellow-cov-
cred pamphlet consisting of twenty-four
pages. four by six inches in size, and the
university librarians declare that it is the
only one of its kind in existence. This con-
tention and the authenticity of the manual
are confirmed by letter which was found
pasted in the back of the book, written
dozen years ago by woman in Nashville.
Tenn.
The letter states. among other things, that
the ritual is "a prescript of the Ku-Klux
Khan, which escaped destruction when the
ghouls disbanded and was given me by an
ex-member.'' The 'ghouls,' appears in
the pamphlet. were the members of the body
polite of this strange organization.
The letter proceeds to point out that the
"ghouls' were under positive orders 10 burn
and destroy every possible trace of their
secret organization, ana there is an lnllIfld-
ton of summary retribution in the case of
that ''ghoul'' who failed to obey this injunc-
ton. It. therefore, appears that by the
merest chance the manual at Columbia es-
capped the fate of the other evidences OF the
Ku-Klux Khan.
THE NAME NOT PRINTED.
1t is worthy of note that nowhere in the
twenty-four pages is the name OF the or
ganization mentioned or referred to. In
the few places where, under other circum-
stances. it would have been printed there
is either the insertion of three asterisks or
blank space. The title page, for instance.
which is interesting IN itself. announces
that the pamphlet is the Revised and
Amended Prescript of the Order of the
-. A little below appears the motto,
'Damnant Quod Non Intelligent"
The problem thickenS on the second page,
where the ritual contains the provision that
This organization shall be styled and de-
nominated the order of the ..
The officers were many in number and
bore singular titles, not unlike those obtain
ing in many of the Greek letter fraternitles
in our colleges. In one place the dignitarles
all was the grand wizard of the empire,
whose position entitled him to ten genii.
whose functions are not revealed:
The grand wizard is followed In rank by
This potentate was, strangely enough, al
lowed no satellites, as the grand titan or
the dominion. the grand giant of the prov,
ince and the grand cyclops of the den, all
inferior dignitaries, were accorded SIX
furies, four COLLINS and two night-hawks
respectively. Other officers whose station
was superior to that of All ordinary ghouf
were grand magi, a grand monk, grand
turk, a grand exchequer and a grand senu-
mel. Ole searches the pages of this strange
ritual in vain to find the duties of the Off
GERS, their identity or when or by whom
they were chosen.
The purposes of the order were varied. as
whole praiseworthy and eloquently set
| forth. The ritual states:
This is an institution of chivalry, hui
mainly, mercy and patriotism, empodying
| I'm its genius and principles all that Is
| chivalric in conduct, noble in sentiment
| generous in manhood and patriotic in pur-
pose, its peculiar objects being TO protect
| the weak, the innocent and the defenseless
from the indignities. wrongs and outrages
| OF the lawless, the violent and the brutal;
to relieve the injured and the oppressed;
to the dw t aea nrphane of
! Confederate soldiers, and to protect and
defend the Constitution of the United
| States and all laws passed in conformity
| thereto, and to protect the States and pe0-
| pie thereof from all invasion from any
| source whatsoever. and to aid in the exc
cution of all constitutional laws and to
| protect the people from unlawful seizure
and from trial except by their peers in
conformity with the laws of the land"
The phrases which are in italics go far
spas stsfes Curing ibe
4
| and turbulent period of reconstruction.
| when the South was just beginning TO get
| on it's feet again. They also serve to eX-
J plain the menacing attitude OF the ku-
| Klux Khan toward the constitutionality OF
| the introduction of martial law in the
| Southern States, which caused so much
| unpleasantness, as well as the govern
ment's refusal for time to permit South
| erners to suffer trial in the military courts.
1t should be remarked that throughout
the book there is at least an ostensible
l for
eminent as well as reverence for and
| faithfuness to the Constitution of the
| United States. But throughout all these
| declarations of fidelity and respect there
| can be plainly discerned strong opposi-
| ton on the part of the Ku-K!ux Khan to
| the recognition of federal administration
| or government legislation of whatever sort
which could be construed as differing with
| the principles of the order or expressing
| views at variance with those of the secret
| organization. A significant creed is stated
| In the following language:
1--WE, the order of the - reverently
acknowledge the majesty and supremacy
| of the Divine Being, and recognize the
! goodness and providence of the same. And
| we recognize our relation to the United
| States government, the supremacy of the
! Constitution the constitutional laws there
of, and the union of the States thereun-
der"
HISTORY OF THE KU-KLUX KHAN.
The Ku-Klux Khan, at its inception, was
Pulaski Tenn. who had more time than
they could employ. The purpose of the
organization was Ito furnish diversion and
| amusement" The curious name was
adopted because it was perfectly meaning
less and threw an air of mystery around
the club, which the members took care to
| increase.
The diversion and amusement" consisted
I'm riding about the country, disguised by
masks and sheets or in any curious man
ner their fancy suggested, playing practical
| jokes upon their friends.
This was in 1866. The fame of the or
ganization spread and branches were
formed in other places. There was little
or no connection between them and the
parent organization. 1t still remained pur.
| poseless. About that time. however, the
war being over, the South in its IRE.
formative period and under military con
troll. The negroes were given the right Il
vote. but the whites who had fought
against the Union were temporarily dis
franchised by the policy OF the govern
ment influenced by the Radicals in the
Republican party. The negroes formed
themselves into secret societies called
Loyal Leagues" under the guidance ant
direction of the carpet baggers," ire
sponsible white men from the North, who
through organizing the engro vote. TIL,
effect upon the negro mind with its frs
taste of freedom was disastrous and ever
| dangerous to the white men of the South
Then il was noticed that the negro wa,
afraid of the mysterious name OF the Ku
Kiux Khan. and could be held I'm check b,
his reverence for what he supposed to b.
pose At first II did good service i'm render
! ing the life and prODerty the white rnel