The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-15

of the Domain and his six Furies; the Grand Giant of the Province and his four Goblins; the Grand Cyclops of the Den and his two Nighthawks; the Grand Magi the Grand Monk. the Grand Scribe, the Grand Exchequer, the Grand Turk and the Grand Sentinel. The body polite or the order was called the "Ghouls.
 The appellation of the Klan was the Order of the ., and the creed was as follows:
 ''This Organization shall be styled and denominated the order of the
 Creed.
 "Wo, the Order of the :, rever- entially acknowledge the majesty and supremacy of the Divine Being, and recog- nize the goodness and providence of the same. And we recognize our relation to the United States governments the su- premacy of the Constitution, the Consti- tutional Laws thereof, and the Union of States hereunder
 The character and objects of the Ku Klux Klan were set forth as follows, al- though it Is exceedingly questionable If all the Dens carried them out to the letter.
 ku KIux Klan Preamble.
 This is an institution of Chivalry Hu- manity, Mercy, and Patriotsm; embody- ing in its genius and it's principles all that is chivalric in conduct, noble in senti- ment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in purpose; its peculiar objects being 'First-To protect the weak the inno- cent. and the defenceless, from the indig- mites, wrongs, and outrages of the law less. the violent and the brutal; to re- leve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and unfortunate, and espe- cially the widows and orphans of Con- federate soldiers.
 ''Second-To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the states and the people there of from all invasion from any source whatever.
 "Third-To aid and assist in the execu- tion of all constitutional laws. and to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.'
 The territory covered by the Ku Klux Klan embraced Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia. Flor ida, Alabama Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee. All these states combined con- stituted the Empire. This Empire was divided into four parts. The first was the Realm, which comprised state; the sec ond division was called the Dominion and was that territory assigned by the Grand Dragons to the Grand Titan; the third was called a Province and was one coun- ty, and the fourth division was the Den, which was merely a chapter of the Klan. Authority was delegated to the various officers ruling over this territory, &C., cording to their rank, the Grand Wizard coming first the Grand Dragon second and so on down to the minor officers of each Den. Their duties were both execu- tive and administrative and in the gradual decadence and dissolution of the order the heads of each Den became vested with absolute authority as regarded the affairs of the bands under their leadership.
 Provision for Revenues.
 The expenses of the Ku Ilux Klan were merely nominal but provision was made for stated revenues. Each Den was required to pay s10 for a copy of the pre- script. Of this sum $2 was given to the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Giant $2 to the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Titan, $2 to the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and % to the Grand Ex- chequer of the Grand Wizard In addi- tion taxes could be levied on each of the four divisions at the discretion of the various officers in the order of their pre- cedence. Initiation fees. fines and per capita tax also eked out the supply Of funds, which was certainly not very large.
 New members had little difficulty in getting into the order, provided they were recommended by some friend who was already a member and would take the preliminary oath to guard it's secrets The final obligation, which was adminis- tered to the newly initiated member, was interesting and was as follows:
 q, ---, of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will never reveal to any one not mem Der of the Order of the :, by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets. signs, grips, passwords. or mysteries of the Order of the :, or that I am a member of the same, or that know any one who is a member; and that I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts of the Order of the .. So help me God"
 There was much extravagant buncomb in all that the Ku Klux I<lan said and did but it certainly had the desired effect. To give an idea of the style of procla- nation indulged in by the Klan the fol- lowing is verbatim copy of an order which was posted up on the streets of Tuscaloosa and was afterwards printed in the newspapers:
 ku KIux KIan Order
 Hollow Hell, Devils Den. Horrible
 Shadows. Ghostly sepulchre.
 Head Quarters of the Immortal Ate
 of the K K. K. Gloomy Month. Bloody
 Moon Black Night. Last hour. General Orders No. 3.
 Shrouded Brotherhood! Murdered heroes! Fling the bloody dirt that covers you to the four winds! Erect thy Goddess on the banks of the Avernus Mark well your foes! Strike with the redhot spear Prepare Charon for his task Enemies reforml The skin shall be blackened! single Star shall look down upon horrible deeds! The night owl shall hoot a requiem OCT Ghostly Corpses! Bewarei Beware Beware! The Great Cyclops is angry! Hobgob- lins report Shears and lash!
 Tar and Feathersl Hell and Furyl
 Revengel Revenge Revenge!
 Bad men, white, black, yellow. repent! The hour is at hand! Be ye ready Life is shortl J. II. s. Y. WI!
 Ghosts! Ghostsl! Ghosts,ll
 Drink thy tea made of distilled hell, stirred with the lightning of heaven, and sweetened with the gall of thine enemies! All will be well!ll
 By order of the Great
 BLUFUSTIN
 G.S K xxx. A true copy
 Peterloo