Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-14


to convict of immortality. The sovereigns
are asked to ostracize the offenders social
ly, to Danish them from court and to
deprive them of all appointments In the
gift of the court. How far the reformers
have succeeded in winning is still uncer-
tain. but they certainly have the support
Of some of them, and among these is the
mighty Kaiser wilhelm.
Among many other measures taken, the
association has issued a circular to all the
princes and princesses of Europe asking
them to sign pledge to abstain for one
year from gambling, excessive drinking
and other forms of sin. The answers as
yet,as discouraging.
Prince Henry's Degradation
Some of the methods pursued by the
association are very peculiar and are cal
culated to strike terror into the hearts of
those whose lives will not bear inspection.
These methods of procedure recall the
dreaded secret tribunals called ''vehmge-
RIGHTS" which existed in Germany In the
middle ages, the famous Venetian council
of ten, and the vigilance committee OF
the United States. The Anti-Immorality
association maintains an airy of moral
detectives, persons of good family and
good manners and of both sexes. They
have access to court and fashionable So
CleIy, anu ITcy are llDSldiy oupPiSp WiSi
funds by the association. Their connec-
ton with that organization is kept secret
and they are instructed to watch the do
ings of royal persons suspected OF i'm
propriety and to report upon them.
When evidence has been collected prov
ing that man has been behaving in a
shameful manner a solemn secret mes
sage is sent to him warning him that he
must cease his misconduct or he will suf-
fer severe punishment. What the pun
ishment will be he does not know, and
this is calculated to add to his fears. He
knows from the position of his judges
that they have the power to do many
things to him.
In some cases he Is called before a
secret tribunal, where he may offer any
excuses he can in eXtenuation of his con-
duct. He receives a severe lecture from
the president OF the court the principal
royal lady present, in which his misdeeds
are described in scathing language and
| their terrible consequences are impressed
upon him. The same methods OF disci-
pline are applied to women.
| One of the first offenders to suffer con-
| dign punishment for his sins was Prince
Frederick Henry of Prussia, a cousin of
| the emperor He is a son of the late
Prince Albrecht of Prussia, regent of
Brunswick, who was nephew of the
old Emperor William. Prince Frederick
Henry occupied high position at court
on account of his relationship to the en-
peror, and also commanded the first regi-
ment of Brandenburg dragons.
Information was brought to the associ-
alton by it's detectives that the prince
was guilty of practices of the most re-
voting character. He was an intimate
of the infamous coterie known as "the
Knights of the Round Table" presided
over by Prince Philip zu Eulenburg,
whose doings are now being exposed pub
icly in Berlin.
Like the Vehmgerichts
The usual warnings to desist from his
evil practices were sent to Prince Fred
erick Henry by the association, but he
pertinaciously disregardeI 1t. Conclusive
evidence of his misconduct was then
placed in the hands of the emperor, who
was Mortified by the revelations.
The emperor summoned his cousin and.
in the presence of several members of
the imperial family and group of high
army officers, performed the ceremony
of degradation. The scene was planned
with all the dramatic impressiveness of
which the emperor is master. He tore
the decorations from the princes breast,
ripped his epaulettes away, took his
sword from him and broke 1t across his
knee, ana HIdlly UOASu cal5 lhO Aoob
degradation to which an officer can be
subjected
"You have disgraced your family and
fallen 10 yer than the vilest wretch in our
prisons" roared the emperor. Get out
of my sight and never let me see you
again!"
The prince. who was in tears, skunk
away without saying word and the
same night left Ferin for Egypt, where
III 10 fITnd
pointed grand master of the knights of
st. John. This appointment has been can
celed by the emperor's order. The police
have orders to expel the prince in case
he should return to Germany.
Even before this episode, information
had begun to accumulate concerning the
misdeeds of the cotorie known as the
knights of the Round Table, who include
some of the most prominent members of
German aristocracy. They usually met
and carried on their orgies at Castle
Liebenberg, the principal. residence of
Prince Philip Zu Eulenburg, who was
their guiding spirit.
The emperor was great admirer of
Prince Eulenburg, who is man of re-
markabe social accomplishments, dip
lomat, poet, musician and scholar.
The emperor himself occasionally took
mart in the meetings of the knights of
the Round Table, regarding the organi-
cation as a romantic and artistic con-
ception of the prince, but he was entirely
in ignorance concerning the true char
aGter of the association. The facts have
at last been fully published in the Berlin
newspapers They reveal an unparalleled
story of Sybaritic debauchery. The en-
peror is aghast at the revelations and
keenly feels his own association with the
affair