The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-01-03

publication, the Re
- vised and Amended Pre-
script of the Order of the
"Ku K1ux Khan"
So far as is known only
two other original copies exist
one of these being the property of the
York, which is now deposited with
the library of Columbia University;
and the other belonging to Mr.. J. L
Pearcy. formerly Of Nashville, Tenn.
now of Washington, D.. G.
Although this Prescript or Consti-
tuition has been reprinted in facsimile
in the Publications Of the Southern
History Association for September.
1903, in w. L. F1emming's documents
Relating to the Reconstruction" 1904,
in the J. c.. Lester and D. L. Wilson's
"Ku Klux Klan," edited by w. l.
F1emming, 1905, and in the American
Historical Magazine for January. 1900
and although in a more or less vague
way every Southerner is acquainted
with the history of the Ku K1ux move
ment, the interest called forth by the
appearance of this original witness OF
the existence of the Invisible EN-
pire" is SO great that it calls for 9
brief history Of the publication Of the
Prescript and of the general 10Y
ment of which it was the written con-
stitution.
This organization. which, during the
late sixties, gave protection to
the South and ameliorated the
wrongs Of Reconstruction, was
spring Of 1866 in Pulaski, Giles
county, Tennessee, by six young men
who had returned from the Confeder-
ate army and on ccount of the disor-
g~anization of business resulting from
the war were idle and in want of both
employment and amusement. Quite
naturally young men who had passed
through the experience Of simple
hunting and fraternity limitations in
their college days and had felt the
thrill of the matchless charge of Pick
EFT at Gettysburg, found inactivity a
burden, the weight of which they
sought to lessen by mean of a fun
provoking secret organization. Con-
s~eQuent1y the origin of the order had
no political significance and it's object
was purely social and for amusement.
Such diversion as could be gained
from membership in a secret society
and from the Initiation of new mem
bers was its chief nc
By rare chance when the group
which founded the organization met
the second time to christen it, one Of
the numbe suggested the name "Ku-
kloi' from the Greek work "Kukloi,'
meaning band, or circle. At the men
at 'Ku Klux." Khan Immediately sug-
gested itself and was added to COM
plete the ALTERATION, and, though
wholly unexpected to give the COM
bination a talismanic spell. Thus the
name which the s~uggestor Of the word
-1x1 lI l-.
appropriate to the sentiment
controlling the order, while failing ut
ter1y in this respect, invested itself
with an atmosphere Of magic and
mystery which more than any other
other thing determined the after his
tory and strange power of the organi-
xation.
Falling under the spell Of it's own
name, the original Khan selected for
its Den an old ruin near which it placed
Its Enthusiastically garbed Night Hawks
while the members of the Den put
initiates through the poses and caused
the old ruin to resound with the mirth
Of the Grand Cyclops and Ghouls.
At its meetings the growing band
donned its regalias consisting Of a
white mark for the face, a tall, fan
tastic cardboard hat, so constructed
as to increase the wearers apparent
height, and a gown or robe of suff-
cient length to cover the entire per
son. OCCASIONAL it rallied forth from
the ruin to enjoy the effect it's silent
presence or its mysterious pranks, es-
pecially the negro passerby.
By autumn the town of Pulaski and
Giles county were a-fever with curl
osity concerning the Khan. Dens had
been founded throughout the county.
and visitors from other sections of the
State and from other States, having
been Initiated returned to their homes