The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1913-05-03
Knights Of Luther
|" ENTIoN was made In these col.
M umns about two months ago OF
Ill a proposed organization 20 be

IUAI umns ABOUT Two months ngo OF
III proposed organization 20 be
known as tho National Order
OF the Knights OF Luther" with m.
tional headquarters al Des Molnes,
Iowa.
We rcfrained from giving the new
order much publicity az that time for
the reason that the organization had
not been perfected and we were not
fully Informed as 20 its principles and
objects. The committee having the
work In charge have been diligently al
work for the past sixty days, however.
and have informed US that they arc
now ready TO put the organization TO
work
The new order VIII be a three de-.
gree secret society composed OF male
members only. above the age OF
twenty-one years, and wa understand
that they have compiled with the law
In such cases provided and are now
prepared 10 organize In every state IN
the union. The Sovereign Castle Is
located at Des Molnes, Iowa, and the
following officers compose the ma.
tional board:
Sow. Dictator. Chas. II. Scroggie,
Dec Moines: Sow. Counsel. Edw. A.
Lingenfelter, Des Moines; Sow. Scribe.
Otis L. Spurgeon. Dos Rioines: Sow.
Purser. Ward @. Case, Des Moines:
Sow. Patriarch, Frank l.. Hail. Des
Moines; Sow. Messenger, Guy NJ.
Brandt, Des Molnes; Sow. Guard, Al
G.. Miller, Des Molnes; Sow. Templar
Knights. william Lloyd Clark, Milan
ILL.,, Marvin Brown. Aurora, Mo.
The declaration OF principles OF the
new order has been printed In leaflet
form and is as follows:
DECLARATION or PRINCIPLES.
We. the members OF the Sovereign
Castle Of the National Order Knights
OF Luther. in national meeting assem-
bled. believing that the time has ar
rived In the history OF this nation when
II IL necessary 60 organize, secretly OF
otherwise, TO foster and protect those
| principles which vouchsafe free insti-
tutions In free republic; and believ-
ing unaiterably that the perpetuity OF
this republic and the peace and welfare
OF the people depend upon free speech
free press. freedom ofNgorship. the per.
petuation OF the American public
school system as at present constituted
and the complete and unqualified sepa.
ration OF church and state, do declar,
and set forth the following 10 be our
Declaration Of Principles.
That we are In favor OF complete and
absolute separation Of church and
state.
That we are in favor OF free speech
and free press In the generally accept
ed meaning OF the term. and especially
as "a is interpreted IN the first amend
ment TO the Constitution OF the United
/ States.
That wo believe invioiably in the
| principle that every man, woman and
child should be allowed TO worship God
according 10 the dictates OF his con-
science. and that this right should not
be interfered with In any degree.
That we hold the public free school
system as at present constituted 90 be
the bulwark OF the republic, that II
should remain non-sectarian In every
sense of the word and that no garbs
/ or distinctive sectarian characteristics
should ever be tolerated therein.
That we are opposed 10 the granting
OF lands, money OF any other thing OF
value 10 any ecclesiastical institution
whatsoever by the government OF this
nation. and that we are In favor OF the
taxation OF all church property held IN
trust or used for speculative purposes,
That We oppose the election or ap-
pointment OF any pedson 20 any once
OF public trust within this government
who owes allegiance TO any foreign
power. prince or p0fentate, and that we
are IN favor OF legisiatlon providing
punishment for thoae who persecute
or boycott on religious grounds.
That we are opposed TO either the
NATIONAL or state governments giving,
donating or contributing In any man
ner to the support or fsecclesiastical In
stitutions OF any kind whatever; that
we are opposed 20 the maintenance
within this republic OF any closed OF
cioistered institutions OF any kind
whatever. under q religious pretext
and especially are we opposed 70 these
Institutions being made semi-public,
while privately owned, by being used
for the Incarceration Of orphans. IN
corrigioles. indigents or wards Of the
state.
on these grounds Ae unite as a ma
tion-wide organization. non-sectarian
] In character and absol " free In pri-