Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-11-28

ger which I now receive l will sub
scribe my name written in my
blood in testimony thereof; and
should / prove false or weaken in
my determination, may my brethren
and fellow soldiers of the militia of
the Pope cut off my hands and feet
and my throat from ear to ear, my
belly opened and sulphur burned
therein with all the punishment that
can be inflicted upon me on earth
and my soul be tortured by demons
in eternal hell forever.
'fThat I will in voting always vote
for Knight of Columbus in prefer
ence to a Protestant-especial a
Mason, and that I will leave my
party so to do; that II two Catholics
are on the ticket, I will satisfy my
self which is the better supporter Of
the Mother Church and vote accord
ingly.
''That / will not deal with or en-
ploy Protestant, IL in my power to
| deal with or employ Catholic.
That will place Catholic girls in
Protestant families of the heretics.
"That l will provide myself with
anms and ammunition that may be
in readiness when the word is
passed or l am commanded to defend
the church, either as an individual
or with the militia of the Pope.
"All of which /, ..........., do
swear by the Blessed Trinity, and
the Blessed Sacrament which I am
now to receive, to perform and on
my part to keep this my oath.
"In testimony thereof take this
most holy and Blessed Sacrament of
the Eucharist, and witness the same
further, with my name written with
the point of this dagger, dipped in
my own blood, and seal in the face
of this Holy Sacrament.
signature. 49,. .........."
BY referring to the Congressional
Record quoted, it will be found that
this "fake oath" is filed as an ex-
hibit by Eugene G. Bonniwell, Of
Pennsylvania, in his charge against
Thomas S. Butler, before the Conn
mittee on Election No. /, In Con-
gress, growing out of an election
contest. Mr.. Bonniwell, the con-
testant, in his protest, printed in the
Congressional Record. says:
Messengers in the employ OF
supporters of Thomas s. Butler
Travelled the district having in their
possession and circulating bias
phemous and infamous libel, copy
of which is hereto attached, pretend
ed to be an oath of the knights Of
Columbus, of which body the con-
testant is a member So revolving
are the terms of this document and
SO nauseating its pledges that the
injury it did not merely to the con-
testant, but also to the Knights OF
Columbus and to Catholics in gen.
eral can hardly be measured in
terms"
Copied from Congressional Record,
Washington, d. c., Vol. 49, Pt. 4,
Feb. Is 1918, p. 3216.
Mr.. Butler in his defense, as
printed in the Congressional Record,
says:
81 apprehended with alarm the
use of such a document in political
campaign, or at any other time.
did not believe in its truthfulness
and SO stated my judgment concern
ing IL on November 4, 1912, as soon
as complaint was made to me OF its
general circulation. Inasmuch as l
did not wish to give this document,
which / judged to be spurious, any
notoriety whatsoever, l refrained
from its public condemnation until
the time when a general complaint
was made to me and thought 1t my
duty to publicly condemn it."
Copied from Congressional Record,
Washington, ID. c., Vol. 40, Pt. 4,
Feb. 15, 1918, p. 3219.
The Congressional Committee, to
which the matter was referred, re-
ported in part as follows:
"The committee can not condemn
too strongly the publication Of the
false and libelous article referred to
In the paper of Mr.. Bonniwell and
which was the spurious Knights of
Columbus oath, a copy OF which is
appended to the paper"
Copied from Congressional Record,
Washington, d. c., Vol. 40, Pt. a.,
Feb. 15, 1918, p. 3221.
This shows thet the fake oath"
is A FAKE, and 1t explains how 1t
got into the Congressional Record.
The true oath of the Knights OF
Columbus, for the fourth degree
members, as shown in various court
proceedings in different parts OF the
country, Is as follows:
'T swear to support the constitu-
ton of the United States. pledge
myself as a Catholic citizen and
knight OF Columbus to enlighten
myself fully upon my duties as a
citizen and to conscientiously per-
form such duties entirely in the
interest OF my country and regard
less OF all personal consequences. I
pledge myself TO do all in my power
to preserve the integrity and purity
OF the ballot and to promote rever-
ence and respect for law and order.
promise TO practice my religion
openly and consistently. but without
ostentation and to so conduct my
self in public affairs and in the exer-
else OF public virtue as TO reflect
nothing but credit upon our Holy
Church. TO the end that she may
flourish and our country prosper to
the greater honor and glory OF God"
At the request Of various officials
Of the Masons of the state OF Cali
fornia. the knights OF Columbus sub
mitted to them their complete ritual
for a thorough examination with ref