The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-12-12
NUMBER 10.
4 WRONG RIGHTED.

i ~ - SO ~ r
scurrilous Attack on Knights of Co
Iu)nbus Declared Libelous by
Committee Of Masons of High
Desree-orders Teachings Ex-
emplary.
For the purpose of refuting ven-
omous libel which has been industri-
ously circulated in all parts Of the
United States during the past few
years, to the effect that certain
scurrilous oath is administered to
applicants for membership in the
knights of Columbus at the time OF
their initiation, committee of
thirty-second and thirty third degree
Masons was induced to inspect and
report upon the ritual and teach
ings OF the great Catholic order.
Their findings give the lie absolute
ly to the malicious libel perpetrat-
ed against the knights of Columbus
and the Catholic religion, and
show that the principles and pre-
cepts of the society are of the very
highest standard, commanding the
respect and admiration of ali fair
The report of the distinguished
body Of Masons is as follows:
I'VE hereby certify that by au-
thority of the highest officer OF the
Knights of Columbus in the state Of
California, who acted under instruc-
tions from the supreme officer of
the order III the United States. we
were furnished complete copy of
all the work, ceremonies and pledge
used by the order, and that we
carefully read, discussed and exam
ined the same.
We found that while the order
is in a sense a secret association,
it is not an oath-bound organization,
and that its ceremonies are COM
prised in four degrees, which are in
tended to teach and inculcate prin-
ciples that lie at the foundation of
every great religion and every free
state.
Our examination of these eere-
monies and obligations was made
primarily for the purpose Of ascer-
tanning whether or not a certain al
legged oath of the Knights Of Column
bus, which has been printed and
widely circulated, was in fact used
by the order, and whether, il it &
was not used, any oath, obligation
or pledge was and is used which was
or would be offensive to Protestants
or Masons, OF those who are en-
gagged in circulating a document Of
peculiar Vieieusness and Wickedness.
We find that neither the a1leg-
Z ed oath, nor any other oath or
pledge bearing the remofest resem-
blance thereto In matter manner,
spirit or purpose is used Or forms
part Of the cere1ao les ef an de-
d oa III is setrriI Ioaiss
wicked and libeIous, and must be
| the invention Of an impious and
venomous mind We find that the
order of Knights of Columbus, as
shown by its rituals, is dedicated to
Catholic religion, charity and pa
triotisIn There is no propaganda
proposed or taught against Protes-
tants or Masons or persons not Of
ICatholie faith; indeed, Protestants
and Masons are not referred to di-
reet1y in the ceremonial pledges.
@The ceremonial Of the order
teaches a high and noble patriotism,
instills a love OF country, inculcates
reverence for law and order, urges
the conscientious and unselfish per-
formance of civic duty, and holds
up the constitution of our country
as the richest and most precious
possession Of a knight Of the order.
| We can find nothing in the entire
eeremonials Of the order that to our
| minds could be objected to by any
person.
tsIOTLEY sHEWEs FLINT, s3d de-
gree, Past Grand Master OF Ma
| sons of California.
DANA REID WELLER, 32d degree.
Past General Master of Masons
of California.
WILLIAM RHODES HERVEY, ssd
degree, Past Master and Master
of Scottish Rite Lodge.
SAMUEL e. BURKE, SD degree,
Past Master and Inspector OF
Masonic District. .