The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1914-11-14
PURPoRTED OATH INSIDIOUS LIBEL
Masonic Committee Reports the K.
of C. Worthy of Highest Esteem

Decisiyely branding the purported
knights Of Columbus oath circu-
lated at frequent intervals throughout
the country as malicious and in
sidious libel, report has been pre-
pared and published by four member
OF the Masonic order of California. To
for all time throttle the lie designed
to arouse religious strife and injure
members OF the society, the supreme
officers of the Knights Of Columbus
submitted to committee OF prominent
Masons complete copy of all of the
secret work, ceremonies aud pledges Of
the order. After careful investigation,
the Msonic COMMITTEE submitted the
following report
'We hereby certify that 10y author
ity OF the highest officer of the Knights
of Columbus, who acted under instruc-
tions from the supreme officer OF the
order In the United States, we were
furnished a complete copy OF all the
work, ceremonies and pledges used by
the order, and that we carefully read,
discussed and examined the same. We
found that, while the order is in a
sense secret association, il is not an
oath bound organization, and that its
ceremonies are compri ,ed 70 teach and
incucate principles that he at the
foundation OF every great religion and
every free state. Our examination OF
these ceremonies and obligations was
made primarily for the purpose Of
ascertaining whether or not certain
alleged oath of the knights of Colum
bus, which had been printed and
widely circulated, was in fact used by
the order, and whether. if il was not
used, any oath, obligation or pledge
was used which was not or would be
offensive to Protestants or Masons. or
those who are engaged in circulating a
document of peculiar viciousness and
wickedness.
I'VE find that neither the alleged
on IN nor any oath or pledge bearing
the remotest resemblance thereto in
matter, manner, spirit or purpose, IS
used or form part OF the ceremonies
of any degree of the Knights of Colum-
bus. The alleged oath is scurrilous.
wicked and libelous. and must be the
invention of an impious an venomous
mind. We find that the Order OF the
knights of Columbus, as shown by it's
rituals, il dedicated TO the Catholic
religion, charity and patriotism. There
is no propaganda proposed or taught
against Protestants or Masons or per
sons not OF Catholic faith. indeed,
Protestants and Masons are not referred
TO directly or indirectly, in the cere-
monies and pledges The ceremonial
of the order teaches a high aud noble
patriotism, instils love Of country
inculcates a reverence for law and
order urges the conscientious and
unsel6sh performance Of civic duty
and holds up the Constitution of our
country as the richest and most
precious possession OF the order We
can find nothing in the entire cere-
monials OF the order that TO our minds
could be objected to by any person.
"Montley Hewcs Flint, 33d degree
paet grand master Of Masons OF Cali
for a. Danna Rcid Weller, 32d
degree, past grand master Of Masons
OF California VIM Rhodes Harvey,
33d degree, past master and master Of
Scottti .h Rite lodge Samuel y Burke,
32d degree past master and inpsector
of Masonic district