The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-11-20
California Thirty--SecOnd and
Thirty Third Degree Ma
sons Report Upon Cere-
monials and Pledges of
Order,
REFUTES LIBEL0US
STORY ABOUT OATH
Judge Hanna, of New Mexico,
Commenting Upon State
ment, Expresses Hope 1t
Will Put an End to Con-
troversy.

Some two year ago a certain class
OF newspapers circulated in this
country. OF which the Menace" Is "a
type. engaged 900 fostering religious
hatred and Intolerance, published
what purportcd b. be am oath taken
by members OF the KNIGHTS OF Colum-
0us. II was a uIood-eurdliur affair
p%urportiue go bind members of that
order 90 actively aud secretly insti-
gate an uprisi1S ln this country
against protestauis in general and
members Of the Masonic order ia
particular and pledged its members Go
obedience under the most horrible
penalties. NEtW h-tanding the fact
that persons had been convicted In
different parts oi the country of crlm-
illl libel for publishing and circulate
us the alleged oath. It's circulation
stii continued and recently found rs
way into the columns of the south
western Frcemasuu. Judge Pau j..
Mccormick OF Los Angeles. state dep
atty OF the knights ot Columbus fur
California then secured the permls-
sion "A the supreme officers OF the
order 10 submit lnd disclose TO a SEE
lect committee .umpoSed of four
members OF IN, highest siandiuN
among the Mason. OF California, the
entire ritual obhgttions and pledges
OF The knights ~ Columbus. This
was accordingly lone and the report
of that committee and the letter ace
company ing the same Is as follows.
"Hou. Paul J. Mccormick,
Court House. Los Angeles.
Ny Dear Judge
take pleasure ia handing you
herewith the findings OF the commit
tee Of Frecmasous 60 whom you eN-
hibited the ceremoniais ~ piedses
OF the order OF knights Of Columbus.
am very clad that I have been
able. In "a measure, 10 secure this re-
futation OF a sllnderous le which has
been wideI, circulated and which has
been disseminated o. many cases hy
well meaning, credulous and dtluded
persons.
! shall see 20 & that this report has
wide cirCulutioui among Masons and
may use 81 N ANS way YOU deem
best to bring about am understandings
of the truth among men who, above
all cuutroy ersica and contentious. de-
sire 90 know and o. follow that which
SIS right and true.
Yours cordially,
RHODES HERYEY.'
October p. 1914.
I'VE hereby certify that, Oy author
.ity OF the highest officer OF toe
knights OF Columbus in the state of
California, who acted under instruc-
tions from the supreme officers of the
order in the United states, We We're
furnished a complete coPy OF all the
work. ceremonies and pledges used by
the rider. and mat We carefully read,
discussed and examiacd the same. We
found that while Ar order is IN a
sense "a secret orEanization, u is not
an onth-hounu organization and that
les ceremonies are comprised in -FOUR
degrees. which are Intended 20 teaeh
and noulCate principles that lie at
abe foundation OF every Great reitE-
hon and every tree state. our eNami-
nation of these ceFemnnlals and obli-
cations was made primarily for inc
purpose OF Jscertainlng whether or
not a certain alleged oath 81 the
knights oi Columbus which has been
printed ana widely circulated Was ia
fact used by The order, and whether.
IL o. was not used, any oath, ohllsa-
tlou or pledsc was used which was
or would De offensive 10 Prolestants
or Masuns. or tnpsc who are engaged
in circulatug "a document OF peculiar
v-iciousncss and wickcdncss. We md
HAT neither the alleged oath nor any
oath or pledge bearing the rcmot'si
resemblance thereto in matter man
ner. splriI or purpose b used or
| forms "a parl of the ceremonies 81
any doarec Of tie Knishis of Column
| bus. The alleged oath n scurruous'
wicked and ulelous and must be the
| Invention OF sn mpious and venom
Gus mind. we lind That the order
81 knights of columbus as shown by
It's rituals Is dedicated 90 the Catholic
religion, charity and patriotism
Th..-e Is no propaganda proposed oi
taupfs against Protestaats OK Ma
sons UT persons not Of catholic faith
Indeed PFotcstants p Aaaons ars
not referred 90 directly or ihdifeeil}
ia The ceremonies and pledges Inc
/ ceremonsl Of the order teaches .
high and noble patriotism. instills q
love Of Gountr3. inculeates a reNenu'
Cor lass and order urges the con
scientious and uuselhsh performance
Of ciyil 6uty and holds up the con
stitution OF our country as the rteh'
est most precious possession "l
a Knight OF thc order
we can ind nothing IN the entire
| cercmonisis Of the order mat 10 oui
minds could be objected 20 by anA
/ person.
MOTLEY HEWEs FLINT
'ggd Degree Past Grand Master 81
Masons Of California.
DANA REID WELLER.
'sgd Degree Past Grand Master oI
1 MaSonE OF California.
"WM. RHODES HERNEf,
"33d Degree Past Master and Mas