The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-02
CHARGES AGAINST THE
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

Il
A good many ultra Jealous Prot
estants have been making charges
that the knights of Columbus, q FRA
ternal organization composed OF
members Of the Catholic church, had
an oath pledging its members to
reasonable practices. As viii be seen
by the following, the knights have
submitted their ritual to commit !
tee of Masons, who do not find any
thing In it objectionable to the spirit
of American citizenship. The Cath
Ole church has always been opposed
to the Masonic order, and it would be
entirely impossible to pass of fak-l
ed ritual on any committee Of well
posted Masons, so the testimony Of |
this committee IS enough for any
fair-minded person.
At the request Of various officials
of the Masons Of the state Of Califor-
mia, the knights Of Columbus sub
naitted to them their complete ritual
for q thorough examination with ref
erence to all Of the charges that are
being circulated against the knights
of Columbus.
After a thorough examination,
these Masons made the following re-
port:
eve hereby certify that BY author
ity of the highest officer Of the
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 were
furnished q 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 III q
sense q secret association, II Is not an
oath-bound organization and that its
ceremonies are comprised il four de-
grees, which are intended to teach
and inculcate principles that lie II
the foundation Of every great religion
and every free state. Our exanina-
| ton of these ceremonies and obliga-
tons was made primarily for The
purpose Of ascertaining whether 81
not certain alleged oath Of the
knights of Columbus which has beer
| printed and widely circulated was II
fact used by the order, and whether
if it was not used, any oath, obliga'
ton or pledge was used which was o.
would be offensive to Protestants d
Masons, or those who are engaged u
circulating a document Of peculiar
viciousness and wickedness. We fnt
that neither the alleged oath, nor an.
oath or pledge bearing the renotes
resemblance thereto in matter, man
ner, spirit or purpose, is used o
i forms part of the ceremonies o.
any degree of the Knights of Column
bus. The alleged oath is scurri1ou
and hbelous and must be the inven
ton of an impious and venomou
mind. We find that the Order o
Knights Of Columbus, as shown b,
its rituals, is dedicated to the Cath
Ole religion, charity and patriotism
There is no propaganda proposed o
taught against Protestants or Mason
or persons not Of Catholic faith. In
deed, Protestants and Masons ar
|, i not referred to, directly or indirectly
in the ceremonials and pledges. tn
ceremonial Of the order teaches
high and noble patriotism, instills
love of country, inculcates rever
ence for law and order, urges tn
conscientious and unseIish perfor
nance Of civic duty and holds up th
constitution of our country as tn
richest and most precious possession
: of knight OF the order. We cal
find nothing in the entire ceremon
ials of the order that to our mind
could be objected TO by any person.
!, Motley Nerves Flint,
33rd Degree Past Grand Master o
|, Masons Of California.
Dana Reid Weller,
32nd Degree Past Grand Master Q
Masons of California.
VIM. Rhodes Harvey,
33rd Degree Past Grand Master an
J Master Scottish Rite Lodge.
+ Samuel e. Burke,
+ 32nd Degree Past Master and Inspet
tor Of Masonic District.
i MEETING OF