The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-23
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
INFORMED OF VERDICT
Real oatl. of Catholic Order J,
Made Public i'm Libel
Suit
RITUAL STORY IS EXpLoDNi
Methodist Minister Serves rs Fore
man of Jury in Action OF IT,. NJ
Lawless Against \. II. Morrison
and &. l.. Morrison.

John j. Blake, grand I<uight OF Rich
mond Council. Knights OF Columbus. mas
received report OF the result of the
. criminal libel suit of T. ~ I.awlcss
editor of the Wateryillc tNinnesota)
( sentinel. against =. NJ. Morrison ana
.. y. Morrison. editors and publishers
OF the Mankato Morning journal. in
the same State.
This case attracted nationwide in
terest because Of tho fact that the
knights OF Columbus organization was
regarded as being on trial" Grand
Knight Blake said yesterday. The &C
Ooh grew out OF false report to the
effect that the ritual of The order con
tanned an oath which no loyal Arneri-
can coulh take. The Maukato Morning
Journal published what was supposed
10 b" tho secret oath. That bogus
secret oath was widely published aud
circulated in many States. iucluGinE
virginia rs = matter of fact. there
Is no secret oath in the ceremonial
ritual Of tho knights Of Columbus.
me nearest approach 20 any such thing
~ inc ohiigaiion or tho fourth degree.
the fourth degree obligation was with
me consent of tho national council or
inc order. exposed at tho trial Tho
take oaih Was proven TO be no part
OF our ceremonial ritual. Tho Jury ac-
coTdingly returned verdict of guilty
against the Morrisons. father and SON
VINO had published the libclous state
mont that the editor OF the Sentinel.
who "as Knight NJ Columbus. had
taken tho bogus oath when ne waa
initiated
METHODIST MINISTER
The trial OF tho criminal libel suit
was held In Watcrvllle. on tho fur
that tried tho case VAS Row Thomas
biiling, pastor Of the Watcrv.ile Mctho-
dist Church who concurrod with tho
other Jurors In the verdict OF guilty
mat fake oath. tho author Of which
is yet to be discovered. was printed
ana extensively circulated in Richmond
ana other Virginia cities. l. has
caused us great annoyance. because We
nave been frequently accused of being
bound by 1t. " such an oath were
taken bv tho knights OF Columbus II
would forever condemn them to tho
in"ritod eNccratjOn Of their fcllowmcu
IN this Instance an individual knight
was publicly accused Of taking IT, and
the opportunity for establishing the
!ihel was presented for the first time
he trial was spectacular one in
,nany respects ono surprise TO tho /
knights Of Columbus theins"lves. and (
to all those whose curiosity had whct-
ted their desire 10 learn tho secrets OF
tho order, was the calling Of TWO of {
the supreme officers as Witnesses SUI /
prcme Physician Or. l. W. Buckley. OF ,
-. Paul. was asked as TO tho nature /
OF tho oath administered, and he do
IN any part of Its ceremonial or do (
gree work. Ito admitted that tho or
der had pledge or obligation, which /
is administered. lie was interroratod
as TO the nature Of this pIcdgc. with
the result that publicity MAS given the
solemn obligation. For tho first time
outside the councils of tho order tho /
obligation was revealed 1t reads:
TENT OF OBLIGATION
TAKEN ny KNIGHTS
swe1r to support the Constitution
Il pledge myself, az a Catholic citi
zen, and "a knight OF Columbus, 10 on
tighten myself fully upon my duties as
n citizen and TO conscientiously perform /
such duties entirely in tho interest of /
my country and regardless OF all per
sonal consequences.
II pledge myself 10 do all in nv, /
power to procerve tho integritT a IND |
purity of tho ballot and to promote /
obedience and respect for law and or /
der.
~ promise TO practice my religion !
openly and consistently, but without I
ostentation. ana 10 so conduct myself /
in public affairs and IN the exercise 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 ana glory /
OF Cod
The plea OF the defendants in the .
libel case was that the libel was uuin- ]
tentionai they having printed the bo-
gus oath In good faith. The foreman
of the jury was Rev Thomas Billings.
and when he handed in tho verdict of
guilty the court imposed n Jail SEN ]
tence Of thirty days, without the op-
ton OF fine, on each of the Morrisons.
Counsel for the Morrlsons gave notice
of an appeal from the verdict"
Grand knight Blake will commune
cate 10 the different Catholic orcani-
cations OF Richmond Tho report made
on the result OF the Lawicss- Morrison
libel case.