The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-11-17
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Organization Not Opposed to Masons
or PrOtestants.

At meeting of knights of Columbus
council, No. 534. of Topeka, the State
Journal was requested to publish the
following from the San Francisco Mon
itOr Of October ID:
ION Columbus day the Knights of
Columbus Of Los Angeles, Cal, well
coined home from his ad limina visit
to Rome their beloved bishop, Right
Reverend Thomas Conaty. At the cele-
bration held in the handsome new club
house Of the Knights, which was dedt-
Gated just one year ago, a letter OF
vital interest to every Catholic of the
country as well as to the knights and
occasioned the widest enthusiasm. 1t
follows:
The Letter.
"'Hon. Paul J. Mccormick, Court House.
| Los Angeles. u,:e
my Dear Judge: I take pleasure
in handing you herewith the findings
of the committee Of Freemasons to
whom you exhibited the ceremonials
and pledges Of the stde e. q OF Knights Of
~ am very glad that T have been
able, in a MEASURE, to secure this re-
futation of d slanderous lie which has
been disseminated in many cases by
well meaning, credulous, and deluded
persons.
i SNAIL see 10 II tudL Ills report mas
wide circulation among Masons and
you may use 1t in any way you deem
best to bring about an understanding
OF the truth among men who, above
all controversies and contentious, de-
sire to know and to follow that which
is right and true. Yours cordially,
"'W. RHODES HERVEY.
+" October 9, 1914
Judge Mccormick explained that. be-
oF h ,ir lot 81
called knights of Columbus oath
and especially because the alleged
oath had found its way into the col
umns of the Southwestern Freemason,'
he had placed the ritual and obligations
of the Knights in the hands of COM
mtttee of Masons. AS it was repre-
scented that the Knights were actively,
though secretly. urging an uprising
against MasOns and Protestants, be-
cause bound by oath to do SO, the
judge felt it necessary to take this step.
He said: .a
Concerning the ISLANDERS.
LAS state deputy of the order in
California, as a member Of it, and as
loyal American citizen, could not pass
by these vile falsehoods and SANDER
Gus statements. After securing permits
sion from the heads of our order,
submitted it's ritual together with its
pledges, to a committee of Masonic au-
thorities here for them to determine
the falsity or truth of these miSrepre-
sentations'
THE findings of the committee were
next read, and the names of the rep
resentative citizens who signed them
were greeted with ringing cheers.
These findings are here given in full,
and deserve the widest possible circu-
J lation:
1--WE hereby certify that by authority
of the highest officer Of the Knights
of Columbus in the state Of California,
who acted under instructions from the
. supreme officers of the order in the
United States, we were furnished a
complete copy of all the work, cere-
monies and pledges used by the order,
and that We carefully read, discussed
and examined the sane. We found
that while the order is in a sense a Sc
cret association, it is not IN oath-bound
organization and that it's ceremonies
are comprised in four degrees. which
are intended to teach and inculcate
principles that lie at the foundation OF
every great religion and every free
state. Our examination OF these cere-
| monials and obligations was made pri-
| marily for the purpose of ascertaining
whether or not certain alleged oath
of the Knights of Columbus which has
been printed and widely circulated was
! in fact used by the order, and whether,
II it was not used. any oath, obligation
or pledge was used which was or
would be offensive to Protestants or
Masons, or those who are engaged in
circulating a document of peculiar vi
ciousness and wickedness. We find
that neither the alleged oath nor any
oath or pledge bearing the remotest
resemblance thereto in matter, manner.
spirit or purpose is used or forms q
part Of the ceremonies Of any degree
of the Knights of Columbus The al
legged oath is scurrilOus. wicked and
libelous and must be the invention OF
/ an impious and venOmous mind. We
l find that the order Of knights Of Co
! lumbus. as shown by its rituals. II
dedicated to the Catholic religion
charity and patriotism There is nc
propaganda proposed or taught against
Frotestants or 1Gasons or persons moi
of Catholic faith Indeed. Professionals