The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1914-12-24
The will continue to make glad the
heart OF childhood!
MASONIC OFFICIALS PASS UPON
X. OF G. RITUAL.

Il. OF G. RITUAL.
To the Editor:
On Columbus day the Knights of
Columbus Of Los Angeles, Cal, well
coined home from his ad limina visit
J to Rome their beloved Bishop, Right
Reverend Thos. Conaty. AT the cele-
bration held in the handsome new
club house of the Knights, which was
dedicated just one year ago, a letter
of vital interest to every Catholic of
1.-THE country as we'll as to the Knights
and citizens was read by the chair
man and occasioned the widest en-
thusiasm. 1t follows:
Hon. Paul j. Mccormick,
Court House, Los Angeles.
My Dear Judge:
I take pleasure in handing you here
with the findings of the committee of
Freemasons to whom you exhibited
the ceremonials and pledges of the
Order OF Knights of Columbus.
1 am very glad that 1 have been
able, in a measure to ecu this re-
futation OF a slanderous lie which
has been widely circulated and which
has been disseminated in many cases
by well meaning creduicns and de-
luded persons.
III 1 SHdiI see III II Llut tHES ISpOII
has wide circulation among Masons
and you may use it,in any way you
deem best to bring about an under
standing of the truth among men,
above all controversies and conten-
, tons, desire to know and to follow
that which Is right and true.
Il Yours cordially,
,IOct. 8, 1914. w. Rhodes Hervey.
T,duo MnCrr,niok aypIofpol that
because OF the wide circulation of a
~so-called knights OF Columbus oath"
and especially because the alleged
7 "oath" had found Its way into the
: columns OF the Southwestern Free
mason" he had placed the ritual and
obligations of the knights in the
hands of a committee of Masons. AS
/, it was represented that the Knights
= were actively, though secretly, urg-
sling an uprising against Masons and
Protestants, because bound by oath
9 10 do SO, the judge felt it necessary
20 take this step. He said:
AS. State Deputy of the Order in
tCalifornia as a member of it, n as
+la loyal American citizen, I could not
pass by Lnese vile falsehoods and
9 slanderous statements. After secur-
ling permission from the heads of our
eIOrder, I submitted it's ritual, togeth-
e err with Its pledges to a committee OF
Masonic authorities here for them
= to determine the falsity or truth OF
n these Misrepresentation"
The findings of the committee were
next read and the names of the rep
rcsentative citizens who signed them
were, greeted with ringing cheers
? These findings are here given in full
ID and deserve the widest possible cir
culation:
y I'VE hereby certify that by author
ic ity of the highest officer of thu
knights of Columbus in the State o
California, who acted under instruc
tions from the supreme officers o
he Order in the United States, W,
were furnished a complete copy o
Ill the work, ceremonies and pledges
fused by the Order, and that we care
iIfully read, discussed and examined
1.-The same. We found that while tn
order is in a sense a secret associa
tion, 1t is not an oath-bound organiza
ion and that its ceremonies ar
ccmprlsed in our degrees, which
Hare intended to teach, and inculcat
principles that lie at the Foundation
-0f. 0 great religion and ever,
free state. Our examination of thes
ceremonials and obligations wa
~ made primarily for the purpose o
81 as%certaining whether or not a Gel
r. tain alleged oath OF the Knights o
Columbus which mas been printe
Iii and widely circulated was in fac
used by the Order, and whether, ]
hel 1t was not used, any oath, obligatio
IN or pledge was used which was Q
ad would be offensive to Protestants O
Masons, or those who are engaged !
a circulating a document of pecul1a
re- Seriousness and w~ickedness. w
find that neither the alleged oat
alIlnor any oath or pledge bearing tn
4? remotest resemblance thereto I
|. matter, name spirit or purpose !
FUSED or forms q part of the eremon
les of any degree Of the knights Q
~ !, Columbus. The alleged oath fssscul
81 ~rilous, wicked and libelous and mus
be the invention Of an impious an
venomous mind. We find that tn
~ Order OF Knights of Columbus, q
, Y shown by its rituals, is dedicated t
the Catholic religion, charity, an
VI patriotism. There is no propaganda
u proposed or taught against Protest
ants or MasOns Of persons not Q
LAl OAJIlOllC%
81 and Masons are not referred to di
!. rsctly or Indirectly in the ceremon
'1iiafs and pledges. The ceremonial g
y: the Order teaches q high and nobi
y patriotism, instiils a love Of country
~ inculcates d reverence for law an
~ skorder, urges the conscientious an
g unselflsh performance of civic dut
3. and holds up the constitution OF on
country as the richest and mos
Iprecious possession OF 2 knight Q
usIihe Order.
- W. acan find nothing In the en-
tire ceremonials Of the Order that t
y our minds could be objected to b
" u any person.
T. siMOTLEY HEWES FLINT, So
Degree Past Grand Master Of Mason
~ !, Of California.
2 .DANA REID WELLER, 32d De
e gree Past Grand Master Of Masons 9
.Califprnlas