The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-11-28
Yours cordially,
w. II. lIervey.
October ., 1914.

OCTOBER y IVA.
Judge Mccormick explained that
because of the wide circulation OF a
so-called knights of Columbus
oath" and especially because the al
legged oath" had found its way into
the columns Of the Southwestern
Freemason he had placed the ritual
and obligations of the Knights in the
hands OF committee of Masons. AS
it was represented that the Knights
were actively. though secretly, urging
an uprising against Masons and Pro
testants, because bound by oath to do
SO. the Judge felt it necessary to take
this step. He said
As State Deputy OF this Order in
California. as a member of it, and as
loyal American Catholic citizen, /
could not pass by these vile false
hoods and slandertus statcrcMts.
After securing permission from the
heads of our order | submitted it's
ritual together with it's pledges. to
committee OF Masonic authorities
here for them to determine the falsi-
ty CT truth Of these misrep. esenta.
items
The findings of the committee of
Masons. referred to in Mr. Hervey' S
letter, were next read as follows:
We hereby certify that by authori-
ty OF the highest officer of the
knights Of Columbus in the state OF
California, who acted under instruc-
tons from the Supreme Officer of
the order in the United States. we
were furnished a complete copy of all
the wo k, ceremonies and pledges
used by the order and that We care.
fully read. discussed and examined
the same We found that while the
Order is in sense secret associa-
tiCn. ii is not an oath bound organiza-
ton and that its ceremonies are com
rrised in four degrees. which e in
tended to teach and incluate priaci
pies that lie at the foundation of
great religion and every free state.
Our examination Of these ceremonials
and obligations was made primarily
for the purpose Of ascertaining whet-
her 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 IL il was not used. any oath.
obligation or pledge was used which
was or would be offensive to Protest
ants or Masons. o. those who are en-
gagged IN circulating a document of
peculiar viciousnoss and wickedness.
We find that neither the alleged oath
nor any oath or pledge bearing the re-
mCiest resemblance thereto in mat
ter, manner. spirit OF purpose is used
or forms part Of the ceremonies OF
any degree of the Knights OF Column
bus. The alleged oath is scurrilous,
wicked and libclous. and must be the
invention OF an impious and venom
Gus mind We find that the Order OF
knights Of Columbus, as shown by its
ritual. is dedicated to the Catholic re
ligion. charity and patriotism. There
is no propaganda proposed or taught
against Protestants OF Masons or per
sons not Of Catholic faith. Indeed,
Protestants and Masons are not re-
ferred to directly or indirectly in the
ceremonials and pledges. The cere-
monial Of the Order teaches a high
and noble patriotism instills love OF
county. inculcates a reverence for
law and order. urges the consciend-
Gus and unselfsh performance Of
civic duty and holds up the Constitu-
ton Of our country as the richest and
most precious possession Of knight
OF the Order We can hnd nothing
in the entire ce-emonials Of the Or
der that TO our minds could be object
ed to By any person.
Motley Hewes Flint. 33rd Degree