Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-02-26
COMMITTEE or MASONS AND
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.

tGalveSt0n News
A committc ~ distinguished Masons
living u California has had under com>id-
Grafton the ritual ST the Knights Of Co-
lumbus, a. well ~ the pledges and oaths
taken by the members Of hat nrganiza-
ltion. Its inquiry. invited ~ the supreme
officers of the Knights az Columbus. was
made. Co quote ill., own language. for
the purpose of a>ccrtaining whether or
not Il certain alleged oath If the knights
Of Columbus. which has been printed
and widely circulated. was used by the
order. and whether. If il was not used.
any oath. obligation or pledge was used
which was ~ would W. offensive a. Prot
%cstantS or MaSonS. az those who are en-
- aged in circulating u document Of pccul
lar v~iciounes>." And its finding has
been. 10 quote IL own language:
We find that neither the alleged oath
nor any cat. nr pledge bearing the re-
hottest rgScms lance thereto ia matter.
manner. spirit or purpose l. used or
forms 4 part If the ceremonies ut ANY
degree Of the Knights of Columbus.
The alleged oath j. ScurrilouS. wicked
andIibcious. and must be- the invcn-
ton of an impiouS and vcnomouS mind.
We FIND that The order ~ Knights uf
Columbus. az shown IN itS rituals. l.
dedicated to the Catholic religion.
charity and patriotism. There il no
propaganda. proposed Or taught
against rruirStant> ~ Ma>on> ~ per
sons not &c Catholic faith. Indeed.
ProicStant> or MaSonS are not rcscrr-
cl 90 directly or Indirectly ia the ccrc-
monialS and pledges. The ceremonial
of the order teaches \ high and noble
patriotism. inStill> a love If country.
imculcatcS a reverence for law and or
der. urges the conscientious and unset
fish performance of civic duty. and
holds az the constitution of our conn
Try ~ the richest and most precious
possession of u knight Of the order. We
can find nothing in the entire ccrcmnn
ial that. ~ our mind. could H. objected
a. by any person.
There are men. and even organizations
in this country that have exploited this
>cctariun prejudice fer the profits that
were d. ~ made out ~ their reasonable
and unholy enterprise. They have used
1.-The Protestant religion 10 e%ngcndcr >H>
picinn> and hatred> which violate the
spirit ~ very religion. They have hccl
mndrrcr> NJ the blSr>i w passions.
They have comfortcd the ignorant and
vicious and what j. infinitclV worse IA \
have drludcd and betrayed MANY women
and men who are neither ignorant Nor
viciouS. but who suffered under ~u>pi
cion> which made them also the prey Of
these men who nave been industrious in
>trifc->tirriug for the profit il afforded
them.
With sensible people. the Knights II
Columbus nave not needed thiS acquit,
ancr uf the ISLANDERS brought against
them. Instinct. IN not observation and
reason. have told nj W that neither the
Catholic church nor dIy 81 its auxiliary
organizations impu>c> auy obligation nn
IL communicates that are Incompatible
with their duty a. their country. tn have
this faith WAS mrrrl, ~ manifest " mod
icum of ~rudimcntary intelligencr. for
history aud the daily records of uur time
are rrplrtc ~ examples Nj dryuut Cathn
lie. giving the best in them tO thr service
uf their country and "a their frlluwmru.
irrespective Of religious aniliat.nn. But
while sensible men. who have pnt them
selves 40 the trouble uf u moments w..
Election have needed az such ASSURANCE
~ this committee of Mu>uu> has given.
there arr good men and women whose
mind have 50 far welded ~ The ~cdur
tiun> uf malignant prupagaudi>i> for
profits a. Nv harhur the suspicion that
pcrhap Catholics. and particularly those
who arr also knights IT Columbus. are