The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-19
K. OF 6. PAMPHLET
 REFUTES ISLANDERS
 OF BITTER BIGOTRY
Publication Is Authorized to Discredft Spurious K. of
 G. Oath.

r Ginley. of New Haven will be distrfb- uted in Connecticut through the me- diurn of the lecture bureau, under the direction of State Lecturer Rev. Will liam A Keefe of Plainfle1d-
 The pamphlet is entitled Knights of Columbus vs. Criminal Libel and Malicious Bigotrys'' the introductory part is as follows:
 Criminal libel and malicious bigot- ry as committed and practiced to in jure the Catholic church and its mem bers particularly the Knights of Go 1unnb11s.
 'srhe truth and its proof regarding the spurious K. of c. oath or Fourth Degree oath,
 The Knights of Columbus was incor- porated in 1882 under a special char ter granted by the General Assembly of Connecticut. It is a fraternal ben eft society composed of Catholic men who under said charter in addition to providing an insurance system which is scientifically sound and ad- mittedly the best, endeavor s-to pro mote such social and intellectual an- ter-course among it's members as shall be desirable and proper
 Catholic men love their faith and would have all men, at least respect it. The Knights of Columbus have worked to spread the knowledge of Catholic Truth and thus secure for their religion the regard of all honest men,
 The Krag4ats of Columbus has now about s30.Oo0 members, comprising men highest in public esteem. and those more humble, but none the less respected by all who know them.
 They have the esteem and encour- agement of the hierarchy. Cardinals, Archbishops and Priests. They hold the regard of all non-Cafho1ics who respect decent living and good citizen ship.
 And yet-there are those who would defame the Knights of Columbus. who would rnalign the men who compose 1t, who would libel in foulest charge this great society and dts adherents.
 A most heinous. ungodIy and un- Christian, yes. murderous and ille- gal oath has been widely circulated as the one required by the Knights of Columbus from it's members. It is an attack against the Catholic church, a creation of Know-N Nothings, A. F. As and their allies and successors. Bigots have read this foul libel and gIoated over it's expected destruction of the Knights of Columbl1s: they have passed it to others circulated 1t, 1 approved it.
 Some honest men have read it and I been sorely troubled in consequence. It seems unlike the Knights Of Co., l lumbus they knew as honest men yet would men dare publish such a thing if it were untrue: if untrue would not the Knights of Columbus prosecute their defamers!
 Oral denial was necessarily limited; written denial was not received by the I public press; subml ission of the cere- moniaI to non-Catholic committees in several cities did not reach the multi l tude.
 Criminal prosecutions were then ir1- i stituted, but alas, the public press gave but scant, if any. notice to such prose I cutions, although the HbeIs were ! against the Catholic Church and prirn- I ariIy against the Knights of Colun- I bus-3 3o, 900 men.
 We submit then the following ac- count of action taken to expose this libel. and
 (a1 We urge our non-cathoiic friends to read 1t through and ask us any questions that may further en- tighten them:
 6b) We ask our members to circu- late this pamphlet among non-Catho- lies public libraries colleges, norma. schools and high schools and especial, Fly to bfgoted publications. d It then goes on to cite the various cases throughout the United States and Canada where prosecutions fol Il lowed the printing ,uttering or circu. s Iation of the so-called Knights of Go, lumbus oath and in every instance the accused were found guilty an6 their only. defense was ajn appeal tc the mercy of the court.
 The K. of c. Oath.
 In the case of State of Minnesota vs. A. M. Morrison and Garfield E Morrison. editors and publishers oi the Mankato Morning JourraI su- preme secretary, William J.. McGinIey of New Haven, who was one Of the witnesses for the prosecution, testified in no uncertain words that the bogus oath, which was the subject matter oi the prosecution, was neither in letter . nor in spirit, a. part of any. of the cer- emoniaI of the Knights of Columbu. in any of it's degrees. To the surprise of all those whose curiosity had whet ted their appetite to learn some O. : the secrets of this great order SII Ipreme Secretary McGinley, who i; custodian of all the secret work O. the order handed in as evidence tn, z obligation taken by members whe1 they receive the fourth degree of tn
 order The obligation which follow
 was labeled:
 States Exhibit D Is as Follows
 s.M. or F. N."
 1T swear to support the Constitu . ton of the United States
 ..I pledge myself, as a Catholic citi zen and Knight of Columbus, to en
 tighten myself fully upon my duties a
 citizen and to censcientiously per ! form such duties entirely in the inter l est of my country and regardless o
 all personal consequences. I P1edg
 myself to do all in my power to pre-
 serve the integrity and purity of tn
 ballot, and to promote reverence an,
 respect for law and order. I prom
 fse to practice my religion openly an
 consistently but without ostentatior : and to conduct myself in pub1i ] affairs, and in the exercise of publi : virtue as to reflect nothing but credi 5 lupon our Holy Church, to the en 2 that she may flourish and our coun ] try prosper to the greatest honor an glory of God
 s.6Supreme Council seal) "A true copy.