Norwich bulletin., 1915-01-16

tributInq important Pamphlet - Gives Truth About the Spurious X. of c. oatE1--WF1te Cross Council No. 15, Orders Supply for Distribution.
 At the regular meeting of White Cross council, No. Is, Knights of Co., Iurnbus, held Friday evening inI 5 Fythial hall, one of the most import ant public announcements yet made =by the order was presented for the consideration of the members at the smeeting at which Grand Knight J. Ed ward DriscoH presided.
 r The document which is in the form O c pamphlet was issued from the office of Supreme Secretary William ? J. NcGinIey of New Haven and will tllc medium of the lecture bureau, un- der the direction of State Lecturer Re- William A. keefe of Plainlield.
 The pamphlet is entitled Knights of Columbus vs. Criminal Libel and Ma licious Bigotry.' the introductory part : is as follows:
 "criminaI libel and malicious bisot- ry as committed and practeed to injure the Catholic church and it's members particularly the Knights of Columbus.
 1 "The truth and it's proof regarding the spurious K. of C. cath or Fourth Degree eath."
 The Knights of Columbus was incor- porated in 1882 under g, special charter granted by the General Assembly Of Connecticut, It is a fraternal benefit society composed Of Catholic men Wiio under said charter in addition U pro- Vlding an insurance system wEich is scientifically sound and admittedly the hest, endeavor ''to promote such so- cial and intellectual intercourse among alts 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 Cathollc Truth and thus secure for their religion the regard of all honest men.
 The Knights of Columbus has now about 3S0,0oO 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 eIlcour- aEement of the hiel archy, CarGlua!s -Archbishops, and Priests They hold the regard of all non-Cathollc men who respect decent living and good citizenship.
 And yet-there are those who would deTaIne the Knights of Columbus, who would malign the men who com pose 1t. who would libel in foulest charge this great society and it's adherents
 
 Christian, yes, a n1urderous 2 I'd H. legal oath has been widely circulated as the one requirl by the Knights o1 Columbus from it's members It is an attack against the Catholic church, a, creation of KnoW-Nothings P A. s ard their allies and successors
 BIgots have read this foul libel and gloated over it's expected destruction of the Knights of Columbus they have passed it to others, circulated t. approy ed it.
 Some honest men have rea7 t and been sorely troubled in consequence. It seems unlike the Knights Of Co., lurntus they knew as honest men get would men dare publish Sueh thing II It were untrue; if untrue would not the Knights of Columbus prosecute their defamers:
 What, tnsI1 was the duty of the so-. elety tos itself, to it's members, to tlae host of men who were in douotz
 Oral. denial was necessarily limit 70; written denial was not received A3 the public press; submission of the ceremonial to non-Cat holic cop7r1t-- tees in several cities did not reac! llle a.iultitude.
 Criminal prosecu tfons were then tr,- Stltuted. but alas, the public press aa,-e sout scant, if any, notice to such tpra5e- eutiens, although the 1ibels were against the Catholic chuych and prirl1 srliN agalnst the Knights of Colum ,5us -33a, GOO 1Ilea.
 We submit then the following &C., cout of action taken to expose this Rbel. and
 Ca) We urge our non -CatboIi, Friends to read 1t through and ask us any questions that may f1rt he: en- .Hghen them;
 Cb) We ask our members, tr ,afrcr- late this pamphlet a1nong< non Ca; h. 9bes, public libraries, colleges. n5l nidi schools and high schools and es- r-- press and to bigoted puhlic.a tions.
 II then Goes on to cite the various Cdses- throughout the United States and Canada, where prosecutfons f:i- owed the printing, utterinS, or cil..lI- lation of the so-calIed Knights of Co., itr:lbus oath and ill every i1asL;arsa the accused were found guilty ln,l t7ei1 oll'f GeLense was an ap leaI 70 tie 1:ic7cy of the court
 The X. of c. Ca4k.
 Tn tie case Of State .9f Minnesota ZS 4. A. Morrison and Cfstrtf eiI E. 9oEi1soil: editors and publis lers ef the Mankato Morning JournaT su pren1e secretary, William J. Mctzinley of New Haven. who was one of the witnesses for the prosecution testi ned Tn no uncertain words that the bogus oath, which was the sII1iect matter of the prosecution, was, neither, III letter nor in spirit, a part of any ot the ceremonial of the Knights of Columbus Ill any of it's degrees. To the surprise of all those whose clrf oslty had whetted their appetite to learn some of the secrets of this great order Supreme Secretary NIcGinley, who Is custodian of all the secret work of the order handed in as evidence the obligation taken by members when they received the forurth degree ot the order. The obligation which fol- lows was labeled
 STATES EXHIBIT D IS AS FOL.
 LOWS:
 "M. or F. NJ
 T swear to support the Constitu ton Of the United States.
 pledge myself, as a Catholic cit izen and Knight of Columbus to en- Tighten myself fully upon my duties as citizen and to conscientiously per Iorm such duties entirely in the inter est Of my country and regardless of all personal consequences. pledge myself to do all in my power to pre-