Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1920-10-18


Albuquerque, n NJ,
Octobe, &c, 1920.
Editor Morning Journal
Albuquerque, n. NJ.
Dear Sir: Responding to your
request that eE.Ia.c ,he cir?nln-
stances :. ierred 20 W Eauge Hanna
at pni ta'eS last N -ht. ?iu Will uHd
a full report of the matter in the
issue of the Evening Herald of No
yember 20, 1914, to which l re-
specially refer you
Fostering religious biGotry IN
elections or otherwise is most de-
plorable and its advocates, some
of them doubtless sincere but mis-
guided. are not confined to either
party. The scurrilOus X, of {.
oath" referred to in the Herald
article was circulat ID in the eastern
counties against the Honorable An
tonic LucerO when he was cam
didate for secretary of state on the
Democratic ticket and ! have 40
doubt will be again by the same
individuals and classes this year,
which prompts me to request you,
ii space permits, to re-COpy the
Herald article in full.
Judge Hanna's letter to me was
written, as he says, voluntarily
and for the purpose of helping the
Knight of Columbus down that
vicious lie. Fairness to a political
opponent prompts and requires this
renewed expression of Appreciation
Very truly yours,
(Signed) FRANCIS 2. WOOD.
The newspaper article follows:
How Canard Began.
"Some two years ago a certain
class of newspapers circulated IN
this country. of which the Men
ace is a type, engaged in fostering
religious hatred and intolerance,
published what purported to be an
oath taken by members of the
Knights of Columbus. 1t was a
blood curdling affair purporting to
bind members of that order &c
actively and secretly instigate an
uprising in this country against
Protestants in general and mem
beers of the Masonic order in par
ticular and pledged its members
TO obedience under the most hor-
rible penalties. Notwithstanding
the fact that persons had been
convicted in different parts of the
country on criminal libel for pub
fishing and circulating the alleged
oath, its circulation still continued
and recently found its way into the
columns of the Southwestern free
mason. Judge Paul j. McCormicR
/. of Los Angeles. state deputy OF the
Knights of Columbus for CAN
y fornia, then secured the permls'
\ sion of the supreme officers of the
I order to submit and disclose to
select committee composed of -four
members of the highest standins
among the Masons of California
the entire ritual. obligations ant
pledges of the knights of Colum
bus. This was accordingly done
and the report of that committee
and the letter accompanying the
same is as follows:
Hon. Paul J, Mccormick,
Court House, Los Angeles
INV Dear Judge:--I take pleas
ure in handing you herewith tn
findings of the committee of Free
masons TO whom you exhibited tn
ceremonials and pledges of tn
order of Knights of Columbus.
II am very glad that ] have beef
able, in a measure, to secure thi
retutation of a slanderous lie whicl
has been widely circulated ant
which has been disseminated II
many cases by we'll meaning. cred
ulous and deluded persons.
II shall see to it that this repor
has wide circulation among Mason
and YOU may use it in any way yol
deem best to bring about an un
hedrstanding of truth among mel
who. above all controversies ant
contentious, desire to know and I
follow that which is right and true
~. "Yours cordially,
RHODES HERVEY."
October 8. 1914.
The Masons' Report.
1--WE hereby certify that. by au
thority Of the highest officer of tn
knights Of Columbus in the stat
d.. of California. who acted under IN
structions from the supreme Off
GERS of the order in the Unite
states. we were furnished a com
plete COPY of all the work, cere
monies and pledges used by tn
order and that we carefully read
discussed and examined the same
We found that while the order !
in sense q secret organ
cation, 1t is not an oath
hound organization and tina
its ceremonies are comprise
in four degrees, which are intende
to teach and inculcate principle