Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-24

rounding the famous organization
which was declared necessary in the
south during reconstruction days. II
was the outgrowth of peculiar cond1-
tions, civil. social and political pre-
vailing in the south from the close OF
the civil war to 1863.
The birthplace of the Khan was at
Paluska Giles county, Tenn. From
that little town the movement soon
spread to northern Virginia and as
far south as Texas. During the entire
time the Khan was active it's head
quarters remained in the little town
of Pulaski. where some of its highest
officers lived. In the selection OF a
name for the organization, several OF
the first members made suggestions,
and "Ku-klux" was selected on ac-
count of its likeness to the Greek
word "Kuklos," meaning band or
circle. The first obligation exacted
from members was the maintenance of
profound secrecy with reference to
the order and everything pertaining
to it. 1t was ruled that no member
should disclose the fact that he be-
longed to the organization. Each
member was required to provide him
self with the following outfit: white
mask for the face. with holes cut for
the eyes and nose; tall and fantastic
hat made of cardboard, SO made as to
increase the wearer's apparent height;
a robe of sufficient length to cover
no special color of gown was pre-
scribed; this was left to the members
taste or fancy. Each member carried
small whistle. with which a code of
signals was agreed upon.
X x X x
On account of the odd methods of
initiating members, the Khan was talk
ed about in the vicinity of Pulaski
-
sation Sof the hour. During the fall
and winter of that year the growth of
the order was rapid. 1t was in 1857
that the organization was transform
ed into band Of regulators" the
TRANSPORTATION being effected by the
impressions made by the order upon
the minds of those who united with
public by it's weird and mysterious
methods, and the anomalous and pecul-
lar condition Of affairs in the south at
that time.
+ Word was sent out that a meeting
of delegates was to be held in Nash
willie, Tenn. early in the summer of
1867. A plan of reorganization was
cred by the Khan was designated as
THE Invisible Empire" This was d.
vided into realms. the latter being
again divided into dominions and prov
inces. The officers were the grand
wizard of the invisible empire and his
ten genii. the grand dragon of the
realm and his eight hydras. the grand
titan of the dominion and his six fu-,
ries. the grand cyclops of the. den and
his two night hawks, a grand monk. a
grand scribe, grand exchequer.
grand turk and grand sentinel. The
power of the grand wizard was al
most autocratic. The genii, hydras,
furies, COLLINS and night hawks were
staff officers, and the graduation and
distribution of authority was almost
perfect.
One of the most important things
done at the Nashville meeting was
the adoption of this resolution:
I'VE recognize our relations to the
United States government; the suprem-
acy of the Constitution: the constitu-
tional laws thereof. and the union of
the states Hereunder"
Early on the morning Of the Fourth
of July, 1867, the residents of Pulaski
found slips Of paper about the streets
announcing that the Klu-klux would
parade the streets of the town that
night. Then. after nightfall, mem
bers of the Khan donned their robes,
mounted their horses and passed in
companies through the main streets
of the town. All orders and signals
were given by whistles. Not a word
was spoken. Marching and counter
marching was kept up for two hours,
and then the Khan departed as noise
less1y as 1t came.
Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest was