The Ocala evening star., 1920-07-12
OF THE
XII KLUX KHAN
Invisible Empire is Rapidly Resuming
the Numbers and Power of It's
Reconstruction Organization

Atlanta, Ca. July 12.-Proof that
the noble spirit that actuated the
members of the famous Ku Klux
Klan in the reconstruction period still
lives among the sons is shown in the
remarkable growth of the organiza-
tion, according to Colonel William ].
Simmons, imperial wizard -4sof the
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. It's
membership now reaches into nine
teen states and has Representative
in New York, Illinois, Texas, Mis-
souri, and other distant states,
The annual conclave of the inhab1-
tants, of the invisible empire which
was held in Atlanta last May stirred
renewed interest in the khan and its
work. 1t was attended by members
of the khan from every section of the
South and from many states in other
sections of the country and since that
meeting Colonel Simmons mas receiv-
ed numerous inquiries regarding the
methods to be pursued IN attaining
membership in the khan and in or
ganizing branches in other cities.
One of these inquiries came from
leading citizen of California, who said
he had become convinced that the
khan, because of the high principles
upon which it is founded and the pur-
pose it aims to serve, should be ex-
tended to California and the Pacific
coast states.
The knights of the Ku Klux Klan,
1I,
ternal order, is no hastily Jumped
| up affair but has been in the making
for the last eighteen years, the idea
of perpetuating the principles upon
which the old Ku Klux Khan was
founded having originated in the mind
of Colonel Simmons, who is profes-
sof of southern history at Lanier
university in Atlanta.
Colonel Simmons dedicated his life
to this cause and for fourteen years
he thought, studied and worked to
prepare himself for launching this
great institution. In October 1915 he
mentioned his ambition to some
friends, among whom were three men
who were bona fide members of the
original klan when it disbanded
On the night of October 26 Colonel
Simmons met with these friends and
after he unfolded his plans all those
present, thirty-four in number, sign
ed petition for a charter. On
Thanksgiving night in 1915 the or
ganizers of the khan assembled on the
top of Stone mountain near Atlanta
anc there at midnight, under a blaz-
ing fiery cross. they took the oath Of
allegiance to the Invisible Empire,
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
The charter was issued by the
state of of Georgia, December 4, 1915,
land special charter was granted
lby the superior court of Fulton county
July /. 1916.
Since the khan had among its char
ter members three Of the original
members of the old Ku Klux Klan it
Twas granted all the rights and priv
ileges enjoyed by the original organ
ization which swept the carpet-bagger
and the scalawag from the South IN
the dark days of the reconstruction
period following the civil war. re-
stored to the white people of the
South their rightful position IN the
lnation, brought order out of chaos by
suppressing the lawless element Of
both races and then, having accom-
plished the immediate purpose for
which it was organized disbanded by
order of General Nathan Bedford
Forrest, who was its chief.
while conditions today are not the
same as they were when the original
khan was organized, says Colonel
Simmons, "the need for an organiza-
tion like the Ku Klux Klan is just as
pressing now as it ever was.
i ats purpose is to inculcate the
sacred principles and noble ideals of
ehivalry, the development of charac-
ter, the protection of the home and
the chastity of womanhood, the ex-
emplification Of pure patriotism To-
ward our glorious country, the pres
eryation Of American ideals and the
maintenance of white supremacy.
No man is wanted in this order
who hasn't manhood enough TO as
sumo real oath with serious purpose
to keep the same invoilate. No man
lis wanted in this order who viii not
or who cannot swear an unqualified
allegiance to the government of the
United States of America, its flag
and its constitution
"Only native-born American citi-
zeEs who believe in the tenets Of the
Christian religion and owe no alleg-
Iisnce of any degree or nature TO any
foreign government, political insti-
l.
leligible for membership"