Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-08-18
KU KLUX KHAN NOT
LAWLESS ORGANIZATION
Imperial Wizard Issues Statement

Imperial Wizard Issues Statement
TO ALL LOVERS OF LAW AND Or
DER, PEACE AND JUSTICE. AND
TO ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES.
Whereas an apparent nation wide
attempt through the public state
ments in. the Press and conduct OF
lawless citizens and traitors within
our ranks there appears to be con-
certed effort to discredit the Knights
Of the Ku Klux Klan in the eyes of
the public.
Whereas the Supreme Committee of
8 the Organization" composed Of citizens
of unQuestioned character from the
states of New York, Illinois, North
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi, Louisiana and elsewhere
is now In session in its sixth annual
meeting. ' INFHS
Whereas in the face of the above
conditions after full and careful deli
beration, 1t has been decided that the
Imperial Wizard of the Organization
should once again call attention Of
the public to the real purposes and
work of this Organization in order
that the truth may be known to all
men.
Therefore, I, the Imperial Wizard
of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan,
do hereby officially proclaim and de-
clare under solemn. oath as follows:
1st The Knights Of the Ku Klux
Khan does not encourage or foster
lawlessness, racial prejudice or rel;
gious intolerance and Is not designed
to act In the capacity Of law enforce
ment or moral correction agency ex-
cept insofar as. the members of the
Organization as citizens may be able
to assist the regular officers OF the
law in the apprehending Of criminals
and the upholding and sustaining of
the majesty of the law and the honor
and integrity OF the Stars and Stripes
and the Constitution of America. To
the above every member entering the
portals OF this Organization has been
sworn under the most binding and
solemn oath and any act or word con-
trary to the above statement by any
Klansman Is a violation of his oath
and puts him beyond the pale of fel-
lowship in the Organization and makes
him an outlaw not only in the eyes
of the law of the land but in the eyes
Of his former fellow -Klansmen, as
violation of oath Of any Klansman au-
tomatically banishes him from the Or
ganization.
End. In order that there may be
absolutely no doubt in the public mind
as to the real purpose and object and
work of this Organization quote
herewith Section 8, of Article 2, of
the Constitution and Laws Of the
Knights Of the Ku Klux Klan. '"This
Order is an institution OF -Chivalry,
Humanity, Justice, and Patriotism,
and embodying in its genius and prin-
ciples all that is chivalric conduct,
noble in sentiment, generous in man
hood and patriotic in purpose; its Pc
culiar objects being; First-To pro-
tect the weak, the innocent and the
defenseless, from the indignities,
wrongs and outrages by the lawless,
the violent and the brutal; to relieve
the injured and the oppressed; to sue
cor the suffering and the unfortunate,
especially worthy widows and orphans.
Second-To protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States OF
America, and all laws passed in con-
formity thereto, and to protect the
states and the people thereof from all
invasion of their rights Hereunder
from any source whatsoever. Third
To aid and assist in the execution of
all Constitutional laws and to pre-
serve the honor and dignity Of the
State by opposing tyranny, in any and
every form. or degree attempted, from
any and every source whatsoever, by
a fearless and faithful administration
of justice; and to promptly and pro-
that the present wave Of critici'
perly meet every behest OF Duty with
out fear and without reproach." II
necessary the Organization is pre-
pared to submit the entire Constitu-
tion of the Order, as there Is nothing
in it that any honorable, lawabiding,
concentlous, clean hearted and pure
spirited, hundred percent American
could not subscribe to and swear to
uphold.
3rd. I hereby declare and pro-
nounce the present attempt to fasten
upon this Organization acts Of law
lessness to be the attempted Of our
enemies to discredit the Organization