The New York herald., 1922-12-04
Submits Proof That Ku
Klux Literature Was Not
Spread at Services.
ATTACKS POLICE TACTICS
Cites Irish Disturbances; De-
nounces Green Sectarianism'
and yellow Journals

Eighteen hundred people crowded
into Calvary Baptist Church last night
to hear the Rev. DR.. John Roach
Straton's attack upon the Ku Klux
Klan, the Rev. DIR. Oscar Haywood and
the newspaper that published the re-
port that invitations to a Klan propa-
ganda meeting were distributed in
Calvary Church.
At least 500 more men and women
failed to get in. DR.. Straton, fianked
on either side by an American flag.
was frequently applauded during his
sermon, which lasted for an hour and
fifteen minutes, and once when he de-
clared that there were good men In
the ranks of the Klan" the applause
was as spirited as 1t had been at any
time during the evening.
There was not sign of disorder. A
couple Of detectives stood In the vesti-
bule of the church scrutinizing those
entering. Although there were no klan
costumes in evidence 1t is possible
that Klansmen listened to DIR. Straton's
denunciation of Klan methods.
The preacher denied that Khan dodg-
ers had been handed out In his church.
He read a statement to this effect
drawn UP and signed by the ushers and
deacons. He repudiated DR.. Haywood.
the Klan KIokard and evangelist In the
Calvary organization. He virtually
read DR.. Haywood out OF office. but
said that he would welcome tho Kokard
back whenever the latter saw fit to
abandon his citizenship in the invisible
empire.
Attacks All Secret Bodies.
Dr. Straton attacked all secret socie-
ties, but defended all religions and
races. He said he ionged to be Police
Commissioners for q brief season and
would start all policemen's days with
prayer meetings instead of political
gatherings. He called the disorder in
;he overflow of the Irish protest meet
ing al the Earl Carroll Theater last
Sunday night a symptom of coming an
archy and scorched green sectarianisrn.
yellow journalism and general black
guardism."
Starting with the stories that Klan
dodgers had been circulated from Call
vary Church he said, In part:
'The only Information that we have
was secured from one OF the reporters
who came to see me here. He stated In
the presence of Mr.. Alfred Stokes my
assistant, and Mr.. Leonard Wilson, my
secretary, that two men brought copies
OF our church calendar with copies OF the
Ku Klux circulars to the World and
stated to the World that they had been
given this Ku Klux literature at Calvary
Church.
NOW, I wish TO give here a statement
from our board of ushers and the deacons
who serve In the lobby OF our church to
welcome people, showing absolutely that
there was not and could not have been
any distribution of this Ku Klux litera-
ture In Calvary Church"
DR.. Straton read this statement. which
declared, among other things:
each and every member OF the board
OF ushers emphatically states that he
personally did not distribute any OF
these dodgers with the church calendars
or handle them in any other way and
has no knowledge of any such literature
being distributed.
"If such literature was given out at
this church, even to the extent of a
few pieces II could have been done only
by some designing person or persons In
surreptitious manner and after the
services were concluded. We have not
heard that this was done and believe
the whole thing to have been a frameup
for the purpose OF injuring the church"
The Menace of the Mask.
Then DIR. Straton paid his respects TO
DR.. Haywood. He told of DIR. Haywood's s
coming to Calvary as evangelist when
the Collegiate Baptist Church united with
Calvary and read a resolution adopted
by Calvary Church June 26, 1918, where
in Il was decreed that the church "recog-
nized DIR. Haywood as an evangelist
and accepted him as such without COM
pensatlon on the condition that his ac-
tivitfes I'm that office "be prosecuted out
side of the city of New. York" Then
DIR. Straton said
''Dr. Haywood. by taking an official
position with the Ku Klux Klan and by
accepting the title of lecturer Klokard
or organizer of the Ku Klux Klan and by
coming to work here In New York city
in direct contradiction of the terms OF
the resolution has automatically vacated
his nominal title and has himself sur
rendered his recognition as AN evan
geiiat' of Calvary Baptist Church
Whatever else any one may say
about him, Dr. Haywood undoubtedly
has sense Of humor among other good
qualities and I think he will come to
see the humor in the present situation
and will be what is popularity called
good sport enough TO relieve his church
OF any possible embarrassment because
Of present conditions. II, later, DR..
Haywood decides TO give up the Klan
work. as l sincerely hope he will do.
will be the first to welcome him back
70 his old relationship and will even
hope to see him working In a more
al