New Britain herald., 1922-11-10
Protestant Ministers 0p- posed to Orders Formed on Principles Which They Consider Un- American
Knights in White Shrouds Would Not Find Welcome Here, Herald Learns in Interviews.

Interviews.
 If the K Klux Kan. which. ac- cording to recent announcement, pro- poses to establish local branch shortly. attempts to further a doc-, urine of religious and racial prejudice, | 1t will not be favorably received by the local clergy, statements secured today by the Herald from some of the city's leading ministers and priests indicate.
 Without exception the clergymen denounced societies whose ideals are such as those of the K- K. R. are represented to be. Some went so far as to attack the Klan ih particular. while many spoke in generalties.
 Rev. John l.. Davis. T have been approached . num- Der of times on the Ku Klux Kan. and from what hear of 1t, I don't believe it is thing that I would care to ioin," Rev. John l.. Davis, pastor of Trinity Methodist church, and leader of Everyman's Bible class, one of the largest organizations of it's kind to ever be formed in this city. asserted this morning. Mir. Davis l added that. in the absence of definite information concerning the order he could not say whether 1t was a good thing or q menaceto the community If 1t favored lawlessness and promoted discord then he was opposed. and if 1t promoted religious and racial preju- dices then 1t was also working in the opposite direction to what was de- sired, the Methodist clergyman felt. Rev. Dr. C.. w. c. HiI. "H the Ks k K K,#isx etg anti hkKo- lie order, If 1t fayorS or promotes re- ligious or racial prejudice, am very much opposed to t." Rev. pr. O. VI. c. Hill pastor of the South Ccnfrs- gational church, said. or the hartf- cular order, he knew nothing and was not in a position to make declara- ton, Dr. Hill told a Herald reporter. but he asked that his position on or- ganizations whose motives are such as those of the K. K, K. are represent cd to be, be made clear.
 Rev. Henry w. Maier.
 T don't believe we ought to en- courage any organization whose mo- tives tend to break up the brother hood of man." Rev. Henry W. Maier, pastor of the First Congregational church, asserted in reply to a dues- tion as to whether he felt the K, K. K. was benefit or menace to the community This statement the clergy man directed at organizations in gen. eral whose motives are the promo- tion of prejudices, and not particular ly at the order now being probed.
 Rev. Samuel Sutcliffe.
 Rev. Samuel Sutcliffe. rector of St. Marks Episcopal church, had the fol- lowing to say, in reply to query:
 T am not at all in sympathy with any order founded on prejudice, and would not for minute favor such an organization. I know nothing at all of the Ku Klux Klan and cannot give an opinion of that order"
 Rev. William A. Ross.
 Rev William A. Ross, pastor of the First Baptist church, made the fol- lowing statements.
 ''I can hardly conceive of any com munity supporting an organization whose ideals are opposite to the American ideals, To tell the candid truth, I know nothing of the K. K. K. excepting what l have said: do not believe an order with such ideals as theirs have been represented to be would find any better welcome than would the Bolshevist movement. There are extremists in all bodies.
 Rev N. NJ. Gilman,
 T would be opposed to the Ku Kux Klan as something not purely American and something that is not desirable for the community" Rev. N. M Gilman, pastor of the Stanley Memorial church. said 'I would be inclined to take the stand of Gov. Allen of Kansas who has come out rather openly in opposition to the movement. believe that it has a tendency to promote lawlessness rather than law enforcement and 1t is not conducive of the best of feeling in any community"
 Rev. A. B. Taylor.
 Rev. A. R.. Taylor, pastor of the Peoples church. expressed ignorance of the motives of the K. K. K, but was positive in his assertion that every religious sect in the country should oppose anything that would tend to disturb the peaceful life of the community.
 Rev. NJ. W. Gaudian.
 T am against it--very much against it." said Rev. NJ. w. Gaudian. pastor of St. Johns German Lutheran church. Rev. Gaudian. fin point of service, is the dean of New Britain clereymen, having been in the minis try in New Britain for more than s5 years.
 Rev. F. w. Schaefcr.
 Rev. F. W. Schaefer, pastor of the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Reforpation. places not only the K K K but also all other fra ternai bodies under his ban. with especial denunciation of the Kisne- men whose ideals are. he feels, too much in the dark to justify a state ment Statements now Heard not