Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-10-16
FEDE: RAJ COUNCIL
Of CHURCHES OUT
AGAINST XII KLUX
Resolution Declares 1t a
Menace to American
Institutions
CBy Associated Press)

Washington, Oct. 16-Condpmnato-
nv resolutions aimed at masked and
secret bodies have been passed by the
administrative committee of the Fed
eral Council of Churches. While they
mentioned 40 organization by name,
the Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert, one
of the two general secretaries, de-
clared that members Of the Admins
trative Committee had the Ku Kluy
Klan in mind in particular,
In making the resolution public Mr.
Cavert said: This action was taken
as result of statements made from
time to time that the Ku Klux Khan
and other masked and secret bodies
are acting in behalf of the Protestant
churches of the United States. While
the Ku Kiux Khan is notment toned
by name in the statement, members
of the Administrative committee had
it in mind in particular.
"The motives of the Ku Klux Khan
and similar organizations may be of
the highest, but members of the Ad-
ministrative committee believe their
methods are not only wrong but also
dangerous from every standpoint.
Action by the committee is signifi-
cant when it is realized that 90 great
communions with more than 100000
900 members are affiliated with the
Federal Council" The resolution is
as follows:
Fraught With Grave Consequences
"The Administrative committee of
the Federal Council of the Federal
Council of the Churches Of Christ in
America records its strong conviction
that the recent rise Of organizations
whose members are masked, oath
bound and unknown, and whose ac-
Invites have the effect Of arousing
religious prejudice and racial antip-
athies, is fraught with grave conse-
guences to the Church and to society
at large. Any organization whose
activities tend to set class against
class or race against race is consis-
tent neither with the ideals of the
churches nor with true patriotism,
however vigorous or sincere lnay be
its professions Of religion and Am
ericanism.
Owls of lawlessness and immorli-
ty, however serious, can never be re-
medied by secret, private, and unau-
thorized action. They must be ham
died by the State and by the recog-
nized forces of education. For
groups of individuals wearing masks
and concealing their identity to pass
Judgment on men and women and to
carry out humiliating measures CT
their own deyising, is subversivo of
every principle of civilized govern
ment, and undermines respect for The
established agencies of law and or
der.
"Any body of men, unidentified and
banded together to achieve in par
tisan spirit the purposes Of sec
tional, political, racial or sectaIian
group, is almost certain to fall into
the very evils Of mob rule against
which the spirit of Christian demo-
crazy and Americanism makes yigo-
rous and constant protest. Even if
they resort to no unworthy deeds
themselves, their practice Of carrying
on their plans in disguise or under
cover of darkness encourages others
to do likewise, and so affords the OPP
pOrIunity for all manner Of laWless-
ess be carried on with immunity
from arrest or punishment. Howev-
er true it is that in some commune
a;ii,H -ze1igious organizations seek a
control over municipal administra-
ton which is undemocratic and high
" undesirable, yet for another Pody
Of rner,, secret and oathbOund, to I'M
tj,rtal1e to get control is equally intol-
cradle. even if they seek with all SIN
cerity 10 wrest it from the control OF
other groups.
1.-THE Administrative committee o.
The Federal Council of the Churches
is opposed to any movement walcl
oyerrrides the processes Of law an'
order. and which tends to complieat'
and make more difficult the work O
cooperation between the various po
litical, racial and religious groups Il
sshe Republic. No such movements
l-.ssasge the right to speak in the ham'
: ~ Professionalism, and the Churcae
s,..ged to exert every influence t
ssnEead."
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