Hickory daily record., 1922-10-16
CHURCH LEADERS
OPPOSE kIhu
ORDERS

Washington, Oct. 16.- -Condemna-
tG1v resolutions aimed at masked and
st.,~ .Gljes have been passed by
the a3n lstrative committee of the
federal council Of churches. While
they mentioned no organization by
name, the Rev. Samuel McCrea. one
Of the two general secretaries, declar-
ed that members Of the administrative
committee had the ku klux. klan in
mind IN particular.
In making the re:solls,icn public
MT. CaverG said: This action was
taken as a result Of statements made
from time to time that the ku kluX
kian and other masked and secret
bodies are acting in behalf Of the
Protestant churches Of the United
States. While the ku klux khan is not
mentioned by name in the statement,
members of the administrative COM
mittee had it III mind in particular.
"rThe motive OF the ku klux klan
and similar organizations may oc 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 signiffi-
1cltit S41CIf ~ 10 CaSltACet ttietG SO ~
conlmunions with more than 20,000,-
federal council. s'The resolution is as
follows:
"The administrative committee Of
the federal council Of the Churches of
Christ in American records - sUrong
conviction that the recent rise of
organizations whose members are
masked, oatilbou,nd and unknown, and
whose activities have the effect of
arousing religious prejudice and racial
antipathies, is fraught with grave cor
sequences 10 the church and to society
at large. Any organization whose ac-
tlvltles tend to set class against class
or race against race IS consistent
neither with the ideals OF the churches
nor with true patriotism, however
vigorous or sincere may be its pro-
fessions of religion and American
ism.
evils of lawlessness and immortality
however serious, can never be remedl-
ed by secret, private, and unathorized
action. They must be handled by the
State and by the recognized forces Of
education. t or groups Of individuls
wearing masks and ccncealing their
identity TO pass judgbent on men
and women and to carry cut hulniliat-
ing measures Of their own tieyising, is
subvessive aff every prifieip AoI crvii4
ICED government, and undernlines res
pect for the established agencies OF
Jaw and ordes.
ANY body Of men, unidentified and
banded together to achieve "a a par
tiaf3s spirit the purpose Of section
al, political, racial or sectarian group,
is almost certain to fall into the very
evils O. mob rule against wmcn the
spirit Of Christian democracy and
Anlerlcanlsm makes vigorous and CON
slant protest. Even if they resort to
no unworthy deeds themselves, their
practice OF carrying on their plans
IN disguise OF under cover OF dark
ness encourages others TO do likewise
and so affords the opportunity for all
manner of laWiessness to be carried on
with Immunity from arrest Of punish
ment. However true it is that in some
communities religious organiza tions
seek control over municipal admins
traJlon which, IS undemocratic and
undesirable. yet for another body OF
men, secret ard oathbound TO under
take to get control is equally intoler-
able, even if they seek with ali SINGER
ity to wrest it from the control of
other groups.
''The, administrative committee of
the federal council Of the churches
is opposed to any movement which
overrides the processes of law and
order. and which tends to compIicate
and make more difficult the work OF
cooperation between the various poll
tical, racial and religious groups in
the republic. No such movements have
tt1er light to speak in the name of
Professionalism, and the Churches are
urged TO exert every influence TO
check their spread