The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-06-12

By WILLIAM JAMES MAHONEY,
 M. A., D. D.
 Imperial KIokRrd. Knights of the
 ku kIux klnn
 We have been passing through the formative period of the organization. And now we have come to the period of constructive planning and activity. Me must know what we are, and the things for which we stand in order that activity may rightly con tribute to the upbuilding of char acter and of high-grade citizen ship. The time has now come when the world will know the Ku klux Klan in it's true character. Be- fore We can correctly interpret this 1. order and the things for which 1t ! stands we ourselves must know our selves and the principles and ideals of this order.
 l. Character of the Organization
 And here 1t is necessary to re- peat briefly some things with which you are already familiar.
 l. This is white mans organiza- tion, eXalting the Caucasion race and teaching the doctrines of white su- premacy. This does not mean that we are enemies of the colored and mon- grel races. But 1t does mean that we are organized to establish the soli-
 
 the white race. All of Christian civil- zation depends upon the preservation and upbuilding of the white race, and 1t is the mission of the Ku Klux Klan to proclaim this doctrine until the white race shall come into it's own.
 2. This is a Gentle organization, and as such has as its mission the in- depreciation of the highest ideals of the white Gentle peoples. We sing no m n raf ha41 af,,e,k <k. interested In his own things and we are exercising the same privilege of banding our own kind together in or der that We may realize the highest and best possible for ourselves.
 ,. It Is an American organization, and we do restrict membership to na- tive born American citizens. The rec ords show that recently, at least, the aliens that have been flooding our land have come into this country, not because of any love for America, but because of intolerable or unfavorable conditions in the land they left be- hind. They came to this country not that they might con ntributa in any way to it's growth and development, but that they might find opportunity to advance themselves and to serve their own interests and oftentimes to serve the interests of the land from which
 
 of governments of which they are still the subjects. In their hearts there is the tie that still binds them to the home land--to them it is still the fatherland. Their sympathies are still there, their thoughs have been shaped by the currents in the old country. They do not easily readjust themselves. So We find the groups, lrish-Americans, German Americans and all kinds of hyphenate Americans. What pleasure would they find or what service could they render in this organization, which is distinctiyely an American-A American organization? And we have organized to engender a real spirit of true Americanism, that Americanism which is a system based on principle of utter antagonsm to monarchism, whether represented by emperor, king, potentate or pope.
 4. It is a Protestant organization. As such membership is restricted to those who accept the tanets of a true Christianity which is essentially Protestant. We maintain and contend that 1t is the inalienable right of Protestants to have their own dis tinctive organization. We can say to the world without apology and say truly that our forefathers founded this as a Protestant country and it Is our purpose to re-establish and maintain it as such. While we will energetically maintain and proclaim the principles of Professionalism. we will also maintain the principles of religious liberty as essential to the life and progress of this nation, and We will vigorously oppose all efforts to rob the American people of this right.
 II. Racial Ideals
 l. We stand for white supremacy. Distinction among the races is not accidental, but designed. This is clearly brought out in the one book that tells authoritatively of the ori- gin of the races. This distinction is not incidental, but is of the vastest importance and indicates the wisdom of the divine mind. It is not tempo rary, but is as abiding as the ages
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