The Cordova daily times., 1923-02-07

| TODAY-NobIe Order Of Crusaders il
England similar to ku klux Khan ir
| America, writes Luther A. Huston
! London.
LONDON, Feb. HAS the Ku Klu2
i Khan, famous systic order of the Unit
ed States, cousin" in England?
If tales being told in London about
the Most Noble Order of Crusaders
are true the answer would seem to be
in the affirmative.
The English have been inclined tC
poke fun at the situation in the Unit
ed States that has arisen out of the
activities there of the Ku Klux Khan
Newspapers have given considerable
space to chronicling the doing of the
Khan and there has been much edi
torial comment with regard to what
Britons have been pleased to regard
as this "crude outcropping of Ameri
can life"
Now, it would seem, England has
fathered twin to the Ku Klux Khan
Whether the activities of the Cru
saders will follow the pathways blazed
in America by the Khan remains to be
seen, but the fact is that the order
has been founded along lines striking
ly resembling the outstanding fea-
lures of the American organization
The Supreme Grand Lodge of the
Crusaders is in London and it meets
behind closed doors in big West
End hall. 1t is reported to have a
large membership already and to be
recruiting rapidly from all classes of
English life. A conclave of Crusad-
ers in every ward in each town and
in every large village in England to
the ultimate hope of the orders or
ganizers. It is announced that the
Crusaders desire their order to be
composed of real leaders of public
opinion, chosen without reference to
politics or social standing"
The ritual of the Crusaders is weird
mystical and elaborate. On ceremon
ial occasions the members wear pic
turesuue robes. The habiliments OF
the grand officers are crimson, the
robes being adorned with a large
cross. Other members wear a sur
coat. a tabard and a belt.
The initiation ceremony is declared
to be most impressive, and no effor
is evaded to impress the candidate
with the solemnity Of the obligations
he undertakes in allying himself will
the Crusaders. Members are under
stood to be required to take the fol
lowing oath:
"Our sword shall ever be used t,
the glory of God, the defense of TIL
right and the maintenance Of equit.
and justice"
AS yet there have been no outward
manifestations Of the activities of thu
| Crusaders and even the fact Of it
existence is not widely known. Tht
fact that it has been able, within {
short time, to build up formidable
membership, however, has caused {
few chills of foreboding to wrack the
spines of those Britishers who would
not like to see Ku Klux Khan func
tioning actively in England.
Rent court are "old stuff to New
York, Chicago and other American
cities, but they are just coming into
existence in England. The first one
has been set up in Blackheath and is
organized to settle grievances be
tween tenant and landlord on friend
| ly basis. The court consists of three
"benches," or arbitrator, one repre-
senting the tenants, one the landlords
and the third neutral Decisions are
taken by ballot and parties to the dis
pute are asked, although it is not man
datory, to accept the decisions without
question. OF the cases decided so far
every one has been accepted without
appeal by the litigants.
The problem of unemployment in
England, although still very acute, is
lessening. During the month of De.
cember, according to official reports
the number of unemployed decreased
by more than 100000 Revival of in.
dustrial activity in the iron and steel
trade and boom in the South Wales
coal industry are the factors chiefly
Irresponsible. OF the 1896 900 remain
ing unemployed in England 100000
are women, according to official fig
ures.