Phillips County herald., 1924-04-24
FIERY CROSS BURNED
HERE SATURDAY NIGHT
BY THE XII kLUX kLAR
KHAN ORGANIZER IN INTERVIEW
TELLS OF PRINCIPLES
OF THE KHAN

The first evidence that the ku KIux
Klan has effected an organization in
Holyoke appeared last Saturday ey-
ening about $3.50 o'clock, when fiery
cross was burned at the south end Of
Inter Ocean Avenue near the stand
pipe.
The nysteriousness that surrounds
| the Ku Klux Klan has given birth to,
many theories as to the meaning of
the demonstration last Saturday ev
ening. Some say that it signifies
that the local Klan has reached the.
hundred mark in membership; soma
say that it means that the Klan 10
starting drive for members and
there are various other theories, but
according to Mr.. A. R Bennett.
Klan organizer of Denver, who has
spent several days here during tha
past month, the burning OF the cross
has different and deeper meaning.
although he does not fully divulga
just what the meaning is.
In and interview with Mr. Bennett
last Friday, the Herald representative
was given fair summary OF the mot
ives and principles OF the Klan. which
we publish herewith in Mr.. Bennett's
own words. He said:
What would you think if man
who was not Mason. were he to try
to explain to YOU the secrets of Free
Masonry? Or he not Knight of
Pythias, were he to talk to yo1 on
Pythianism? Would you take his
word for what he had TO say? No
man can intelligently talk TO you upon
the principals of the Knights OF the
ku Klux Klan or Klankraft unless
that man be Klansmap. Isn't that
fair?
in every community there are three
groups of people who are opposed 70
the Klan: The first grooup that Is
opposed to 1t Is made up OF the law.
less element. the crooked politician.
the shyster lawyer. the bootlegger,
the gambler. the dope peddler. the
man who would break up your homo
or mine; the second group are those
who by virtue of their education ara
opposed to all Christian progressive
organizations, especially those of a
secret character, right that is ex-
ercised under the Constitution OF the
United States. BY that same con-
stitntlon and right, We claim the
right and privilege 10 organize q
native born. gentle. Christian organ.
ization; the third group opposed are
those who have based ther judy-
ment upon the articles appearing In
the metropolitan press. tho Associ-
a;ed Press or the lnternat!eaal News,
o. who are uniformed o. misin,
form ed. not having the time nor In,
eination TO look into the matter per.
trming to the Klan TO ses II these
rel orts are true.
"The new order Of today was
brought into existence on Thanks
giving night 1915. sixteen men
climbed up Stone Mountain near At.
lanta. Georgia. in the teeth OF
binding rain storm Arriving at the
top. each man took a boulder aud
they erected an altar The Holy
Bible and the American flag were
placed upo nthe altar They erect.
cd the fiery cross and knelt in prayer
and this organization was brought In
to existence as a result Of thot rrnyer
meeting.
"The prime purpose Of this order
In to de elop character Jesus
Christ Is the Klansman's criterion OF
character. Verse / Chapter ls OF
the Book Of Eomans. Il hosscch you
therefore. brethern, by the mereies OF
God. that ye present your bodies
living sacrifice, holy. acceptable unto
God. which Is your reasonable SER
vice" The burning Of the cross
has a meaning. Christ was cruoined
upon the cross We do not believe
that any church has a monopoly on
the cross. We DO not believe in
worshiping Il as an idol. Il Is said
IN JuleaburF. where am organizing
that We burned cross every time We
passed the hundred mark in our Nom
bership. We still are short OF 200
kiansmen IN Juleabnrg. and yet We
have burned two crosses there. The
burning Of the hery cross has a mean
ing. II II not PIT up indescfiminatsiy.
Concluded on Page Eight