Evening star., 1925-08-09
Thousands Renew
Loyalty Pledge
After March.
SYLVAN THEATER
SERVICE COLORFUL
Evans Unable to Stay for
Speech-Rumors of
Rift Denied.


ington Monument, on the green
sward Of Sylvan Theater, hosts of
the Ku Klux Klan last night rededi-
Gated themselves to their avowed
principles in one of the most repre-
sentative national gatherings of the
restored picturesque order.
1t was a consumma ton, somewhat
marred by rain of what will go down
in their annals as perhaps the great
est day to date in the modern Ku
Klux klan.
The place was the terminus for
the great parade which had marched
down Pennsylvania Avenue. From
that display the Klansman and
Klanswomen gathered in the natural
amphitheater, welcomed the incom-
ing thousands, as they poured into
the roped off inclosure, and later
participated i'll the brief program Of
prayer and a klan address.
Instead of Imperial Wizard Hiram
w. Evans, who had marched in the
parade and was said to have left the
city earlier in the evening, the speaker
was DR.. A. H. Gulledge of Columbus,
Ohio. He was introduced by l.. NJ
Mueller, grand kleagle of the District
of Columbia Klan and master of cere-
monies for the gathering of the order
Prayer Heard BY Throng.
Rumors that the imperial wizard
had declined to address the gathering
on account of differences arising in the
klan were fatty denied later by Mr..
Mueller, who said previous engage
ments alone necessitated Mr.. Evans
departure.
Not all of the klansmen and women,
who had poured into the Sylvan Thea
ter during the several hours which in
tervened from the influx Of the first
marchers shortly after o'clock. re.
mained for the ceremony of the eve
ming. but a countless horde was
banked around the green slopes of the
beautiful amphitheater, when the
service was opened by prayer.
Public address system Of WCAP
carried the voice of DIR. GulIedge, in
prayer to the furthermost part of the
theater grounds, where men and
women in regalia, knelt revere ntially.
Even behind the theater, as far as the
sound of the suppliant's voice could
be heard in prayer, members of the
order knelt, wherever they were.
In his address, which followed. DR..
Gulledge answered critics of the Ku
Klux klan. and stressed the signifi-
canoe of the representative gathering,
with its parade, and it's national re-
dedication to service Of country.
Bay State Klan Late.
Rain which had threatened earlier
in the evening broke fitfully and
splattered the white clad and red,
white, and blue clad hosts with huge
raindrops for a time, until finally a
downpour came about the conclusion.
A special service of welcome by Mr..
Mueller, and prayer by Dr. Gullege,
was held for the Massachusetts dele
cation, which arrived late, after all
a drenching rain, with a huge ban.
ner held before them while being con-
graduated by Mr.. Mueller. In his
prayer, DR.. Gulledge referred to the
dangers which they are face to face
with in Massachusetts,
The parade was not over when the
services in Sylvan Theater were open
ed, but was diverted for the time being
out of the enclosure.
The speaker of the evening not only
put emphasis upon the character and
significance of the day in the history
OF the Ku klux Klan, but denied
charges of hate, malice or prejudice"
saying the Khan was prompted by mo-
tives of love toward ALL"
From his station before the micro
phone in the profusely flag g-bedecked
stand, on the top of which the huge
amplifiers carried his voice, clear and
strong, to the far distances, the
Klansmen's national speaker said
he had long looked forward to the day
when the order would parade down
historic Pennsylvania avenue, ex-
planning that this had come to pass
sooner than he had anticipated.
Cites Washington Warming.
The first of several lusty cheers,
which intermittently went up from
the peopled hillsides. broke when the
speaker felicitated the day upon
which white, Protestant Gentiles had
marched down Pennsylvania avenue
unmolested and unharmed.'
Standing at the foot of Washing
ton Monument" said DR.. Gulledge, Il
want to say to you, Washington,
buried out in Mount Vernon, we are
here We remember that a century
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