Evening star., 1925-08-10

was not present. He shouted that In
Saturdays parade was the best class
of men and women ] have ever seen
walk down Pennsylvania avenue:
and added that I'VE don't have to
apologize for the ku X lux klan from
now on"
Points to Rapid Growth.
He recalled the incorpora ton of the
Klan nine years ago with "a few
hundred members" and pointed I"
its growth since that time Ito mil
lions. composing the greatest
Prote-tant fraternal Orga MIA tion not
only In the United States hut in the
world
There was vociferous cheering when
the national speaker" asserted that
the Klan stood for "A great anna lSa
nation Of Americans" and denounced
"So-called American who call Them
selves Irish or German or some other
kind OF American adding. Tets stop
talking in hyphenated terms"
Free thought. free religious prin-
cipes." he empha sized. HAY been
the foundation of ma ssive race that.
under God. shall take the world for
the fiery cross, the open Bible and the
public school.
Il hone we will shut the alien gates
so tight" he continued, that for
eigners can't squeeze through. Let =
keep the rest of them out of this
country We have enough now.
The speaker predicted that succeed
ing years would see other great klan
parades down PENNSYLVANIA avenue.
Apparently taking cognizance Of
press reports to the effect that there
was diSsension in the Khan over DR.
Evans. the imperial wizard. Mr.. Con
naughton drew mighty cheer when
he mentioned Evans by name and
shouted that klansmen were fortunate
to have such "a Godfearing man as
their leader. He makes mistakes. just
as YOU and I do. the speaker said,
"hut We love hin, just the same.
Al the conclusion Of the opening ad
dress the Eallston Klan Rand Of Ar
Iineton County, Va. plaNed America.
as an inner circle of robed guards.
carrying large American faSs, sta
TONED themselves in concentric fash
ion around the pavilion.
II was a signal 10 the masses of
spectators that the actual ceremony
was about to begin. and they pressed
forward ea gerly. As hush pervaded
dropped from the rostrum in front of
kleasle Mueller. and an open Bible
wac placed on the rail
1hfrfy tandidateS Appear.
At a signal the circle opened at one
point and the 30 candidates. one OF
them already in Klan regalia. f1led
solemnly TO a position directly in
front OF the 6-foot electrically lighted
cross mounted in an automobile
parked at the platform. AS the march
began the rObed band struck up the
klan favorite, Onward, Christian
Soldiers.
There followed a lull. marked only
by a stir OF officials on the platform
as they gave instructions 10 a courier
10 light the great burla p wra pped nd
oli-soa ked cross several hundred feet
away. A lone klansman, bearing a
lighted torch, climbed up the foot
thick trunk which formed the up
right for the cross. and lighted the
first wrapping of combustible rags
about 20 feet above the earth In an
instant. almost. q sna ke-like tongue
of 1ame shot upward to the top Of the
pole and began TO spread out hori-
zontally on~the 30-foot cross-timber
AS the fiery cross gradually became
emblazoned across the Stygian blan-
ket of the night the impressive spec
tacle OF this flaming symbol. seemingly
suspe nded in the air. drew from the
entire assembly a prolonged cheer
that must have reverberated against
the slopes of Arlington, a mile away.
Ritual Is Started.
AS quiet ness again reigned, the
steady voice of the kleagle began to
intone the fateful words of the klan
natura liZation rites.
''Sirs.' he began, 1.-The klan gives
you an opportunity here to answer
affirmatively to each of the following
questions:
rs your motive serious and unself-
ish in seeking membership in this
great order?
Are You a native born. white, Prot
estant American citizen?
Are you opposed to and free from
any allegiance whatsoever to any
sect creed. foreign ruler pOtentate or
government other than the United
States or in conflict with its ideals!
DO you believe in and adhere to
the tenets of the Christian religion?
do you believe in the sacredness
of the United States Government and
pay allegiance to it?
will you defend II against foreign
invasion and aggression?
DO you believe in klannishness?
DO you believe in white suprem-
acy?
DO YOU willingly conform to all the