THE KU KLUX RITUAL
This chapter might well be entitled "Ku-Kluxing a Sacrament," or "How the
Kleagles, for Ten Dollars, profane Christianity's Holiest Rite."
On the title page of the fifty-four page booklet is the imprint "Copyright
1916, by W. J. Simmons, Atlanta, Ga."
I venture to express the opinion that this is the first time in the
history of the United States that a ritual of a secret order, genuine or
alleged, has ever been copyrighted, and the very fact that it _is_
copyrighted suggests pertinent questions. As a general rule the protection
of the copyright laws is a matter of dollars and cents to an author, and
the first question that suggests itself is: what royalty does Simmons get
from the "Invisible Empire" for the use of his printed productions? Then
comes the further question: in whom does the title to the copyright rest?
does Simmons own it, or has it been assigned to the corporation? If
Simmons owns the copyright, and should die, would the title to the ritual
pass to his heirs or would the members of the Klan have anything to say as
to the ownership of the secret book of their organization? If the
question be answered in the negative the curious spectacle would be
presented of an organization paying a royalty to people not members of
that organization. Another consideration is the fact that as the law
requires two copies of a book to be deposited in the Library of Congress,
the pages of this "secret" document are open to the study of any one who
cares to go to Washington to examine them. Therefore, in his desire to
secure unto himself the property rights in the ritual, Simmons, who took
the oath not to divulge any of the secrets of his organization, violated
his obligation from the very beginning. As I am no longer a member of the
Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, I have no interest whatever in the relations
of Simmons to his organization, but merely suggest these questions for the
benefit of the members who may be interested in the financial side of
their own movement.
The name of the Ku Klux ritual is the "Kloran."
Before discussing this name, which has an interesting story, it is
necessary to state that in all of the Ku Klux lingo, many words have been
formed by the placing of the letter "L" after the first letter of a word.
Thus we have "Klavern," the meeting place of the Klan, from "Kavern;"
Kloncilium, from Koncilium; Klaliff, from Kaliff, etc., etc. The name
"Kloran" is the word "Koran" with the letter "L" placed after the "K."
The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is an "Invisible Empire" composed of none
but Protestant Christians, yet it appropriates the name of the Mohammedan
Bible for its sacred book.
The "Kloran" is called the "white book," and on its front cover bears the
inscription "K-Uno," from which is inferred that it is the first degree of
Ku Kluxism. There is a hint in the "sacred and inspired" pages that there
are other degrees to be taken, after the member has thoroughly imbibed the
pages of the "Kloran," and has passed an examination upon the same. What
these "higher degrees" are, no man, as far as I can learn, knows save only
him, who "for fourteen years" communed with the gods and prepared himself
for the sublime mission of saving the United States from nearly half of
its own citizens.
On the inside cover is the "Ku Klux Kreed" which is borrowed from the
creed of the original Klan, with such further additions as Simmons in his
infinite wisdom saw fit to add, and this is followed by the "order of
business," which is similar to the average secret order, but expressed
"Simmonsly" and not in the usual plain language of other organizations.
The officers of the Klan as then set forth are "The Exalted Cyclops," who
corresponds to the President; the "Klaliff," to the Vice-President;
"Klokard," the lecturer; "Kludd," the Chaplain (borrowed, by the way, from
the name of the high priest of the ancient Druids); the "Kligrapp," the
Secretary; the "Klabee," the Treasurer; the "Kladd," the conductor; the
"Klarogo," the inner guard; the "Klexter," the outer guard; the "Klokann,"
the investigating committee; and the "Night-hawk," who has charge of
candidates.
The text of the "Kloran" starts off with an "Imperial Decree" written in
the "Simmons" language, and signed by "His Majesty," telling the members
that this book is "_the_ book" of the "Invisible Empire," and that the
decree to preserve it, and study its sacred teachings is as binding as the
original obligation. Then follows a complicated diagram of the "Klavern,"
or meeting-place, showing the stations of the numerous officers and the
routes taken by candidates when going through the floor work.
The "opening ceremony," which is supposed to be inflicted upon the Klan
every time it meets, covers eight closely printed pages of the "Kloran,"
and is filled with tiresome and boring conversation between the various
officers. An opening "klode," to the tune of "Greenland's Icy Mountains,"
with its chorus "Home, Sweet Home" is then to be sung, and this is
followed by a long-winded prayer ending with a petition to the Lord to
"bless our Emperor." After more words, the poor Klan at last finds itself
open.
Then follows the "closing ceremony" which contains five pages of the same
sort of wordy discourse, with a verse to the tune of "Blest be the Tie
that Binds," a prayer for the success of the "Invisible Empire," and the
weary Klansmen are then allowed to go home.
The bulk of the "Kloran" is taken up with the "ceremony of
naturalization." In the entire ritual the alleged fraternal order is
called the "Invisible Empire," with only an occasional reference to its
legal incorporated title. The candidate is an "alien" until he has been
bored to death to the extent of about thirty pages, whereupon he is made
"a citizen" of the "Invisible Empire" through the process of
"naturalization." It is rather a curious anomaly that an American citizen,
who does not need to be naturalized to enjoy the privileges of American
citizenship has to be "naturalized" as a Ku Klux, while the foreign born,
the Catholics and the Jews cannot be naturalized at all. They are forever
"aliens."
The ceremony of naturalization consists in walking the candidate from
station to station, causing him to listen to verbose passages, swearing
him to the obligation previously referred to, threatening him with death
if he ever reveals any of the secrets, and finally making him go through a
parody on the solemn and sacred rite of baptism.
As a matter of comparison with the original Prescript of the Old Ku Klux
Klan, there are ten questions which are asked the "alien" upon his first
entrance into the "outer Den" of the "Klavern." These ten questions
unmistakably show an intention on the part of the "Invisible Empire" to
turn the United States in a country controlled by a "class" as opposed to
several "classes," and are so utterly at variance with the requirements of
the original Ku Klux Klan, as to add stronger proof that the present
organization is a historical fraud with no right to use even the name of
the former organization. These questions which can be found on pages 25
and 26 of the "Kloran" are as follows:
"1. Is the motive prompting your ambition to be a Klansman serious
and unselfish?
"2. Are you a native born, white, Gentile American citizen?
"3. Are you absolutely opposed to and free of any allegiance of any
nature to any cause, government, people, sect or ruler that is
foreign to the United States of America?
"4. Do you believe in the tenets of the Christian religion?
"5. Do you esteem the United States of America and its institutions
above any other government, civil, political or ecclesiastical, in
the whole world?
"6. Will you, without mental reservation, take a solemn oath to
defend, preserve and enforce same?
"7. Do you believe in clanishness and will you faithfully practice
same toward Klansmen?
"8. Do you believe in and will you faithfully strive for the eternal
maintenance of white supremacy?
"9. Will you faithfully obey our constitution and laws, and conform
willingly to all our usages, requirements and regulations?
"10. Can you always be depended on?"
In the above questions, the references to the Jew and the negro are
obvious. The third question, "Are you absolutely opposed to and free of
any allegiance of any nature to any cause, government, sect, people or
ruler that is foreign to the United States of America?" refers to the
Catholic, in which the Pope is considered a foreign ruler, and the
allegiance mentioned means spiritual allegiance as well as political. It
will be seen later, upon studying the Prescript of the original Klan, that
no such questions were asked of applicants for membership and no such
restrictions imposed.
After the "alien" has satisfactorily answered the above ten questions, and
has made his "donation," the first two sections of the obligation are
administered, after which follow many papers of tiresome conversation.
After walking the candidate several times around the "Klavern," giving the
various stationed officers the opportunity to spout forth "Simmonsese,"
the "alien" is led to the Exalted Cyclops who addresses a long "charge" to
him, admonishing him of the great seriousness of the organization, and
offering him an opportunity to retire and proceed no further. This offer
is very largely a "bluff," because by this time the curiosity of the
"alien" is at such a state that he would not think of retiring, and
invariably he signifies that he desires to remain for the entire
performance. There is more walking around, more verbose tommyrot, and
then the remainder of the oath is administered, and the candidate is ready
for "naturalization."
The "ceremony of naturalization" of the "Invisible Empire" is a
sacrilegious parody on the holy rite of baptism, following a threat of
death if the "alien" violated his obligation to "use any and all
justifiable means and methods" to carry out the work of the political
machine! There is no fraternal order in America which has ever dared to do
this, and I look back upon the fact that I "baptized" a number of men, who
ought to have known better, with a feeling of regret and humiliation.
After the "alien" has taken the entire obligation he is asked by the
Exalted Cyclops: "Sir, have you assumed without mental reservation your
Oath of Allegiance to the 'Invisible Empire'"? The "alien" answers in the
affirmative.
The Exalted Cyclops then warns him: "Mortal man cannot assume a more
binding oath; character and courage alone will enable you to keep it.
Always remember that to keep this oath means to you honor, happiness, and
life; but to violate it means disgrace, dishonor and _death_. May
happiness, honor and life be yours."
Having been duly warned of death and dishonor, the "alien" is then led to
the "sacred altar" where rests the American flag, upon which is the Holy
Bible, opened at twelfth of--Romans--which Simmons says is his "spiritual
charter"--and across the pages of the Word of God is a naked dagger, grim
reminder of the preceding warning of the snake. The Exalted Cyclops raises
a glass of water, and "dedicates" the "alien," setting him apart from the
men of his daily association to the lofty service of the "Invisible
Empire." He is then caused to kneel upon his right knee, and a parody on
the beautiful hymn, "Just as I am Without One Plea," is sung by those of
the elect who can carry a tune. Behind the "sacred altar" burns the "fiery
cross," which is an upright piece of wood with a cross arm, in which are
set burning candles. When the singing is concluded, the Exalted Cyclops
advances to the candidate and after dedicating him further, pours water on
his shoulder, his head, throws a few drops in the air, making his
dedication "in body," "in mind," "in spirit," and "in life." Having thus
sacrilegiously "baptized" the alien into the "Invisible Empire of Ku
Kluxism," the "Kludd," the chaplain of the Klan--very often a minister of
the gospel--steps forward and delivers a prayer to God to aid the
candidate to keep his obligation, the idea being, no doubt, that if God
cannot or will not prevent the "alien" from "keeping his mouth shut," the
dagger or the secret bullet of the Ku Klux will!
The "alien" is then formally received as a "citizen" of the "Invisible
Empire," in the name of the "Emperor," and is entitled to all of the
secret work of the organization, which is as tiresome and boring as the
whole ritualistic twaddle. Most of this secret work is called the "Way of
the Klavern," and is unimportant. One of the most interesting things of
the "work" is the salute that each Klansman is required to give the
American flag placed on a stand in the center of the room. The same salute
is given whenever addressing the chair. It is the old salute of the
Confederate Army, made with the right hand over the right eye, then
reversing the hand so that the palm is in front.
The excessive number of signs and symbols used by the "Invisible Empire"
are of no importance, but it will be of interest to mention the
"Klonversation" which is a system of code words, by which one Ku Klux can
know another. These code words are composed of the first letters of words
in a sentence, and are used as a dialogue, as follows:
Upon meeting a stranger whom he wishes to test, the Klansman says:
AYAK, meaning, Are You A Klansman? the answer being,
AKIA, A Klansman I Am.
CAPOWE, Countersign And Password Or Written Evidence?
CYGNAR, Can You Give Number And Realm?
No. 1, ATGA, Number One Klan of Atlanta, Ga.
KYGY, Klansman I Greet You.
ITSUB, In The Sacred Unfailing Bond.
(They shake hands with the left hand)
KLASP, Klannish Loyalty A Sacred Principle,
KABARK, Konstantly Applied By All Regular Klansmen.
The Exalted Cyclops then instructs the newly-made Klansman in the
Countersign and Password, which at the present time are the words "White,"
and "Supremacy." The citizen is then solemnly instructed in the "MIOAK,"
or the Mystical Insignia of a Klansman, which is a cheap little celluloid
button that is supposed to be the real innermost secret of Ku Kluxism. The
MIOAK is red in color, and contains the letters KOTOP, with a square, and
an extended open hand, and constitutes the emblem of the Klan. No
explanation of the real meaning of the mystic words has ever been given,
although the Kleagles generally tell their victims that it stands for
"Knights of the Open Palm," a designation arising no doubt from the
eagerness with which the open palm of the Kleagle is extended to receive
the ten dollar "donations" so necessary in the manufacture of "citizens"
from the "alien" raw material. The word Kotop is also used as a hailing
word, its answer being "Potok," a reversal of the previous word. This is
followed by the presentation of "Imperial Instructions," which is a
booklet, "The Practice of Klanishness," containing many pages of the same
wordy stuff with which the ritual is filled. This book enjoins the members
to stick together in all things, but more especially to render at all
times the greatest respect to the "Emperor" who is working day and night
for the "cause," and for whom the "cause" is also working.
There is a long-winded, verbose and ridiculous "lecture" at the end of the
"Kloran" that endeavors to give a history of the original Ku Klux Klan.
In the last two pages of the "Kloran" are to be found "titles and
explanations" of the various officers and subdivisions of the "Invisible
Empire," which have no importance to the general reader. It might be
interesting, however, to note with what modesty "Emperor" Simmons speaks
of himself when he writes:
"IMPERIAL WIZARD--The Emperor of the Invisible Empire; a wise man; a
wonder-worker, having power to charm and control."