THE PRESCRIPT OF THE OLD KLAN
In the study of the original Ku Klux Klan, it is fortunate that there have
been preserved documents which fully set forth its structure and
composition, and these documents demonstrate conclusively that the modern
organization has no claim whatever to recognition as the "genuine original
Ku Klux." The most important of these documents is the "prescript" or
constitution of the old Klan.
In its early stages, the old organization adopted a "Prescript," but this
was in 1867 revised and amended, and the second document became the law of
the organization, under which it functioned until it was disbanded. When
General Forrest issued his order disbanding the Ku Klux Klan, all copies
of the revised and amended prescript were ordered destroyed. One copy
escaped destruction and is now in the library of Columbia University where
it is carefully preserved as a valuable historic paper. As an exhibit in
the case against the present organization, I give the "Prescript" in full.
It is a booklet of twenty-four pages, and at the top of each page is a
Latin quotation. Without attempting to follow the typography of the
original text, I am reproducing it as a continuous document, placing the
quotations where they appear in the booklet, as follows:
"PRESCRIPT"
Exact copy of the Revised and Amended
Prescript
of the
ORDER
of the
*
* *
"_Damnant quod intelligent_"
"APPELLATION"
This organization shall by styled and denominated, The Order of * * *
"CREED"
"We, the Order of the * * *, reverentially acknowledge the majesty and
supremacy of the Divine Being, and recognize the goodness and providence
of the same. And we recognize our relation to the United States
Government, the supremacy of the Constitution, the Constitutional Laws
thereof, and the union of States thereunder.
"CHARACTER AND OBJECTS OF THE ORDER"
"This is an institution of Chivalry, Humanity, Mercy, and Patriotism
embodying in its genius and its principles all that is chivalric in
conduct, noble in sentiment, generous in manhood, and patriotic in
purpose; its object being,
"First: To protect the weak, the innocent, and the defenseless from the
indignities, wrongs, and outrages of the lawless, the violent, and the
brutal; to relieve the injured and oppressed; to succor the suffering and
unfortunate, and especially the widows and orphans of Confederate
Soldiers.
"Second: To protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and
all laws passed in conformity thereto, and to protect the States and the
people thereof from all invasion from any source whatever (_Nec scire fas
est omnia_).
"Third: To aid and assist in the execution of all constitutional laws, and
to protect the people from unlawful seizure, and from trial except by
their peers in conformity to the laws of the land.
ARTICLE I
TITLES
"_Section 1._ The officers of the Order shall consist of a Grand Wizard of
the Empire, and his ten Genii; a Grand Dragon of the realm, and his eight
Hydras; a Grand Titan of the Dominion, and his six Furies; a Grand Giant
of the Province, and his four Goblins; a Grand Cyclops of the Den, and his
two Night Hawks; a Grand Magi, a Grand Monk, a Grand Scribe, a Grand
Exchequer, a Grand Turk, and a Grand Sentinel.
"_Section 2._ The body politic of the Order shall be known and designated
as 'Ghouls.'
ARTICLE II
TERRITORY AND ITS DIVISIONS
"_Section 1._ The territory embraced within the jurisdiction of this Order
shall be coterminous with the States of Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee; all combined
constituting the Empire.
"_Section 2._ The Empire shall be divided into four departments, the first
to be styled the Realm, and coterminous with the boundaries of the several
States; the second to be styled the Dominion and (_Amici humani generis_)
to be coterminous with such counties as the Grand Dragons of the several
Realms may assign to the charge of the Grand Titan; the third to be styled
the Province, and to be coterminous with the several counties; provided,
the Grand Titan may, when he deems it necessary, assign two Grand Giants
to one Province, prescribing at the same time the jurisdiction of each.
The fourth department to be styled the Den, and shall embrace such part of
a Province as the Grand Giant shall assign to the charge of a Grand
Cyclops.
ARTICLE III
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
_Grand Wizard_
"_Section 1._ The Grand Wizard, who is the supreme officer of the Empire,
shall have power, and he shall be required to appoint Grand Dragons for
the different Realms of the Empire; and he shall have power to appoint his
Genii; also a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for his department, and
he shall have the sole power to issue copies of this "Prescript," through
his Subalterns, for the organization and dissemination of the Order; and
when a question of paramount importance to the interests or prosperity of
the Order arises, not provided for in this "Prescript," he shall have the
power to determine the question, and his decision shall be final until the
same shall be provided for by amendment as hereinafter provided. It shall
be his duty to communicate with, and receive reports from the Grand
Dragons of Realms as to the condition, strength, and progress of the Order
within their respective Realms, and (_Quemcunque miserum videris, hominem
scias_) it shall further be his duty to keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list
of the names (without any caption or explanation whatever) of the Grand
Dragons of the different Realms of the Empire, and shall number such
Realms with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3 etc. _ad finem_; and he shall
direct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and disbursement he
shall make of the revenue of the Order that comes to his hands.
_Grand Dragon_
"_Section 2._ The Grand Dragon, who is the chief officer of the Realm,
shall have power, and he shall be required to appoint and instruct a
Grand Titan for each Dominion of his realm (such Dominion not to exceed
three in number for any Congressional District), said appointments being
subject to the approval of the Grand Wizard of the Empire. He shall have
power to appoint his Hydras; also a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer for
his department.
"It shall be his duty to report to the Grand Wizard, when required by that
officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and progress of the Order
within his Realm, and to transmit, through the Grand Titan, or other
authorized sources, to the Order, all information, intelligence, or
instruction conveyed to him by the Grand Wizard for that purpose, and all
such information or instructions as he may think will promote the interest
and utility of the Order. He shall keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list of
the names (without caption) of the Grand Titans of the different Dominions
of his Realm, and shall report the same to the Grand Wizard when required,
and (_Magna est veritas, et prevalebit_) shall number the Dominions of his
Realm with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. _ad finem_. And he shall
direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation and
disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the Order that comes to his
hands.
_Grand Titan_
"_Section 3._ The Grand Titan, who is the chief officer of the Dominion,
shall have power and he shall be required to appoint and instruct a Grand
Giant for each Province of his Dominion such appointment, however, being
subject to the approval of the Grand Dragon of the Realm. He shall have
the power to appoint his Furies; also a Grand Scribe and a Grand Exchequer
for his department. It shall be his duty to report to the Grand Dragon,
when required by that officer, the condition, strength, efficiency, and
progress of the order within his Dominion and to transmit through the
Grand Giant, or other authorized channels, to the Order, all information,
intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed to him by the Grand
Dragon for that purpose, and all such other information or instruction as
he may think will enhance the interest or efficiency of the Order.
"He shall keep, by his Grand Scribe, a list of the names (without caption
or explanation) of the Grand Giants of the different Provinces of his
Dominion, and shall report the same to the Grand Dragon when required; and
shall number the Provinces of his Dominion with the Arabic numerals 1, 2,
3, etc. _ad finem_. And he shall direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer
as to the appropriation and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of
the Order that comes to his hands. (_Ne tentes aut perfice._)
_Grand Giant_
"_Section 4._ The Grand Giant, who is the chief officer of the Province,
shall have power, and he is required, to appoint and instruct a Grand
Cyclops for each Den of his Province, and such appointment, however, being
subject to the approval of the Grand Titan of the Dominion. And he shall
have the further power to appoint his Goblins; also a Grand Scribe and a
Grand Exchequer for his department.
"It shall be his duty to supervise and administer general and special
instructions in the organization and establishment of the Order within his
Province, and to report to the Grand Titan, when required by that officer,
the condition, strength and progress of the Order within his Province, and
to transmit through the Grand Cyclops, or other legitimate sources, to the
Order, all information, intelligence, instruction, or directions conveyed
to him by the Grand Titan or other higher authority for that purpose, and
all such other information or instruction as he may think would advance
the purposes or prosperity of the Order. He shall keep, by his Grand
Scribe, a list of the names (without caption or explanation) of the Grand
Cyclops of the various Dens of his Province, and shall report the same to
the Grand Titan when required; and shall number the Dens of his Province
with the Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. _ad finem_. He shall determine and
limit the number of Dens to be organized and established in his Province;
and shall direct and instruct his Grand Exchequer as to the appropriation
and disbursement he shall make of the revenue of the Order that comes to
his hands. (_Quid faciendum?_)
_Grand Cyclops_
"_Section 5._ The Grand Cyclops, who is the chief officer of the Den,
shall have power to appoint his Night Hawks, his Grand Scribe, his Grand
Turk, his Grand Exchequer, and his Grand Sentinel. And for small offenses
he may punish any member by fine, and may reprimand him for the same. And
he is further empowered to admonish and reprimand his Den, or any of the
members thereof, for any imprudence, irregularity, or transgression
whenever he may think that the interests, welfare, reputation or safety of
the Order demands it. It shall be his duty to take charge of his Den under
the instruction and with the assistance (when practicable) of the Grand
Giant, and in accordance with and in conformity to the provisions of this
Prescript, a copy of which shall in all cases be obtained before the
formation of a Den begins. It shall further be his duty to appoint all
regular meetings of his Den, and to preside at the same; to appoint
irregular meetings when he deems it expedient; to preserve order and
enforce discipline in his Den; to impose fines for irregularities or
disobedience of orders; and to receive and initiate candidates for
admission into the Order, after the same shall have been pronounced
competent and worthy to become members, by the Investigating Committee
hereinafter provided for. And it shall further be his duty to make a
quarterly report to the Grand Giant of the condition, strength, efficiency
and progress of his Den, and shall communicate to the Officers and Ghouls
of his Den all information, intelligence, instruction or direction
conveyed to him by the Grand Giant or other higher authority for that
(_Fiat justicia coelum_) purpose; and shall from time to time administer
all other counsel, instruction, or direction, as in his sound discretion,
will conduce to the interests, and more effectually accomplish, the real
objects and designs of the Order.
_Grand Magi_
"_Section 6._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Magi, who is the second
officer in authority of the Den, to assist the Grand Cyclops, and to obey
all the orders of that officer; to preside at all meetings in the Den, in
the absence of the Grand Cyclops; and to discharge during his absence all
the duties and exercise all the powers and authority of that officer.
_Grand Monk_
"_Section 7._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Monk, who is the third
officer of the Den, to assist and obey all the orders of the Grand Magi;
and in the absence of both of these officers he shall preside at and
conduct the meetings in the Den, and shall discharge all the duties, and
exercise all the powers and authority of the Grand Cyclops.
_Grand Exchequer_
"_Section 8._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Exchequers of all the
different departments to keep a correct account of all the revenue of the
Order that comes to their hands, and of all paid out by them; and shall
make no appropriation or disbursement of the same except under the orders
and direction of (_Dormitus aliquando jus, moritus nunquam_) the chief
officer of their respective departments. And it shall further be the duty
of the Exchequers of Dens to collect the initiation fees, and all fines
imposed by the Grand Cyclops, or the officer discharging his functions.
_Grand Turk_
"_Section 9._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Turk, who is the executive
officer of the Grand Cyclops, to notify the officers and Ghouls of the Den
of all informal or irregular meetings appointed by the Grand Cyclops, and
to obey and execute all the orders of that officer in the control and
government of his Den. It shall further be his duty to receive and
question at the outpost, all candidates for admission into the order and
shall there administer the preliminary obligation required, and then
conduct such candidate or candidates to the Grand Cyclops, and to assist
him in the initiation of the same.
_Grand Scribe_
"_Section 10._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Scribes of the different
Departments to conduct the correspondence and write the orders of the
Chiefs of their Departments when required. And it shall further be the
duty of the Grand Scribes of Dens to keep a list of the names (without any
caption or explanation whatever) of the officers and Ghouls of the Den, to
call the roll at all meetings, and to make the quarterly reports under the
direction and instruction of the Grand Cyclops. (_Quieta non movere._)
_Grand Sentinel_
"_Section 11._ It shall be the duty of the Grand Sentinel to take charge
of post and instruct the Grand Guard, under the direction and orders of
the Grand Cyclops, and to relieve and dismiss the same when directed by
that officer.
_The Staff_
"_Section 12._ The Genii shall constitute the staff of the Grand Wizard;
the Hydras, that of the Grand Dragon; the Furies, that of the Grand Titan;
and the Night-Hawks that of the Grand Cyclops.
_Removal_
"_Section 13._ For any just, reasonable, and substantial cause, any
appointee may be removed by the authority that appointed him, and his
place supplied by another appointment.
ARTICLE IV
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
"_Section 1._ The Grand Wizard shall be elected biennially by the Grand
Dragons of Realms. The first election for this office to take place on the
first Monday in May, 1870 (a Grand Wizard having been created by the
original 'Prescript,' to serve three years from the first Monday in May,
1867); all subsequent elections to take place every two years thereafter.
And the incumbent Grand Wizard shall notify the Grand Dragons of the
different Realms, at least six months before said election at what time
(_Quid verum atque decens_) and place the same shall be held; a majority
vote of all the Grand Dragons _present_ being necessary and sufficient to
elect a Grand Wizard. Such election shall be by ballot and shall be held
by three Commissioners appointed by the Grand Wizard for that purpose; and
in the event of a tie, the Grand Wizard shall have the casting vote.
"_Section 2._ The Grand Magi and the Grand Monk of Dens shall be elected
annually by the Ghouls of Dens; and the first election for these officers
may take place as soon as ten Ghouls have been initiated for the formation
of a Den. All subsequent elections to take place every year thereafter.
"_Section 3._ In the event of a vacancy in the office of Grand Wizard, by
death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the senior Grand Dragon of the
Empire shall immediately assume and enter upon the discharge of the duties
of the Grand Wizard, and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties
of said office until the same shall be filled by election; and the said
Senior Grand Dragon, as soon as practicable after the happening of such
vacancy, shall call a convention of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, to be
held at such time and place as in his discretion he may deem most
convenient and proper. _Provided_, however, that the time for assembling
such convention for the election of a Grand Wizard shall in no case exceed
six months from the time such vacancy occurred; and in the event of a
vacancy in any other office the same shall immediately be filled in the
manner hereinbefore mentioned.
"_Section 4._ The Officers heretofore elected or appointed may retain
their offices during the time for (_Art est colare artem_) which they have
been so elected or appointed, at the expiration of which time said offices
shall be filled as hereinbefore provided.
ARTICLE V
JUDICIARY
"_Section 1._ The Tribunal of Justice of this Order shall consist of a
court at the Headquarters of the Empire, the Realm, the Dominion, the
Province, and the Den, to be appointed by the Chiefs of the several
departments.
"_Section 2._ The Court at the Headquarters of the Empire shall consist of
three Judges for the trial of Grand Dragons and the Officers and attaches
belonging to the Headquarters of the Empire.
"_Section 3._ The Court at the Headquarters of the Realm shall consist of
three Judges for trial of Grand Titans, and the Officers and attaches
belonging to the Headquarters of the Realm.
"_Section 4._ The Court at the Headquarters of the Dominion shall consist
of three Judges for the trial of Grand Giants, and the Officers and
attaches belonging to the Headquarters of the Dominion.
"_Section 5._ The court at the Headquarters of the Province shall consist
of five Judges for the trial of Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magis, the Grand
Monks, and the Grand Exchequers of Dens, and the officers and attaches
belonging to the Headquarters of the Province.
"_Section 6._ The Court at the Headquarters of the Den shall consist of
seven Judges from (_Nusquam tuta fides_) the Den for the trial of Ghouls
and the Officers belonging to the Headquarters of the Den.
"_Section 7._ The Tribunal for the trial of the Grand Wizard shall be
composed of at least seven Grand Dragons, to be convened by the senior
Grand Dragon upon charges being preferred against the Grand Wizard; which
Tribunal shall be organized and presided over by the senior Grand Dragon
_present_; and if they find the accused guilty they shall prescribe the
penalty, and the senior Grand Dragon of the Empire shall cause the same to
be executed.
"_Section 8._ The aforesaid Courts shall summon the accused and witnesses
for and against him, and if found guilty, they shall prescribe the
penalty, and the Officers convening the Court shall cause the same to be
executed. _Provided_, the accused shall always have the right of appeal to
the next court above, whose decision shall be final.
"_Section 9._ The Judges constituting the aforesaid Courts shall be
selected with reference to their intelligence, integrity, and
fair-mindedness and shall render their verdict without prejudice, favor,
partiality, or affection, and shall be so sworn, upon the organization of
the Court; and shall further be sworn to administer even-handed justice.
"_Section 10._ The several courts herein provided for shall be governed in
their deliberations, proceedings, and judgments by the rules and
regulations governing the proceedings of regular courts-martial. (_Fide
non armis._)
ARTICLE VI
REVENUE
"_Section 1._ The revenue of this order shall be derived as follows: For
every copy of this 'Prescript' issued to Dens $10 will be required; $2.00
of which shall go into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand
Giant; $2.00 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Titan;
$2.00 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Dragon, and the
remaining $4.00 into the hands of the Grand Exchequer of the Grand Wizard.
"_Section 2._ A further source of revenue to the Empire shall be ten per
cent of all the revenue of the Realms, and a tax upon realms when the
Grand Wizard shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy same.
"_Section 3._ A further source of revenue to Realms shall be ten per cent
of all the revenue of Dominions, and a tax upon Dominions when the Grand
Dragon shall deem it necessary and indispensable to levy the same.
"_Section 4._ A further source of revenue to Dominions shall be ten per
cent of all the revenue of Provinces, and a tax upon Provinces when the
Grand Titan shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable.
"_Section 5._ A further source of revenue to Provinces shall be ten per
cent of all the revenue of Dens, and a tax upon Dens when the Grand Giant
shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable. (_Dat Deus hisquoque
finem._)
"_Section 6._ The source of revenue to Dens shall be the initiation fees,
fines, and a _per capita_ tax, whenever the Grand Cyclops shall deem such
tax necessary and indispensable to the interests and objects of the Order.
"_Section 7._ All the revenue obtained in the manner aforesaid shall be
for the _exclusive_ benefit of the Order, and shall be appropriated to the
dissemination of the same and to the creation of a fund to meet any
disbursement that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the
objects of the Order and to secure the protection of the same.
ARTICLE VII
ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMBERSHIP
"_Section 1._ No one shall be presented for admission into the Order until
he shall have first been recommended by some friend or intimate who _is_ a
member, to the Investigation Committee (which shall be composed of the
Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magi, and the Grand Monk), and who shall have
investigated his antecedents and his past and present standing and
connections, and after such investigation, shall have pronounced him
competent and worthy to become a member. _Provided_, no one shall be
presented for admission into, or become a member of this Order, who shall
not have attained the age of eighteen years.
"_Section 2._ No one shall become a member of this Order unless he shall
_voluntarily_ take the following oaths or obligations, and shall
_satisfactorily_ answer the following interrogatories, with (_Cessante
causa, cessat effectus_) his right hand raised to heaven, and his left
hand resting on the Bible.
PRELIMINARY OBLIGATION
"I ---- solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal anything that
may this day (or night) learn concerning the Order of the * * * and that I
will true answer make to such interrogatories as may be put to me touching
my competency for admission into the same. So help me God."
INTERROGATORIES TO BE ASKED
"_First._ Have you ever been rejected, upon application for membership in
the * * * or have you ever been expelled from the same?
"_Second._ Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Radical
Republican party, or either of the organizations known as the 'Loyal
League' and the 'Grand Army of the Republic'?
"_Third._ Are you opposed to the principles and policy of the Radical
Party, and to the Loyal League, and the Grand Army of the Republic, so far
as you are informed of the character and purposes of these organizations?
"_Fourth._ Did you belong to the Federal Army during the late war, and
fight against the South during the existence of the same?
"_Fifth._ Are you opposed to negro equality, both social and political?
"_Sixth._ Are you in favor of a white man's government in this country?
"_Seventh._ Are you in favor of Constitutional liberty and a Government of
equitable laws instead of a Government of violence and oppression? (_Cave
quid, dicis, quando, et cui._)
"_Eighth._ Are you in favor of maintaining the constitutional rights of
the South?
"_Ninth._ Are you in favor of the re-enfranchisement and emancipation of
the white men of the South, and the restitution of the Southern people to
all their rights, alike proprietary, civil and political?
"_Tenth._ Do you believe in the inalienable right of self-preservation of
the people against the exercise of arbitrary and unlicensed power?
"If the foregoing interrogatories are satisfactorily answered, and the
candidate desires to go further (after something of the character and
nature of the Order has thus been indicated to him) and to be admitted to
the benefits, mysteries, secrets, and purposes of the Order, he shall then
be required to take the following final oath or obligation. But if said
interrogatories are not satisfactorily answered, or the candidate declines
to proceed further, he shall be discharged, after being solemnly
admonished by the initiatory officer of the deep secrecy to which the oath
already taken has bound him, and that the extreme penalty of the law will
follow a violation of the same.
FINAL OBLIGATION
"I ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of Almighty
God, do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will never reveal to any one, not
even a member of the Order of the * * * by any intimation, sign, symbol,
word or act, or in any (_Nemo tenetur seipsum accura_) other manner
whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grip, pass words, or mysteries of the
Order of the * * *, or that I am a member of the same, or that I know any
one who _is_ a member; and that I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts
of the Order of the * * * So help me God.
"The initiating officer will then proceed to explain to the new member the
character and objects of the Order, and introduce him to the mysteries and
secrets of the same and shall read to him this Prescript and the Edicts
thereof, or present the same to him for personal perusal.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
"This Prescript or any part of the Edicts thereof shall never be changed,
except by a two-thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in
convention assembled, and at which convention the Grand Wizard shall
preside and be entitled to a vote. And upon the application of a majority
of the Grand Dragons for that purpose, the Grand Wizard shall call and
appoint the time and place for said convention, which, when assembled,
shall proceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think
will promote the interest, enlarge the utility, and more thoroughly
effectuate the purposes of the Order.
ARTICLE IX
INTERDICTION
"The origin, mysteries and Ritual of this Order shall never be written,
but the same shall be communicated orally."
(_Deo adjuvante, non timendum_)
ARTICLE X
"EDICTS"
"1. No one shall become a member of a distant Den where there is a Den
established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity; nor shall any
one become a member of any Den, or of this Order in any way, after he
shall have been once rejected upon application.
"2. No Den, or officer, or member, or members thereof, shall operate
beyond their prescribed limits, unless invited or ordered by the proper
authority to do so.
"3. No member shall be allowed to take any intoxicating spirits to any
meeting of the Den; nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting
while intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such condition
he shall be fined the sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars
to go into the revenue of the Order.
"4. Any member may be expelled from the Order by a majority vote of the
officers and Ghouls of the Den to which he belongs; and if after such
expulsion, such member shall assume any of the duties, regalia, or
insignia of the Order, or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he
shall be punished. His obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him
after his expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him
thereafter he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were a
member.
"5. Upon the expulsion of any member from the Order, the Grand Cyclops, or
any officer acting in (_Spectemus agendo_) his stead, shall immediately
report the same to the Grand Giant of the Province, who shall cause the
fact to be made known and read in each Den of his Province, and shall
transmit the same, through the proper channels, to the Grand Dragon of the
Realm who shall cause it to be published to every Den in the Realm, and
shall notify the Grand Dragons of contiguous Realms of the same.
"6. Every Grand Cyclops shall read, or cause to be read, this Prescript
and these Edicts to his Den, at least once in every month; and shall read
them to each new member when he is initiated, or present the same to him
for his personal perusal.
"7. The initiation fee of this Order shall be one dollar, to be paid when
the candidate is initiated and received into the Order.
"8. Dens may make such additional Edicts for their control and government
as they may deem requisite and necessary, _Provided_, no Edict shall be
made to conflict with any of the provisions or Edicts of this Prescript.
"9. The most profound and rigid secrecy concerning any and everything that
relates to the Order shall at all times be maintained.
"10. Any member who shall reveal or betray the secrets of this Order shall
suffer the supreme penalty.
ADMONITION
"Hush! thou art not to utter what I am; bethink thee, it was our covenant!
(_Nemo nos impune lacessit_)
REGISTER
I
1. Dismal
2. Mystic
3. Stormy
4. Peculiar
5. Blooming
6. Brilliant
7. Painful
8. Portentious
9. Fading
10. Melancholy
11. Glorious
12. Gloomy
II
I White, II Green, III Yellow, IV Amber, V Purple, VI Crimson, VII
Emerald.
III
1. Fearful
2. Startling
3. Wonderful
4. Alarming
5. Mournful
6. Appalling
7. Hideous
8. Frightful
9. Awful
10. Horrible
11. Dreadful
12. Last
IV
CUMBERLAND
_Ad unum omnes_
L'ENVOI
"To the lovers of law and order, peace and justice, we send greeting; and
to the shades of the venerated dead we affectionately dedicate the Order
of the * * *
RESURGAMUS
(Author's note: The "register" above given, was used by the original Ku
Klux Klan as a code to indicate the day and hour for meeting. The first
section indicated half of the hours in the day, the second section the
days of the week, and the third section the remaining twelve hours. The
word "Cumberland" seems to have been a general code expression.)