Ku Klux Klan titles and vocabulary: Difference between revisions

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The sources of the rituals, titles and even the name of KKK may be found in antebellum [[College fraternity|college fraternities]] and [[Collegiate secret societies in North America|secret societies]] such as the [[Kuklos Adelphon]].<ref>Michael and Judy Ann Newton, eds. ''The Ku Klux Klan; an encyclopedia Garland Reference Library of the Social Science'' Vol. 499. London and New York: Garland (1991), p. 338</ref> Earlier source material however states, "The ceremony of initiation was borrowed from some of the features of the introduction of candidates of the long defunct Sons of Malta and other like societies, and was calculated to, and did provoke, much amusement for most of those, if not all, who were present," according to the [https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015020238435&view=1up&seq=7&q1=klux%20MALTA 1907 Cyclopedia of Fraternities].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Albert |date=1907 |title=The Cyclopaedia of Fraternities |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015020238435&view=1up&seq=7&q1=klux%20MALTA |website=Hathitrust}}</ref> J.C. Lester, one of the original members of the group, stated that the Klan rituals were "modeled on and embraced the leading features of the rituals of an order which has long been popular in many colleges and universities under various names" such as the [[Sons of Confucius]] or [[Guiasticutus]] but always styled '''{{va|Ancient and Honorable}}''' and '''{{va|Mirth-Provoking}}'''. [[Walter L. Fleming]] stated in a footnote to Lester's text that the contemporary (early twentieth century) Southern college fraternity that most nearly mirrored the early Klan was "known as Alpha Sigma Sigma" and the institution of [[snipe hunt]]ing.<ref>[[John Lester|Lester, John C.]] ''Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment''. [[Walter L. Fleming]] ed. New York: Neale, 1905. Texts of the first and second prescript as Appendices I and II, p. 60</ref> The original prescript of the Ku Klux Klan was adopted by a convention in [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in April 1867. A slightly revised edition appeared the next year.<ref>Lester, texts of the first and second prescript as Appendices I and II p. 133–176</ref>

In both prescripts there were four levels or "departments" of organization, above the basic level:<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nlhHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Grand+Wizard+of+the+Empire%22 |title=Congressional Serial Set |date=1872 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |language=en}}</ref>

The organ for initiation into the Klan was called the '''{{va|Investigating Committee}}''', composed of the Grand Cyclops, Grand Magi and Grand Monk. Upon the nomination of a new member by a current member, the committee would investigate the candidate's "antecedents and his past and present standings and connections" and would then pronounce the candidate "competent and worthy" to become a member. The Grand Turk would escort the candidate to an "outpost" where he would question him and administer a preliminary [[oath]]. After this the Grand Turk would conduct the candidate to the Den, where the Grand Cyclops would administer the final oath.<ref>Lester, pp.140–141, 142, 146–147</ref>

A system of "judiciary" organs was created in each prescript. In the first the judiciary was divided into a '''{{va|Grand Council of Yahoos}}''', to try officers of the Klan, and a '''{{va|Grand Council of Centaurs}}''' to try regular Ghouls. In Art. IV Sec. 4, the Grand Giant is charged with conducting the Council of Yahoo, but Art. VI Sec. 2 states that the Councilcouncil will be composed of officers of the equivalent rank as the accused and presided over by an officer of the next higher rank. A trial of the Grand Wizard would be held by a meeting of all the Grand Dragons, the most senior Grand Dragon presiding<ref>Lester, pp. 140, 144</ref> It is unclear if these tribunals were ever functional.<ref>Newton and Newton, p. 139</ref>

*'''O.R.I.O.N''' – Our Race Is Our Nation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.adl.org/hate_symbols/ORION.asp |title=A Visual Database of Extremist Symbols, Logos and Tattoos |publisher=Anti-Defamation League |access-date=2016-09-13}}</ref>

Years were reckoned according to '''reigns''' and '''cycles'''. The '''Reign of Incarnation and Incantation''' was all time up to the [[American Revolutionary War]]. The '''First Reign of our Incarnation and Incantation''' was the period between the Revolution and the establishment of the original Klan, which was reckoned to May 6, 1866, in this scheme. The '''Reign of our Second Incarnation and Incantation''' was reckoned between 1866 and Grand Wizard [[Nathan Bedford Forrest]]'s dissolution of the Klan, which is reckoned to 1872. The '''Reign of our Third Incarnation and Incantation''' began in 1915.<ref>''Constitution'' pp. 88, 89–90</ref> The Klan year, '''Anno Klanslar''', began in May of each year, and the cycle was reckoned from December of each calendar year.<ref>''Constitution'' p. 88</ref>