Ku Klux Klan: Its Origin, Growth and Disbandment Part 9

Sec. 3. A further source of revenue to Realms shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of Domin- ions, and a tax upon Dominions when the Grand Dragon shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- sable.

Sec. 4. A further source of revenue to Domin- ions shall be ten per cent. of all the revenue of Pro-

[Footer: Patria cara, carior libertas.]

[Header: Ad unum omnes. 12]

vinces, and a tax upon Provinces when the Grand t.i.tan shall deem such tax necessary and indispen- sable.

Sec. 5. A further source of revenue to Provinces shall be ten per cent. on all the revenue of Dens, and a tax upon the Dens, when the Grand Giant shall deem such tax necessary and indispensable.

Sec. 6. The source of revenue to Dens, shall be the initiation fees, fines, and a _per capita_ tax, when- ever the Grand Cyclops shall deem such tax indis- pensable to the interests and purposes of the *.

Sec. 7. All of the revenue obtained in the man- ner herein aforesaid, shall be for the exclusive ben- efit of the *. And shall be appropriated to the dissemination of the same, and to the creation of a fund to meet any disburs.e.m.e.nt that it may become necessary to make to accomplish the objects of the *, and to secure the protection of the same.

OBLIGATION.

ART. VIII. No one shall become a member of this *, unless he shall take the following oath or obligation:

"I, ---- of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of Almighty G.o.d, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal to any one, not a member of the * * by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner what- ever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pa.s.s words, mysteries or purposes 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 * *. So help me G.o.d."

Sec. 2. The preliminary obligation to be adminis- tered before the candidate for admission is taken to the Grand Cyclops for examination, shall be as follows:

"I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never

[Footer: Deo duce, ferro comitante.]

[Header: Tempora mutantur, et nos mutamur in illis. 13]

reveal any thing that I may this day (or night) learn concerning the * *. So help me G.o.d."

ADMISSION.

ART. IX. Sec. 1. No one shall be presented for admission into this *, until he shall have been recommended by some friend or intimate, who _is_ a member, to the Investigating Committee, which shall be composed of the Grand Cyclops, the Grand Magi and the Grand Monk, and who shall investi- gate his antecedents and his past and present stand- ing and connections, and if after such investigation, they p.r.o.nounce him competent and worthy to become a member, he may be admitted upon taking the ob- ligation required and pa.s.sing through the ceremo- nies of initiation. _Provided_, That no one shall be admitted into this * who shall have not attain- ed the age of eighteen years.

Sec. 2. No one shall become a member of a dis- tant * when there is a * established and in operation in his own immediate vicinity. Nor shall any one become a member of any * after he shall have been rejected by any other *.

ENSIGN.

ART. X. The Grand Banner of this * shall be in the form of an isosceles triangle, five feet long and three wide at the staff. The material shall be Yellow, with a Red scalloped border, about three inches in width. There shall be painted upon it, in black, a Dracovolans, or Flying Dragon[55] with the following motto inscribed above the Dragon,

"QUOD SEMPER, QUOD UBIQUE, QUOD AB OMNIBUS."[56]

AMENDMENTS.

ART. XI. This Prescript or any part or Edicts thereof, shall never be changed except by a two-

[Footer: O tempora! O mores!]

[Header: Ad utrumque paratus. 14]

thirds vote of the Grand Dragons of the Realms, in Convention a.s.sembled, and at which Convention the Grand Wizard shall preside and be ent.i.tled to a vote. And upon the application of a majority of the Grand Dragons, for that purpose, the Grand Wizard shall appoint the time and place for said Convention; which, when a.s.sembled, shall pro- ceed to make such modifications and amendments as it may think will advance the interest, enlarge the utility and more thoroughly effectuate the purpo- ses of the *.

INTERDICTION.

ART. XII. The origin, designs, mysteries and ritual of this * shall never be written, but the same shall be communicated orally.

REGISTER.

1st--Dismal. 7th--Dreadful.

2nd--Dark. 8th--Terrible.

3rd--Furious. 9th--Horrible.

4th--Portentous. 10th--Melancholy.

5th--Wonderful. 11th--Mournful.

6th--Alarming. 12th--Dying.

II.

I--White. IV--Black.

II--Green. V--Yellow.

III--Blue. VI--Crimson.

VII--Purple.

III.

1--Fearful. 7--Doleful.

2--Startling. 8--Sorrowful.

3--Awful. 9--Hideous.

4--Woeful. 10--Frightful.

5--Horrid. 11--Appalling.

6--b.l.o.o.d.y. 12--Last.

EDICTS.

I. The Initiation Fee of this * shall be one dollar, to be paid when the candidate is initiated and received into the *.

II. No member shall be allowed to take any in- toxicating spirits to any meeting of the *. Nor shall any member be allowed to attend a meeting when intoxicated; and for every appearance at a meeting in such a condition, he shall be fined the

[Footer: Cavendo tutus.]

[Header: Astra castra, numen lumen. 15]

sum of not less than one nor more than five dollars, to go into the revenue of the *.

III. Any member may be expelled from the *

by a majority vote of the officers and ghouls of the Den to which he belongs, and if after such expulsion such member shall a.s.sume any of the duties, rega- lia or insignia of the * or in any way claim to be a member of the same, he shall be severely punish- ed. His obligation of secrecy shall be as binding upon him after expulsion as before, and for any revelation made by him thereafter, he shall be held accountable in the same manner as if he were then a member.

IV. Every Grand Cyclops shall read or cause to be read, this Prescript and these Edicts to the *