Religion and the Ku Klux Klan: Biblical Appropriation in Their Literature and Songs

217 Pages·2016·1 MB·English

by  Juan O Sanchez

Religion and
the Ku Klux Klan
This page intentionally left blank
Religion and
the Ku Klux Klan
Biblical Appropriation
in Their Literature
and Songs
Juan O. Sánchez
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Jefferson, North Carolina
LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Names: Sánchez, Juan O., 1953–
Title: Religion and the Ku Klux Klan : Biblical appropriation in their
literature and songs / Juan O. Sánchez.
Description: Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc.,
2016. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2♾016012035 | ISBN 9781476664859 (softcover :
alkaline paper)
Subjects: LCSH: Ku Klux Klan (1915–)—History. | Ku Klux Klan
(1915–)—Language—History. | Rhetoric—Political aspects—
United States—History. | Ideology—United States—Religious
aspects—History. | Bible and politics—United States—History. |
Bible—Criticism, interpretation, etc.—History. | Christianity and
politics—United States—History. | Politics and literature—United
States—History. | Songs—Political aspects—United States—History.
Classification: LCC HS2330.K63 S26 2016 | DDC 322.4/20973—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016012035
BRITISHLIBRARYCATALOGUINGDATAAREAVAILABLE
ISBN (print) 978-1-4766-6485-9
ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4766-2453-2
© 2016 Juan O. Sánchez. All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form
or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying
or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,
without permission in writing from the publisher.
Front cover image of Ku Klux Klan members © 2016 epicurean/iStock
Printed in the United States of America
McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Box 611, Jefferson, North Carolina 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
Table of Contents
Preface 1
Introduction 3
Section I. The Klan, 1920–1930
1. Words and Phrases 13
2. The Ku Klux Klan and God 33
3. The Ku Klux Klan and Christ 51
4. The Ku Klux Klan and the Bible 67
5. Poetry and Song 80
Section II. Beyond 1930
6. Klan Rhetoric 107
7. God’s Divine Providence 127
8. Christ, Eternal Emperor of the World Wide
Invisible Empire 143
9. Refining the Interpretation of the Bible 153
Summary: Thoughts and Connections 165
Appendix A: Doctrinal Statement of Beliefs 177
Appendix B: The Seven Sacred Symbols of the Klan 183
Chapter Notes 189
Bibliography 199
Index 203
v
This page intentionally left blank
Preface
God, Christ, and the Bible form the basis of the Ku Klux Klan’s dog-
matic philosophies and provide the order religious justification of its
beliefs and actions. Though recent works have begun to explore the Klan’s
use of religion, this work directly connects the Klan to religion though
the organization’s own words. It is unique in that it follows the Klan’s reli-
gious rhetoric from the heyday of the 1920s to the present, a rhetoric that
asserts God’s intercession on its behalf.
I have studied the Klan for more than twenty years and what became
apparent over time was the lack of analysis of the Klan’s use of religion to
provide itself validity for its existence. Many works looked upon the Klan’s
rhetoric and actions as religious intolerance and racism, yet few of the
early writers understood how the Klan manipulated religion for its ben-
efit—both for money and political power.
Other works have concentrated on specific periods or groups; this
work covers nearly a century of Klan ideology and clearly demonstrates
the Klan’s use of religion to justify its philosophies—an aspect of Klan his-
toriography as yet not fully researched. Religion, as it does for terrorist
and other extremist organizations throughout the world, provides legiti-
macy to the Klan; religion is the basis for the order’s beliefs and existence.
Freedom of religion, a fundamental American freedom, and the liberty to
interpret the Bible based on one’s own views is the basis for the Klan’s
unwavering philosophies.
The longevity of the Klan can be understood based on its unyielding
religious beliefs, beliefs that in fact are reflective of a historically older
America. However, whereas America as a society has undergone, and is
undergoing, tremendous social and cultural changes, the Klan has kept
alive antiquated cultural history predicated on race and religion which
maintained a society deeply tinged with a white supremacist ideology.
1
2 Preface
The Klan thus represents a link to America’s cultural past that can be
traced to its earliest settlers.
The Klan’s vocalizations are a direct reflection of that past, but
changes leading to greater equality and inclusion have produced a self-
marginalization based on a highly refined and narrow religious interpre-
tation. The social changes that have transformed American society have
led the Klan to reject any change that, from its perspective, diminishes
the status and position of white America. This work provides an insight
into the Klan’s tenacious beliefs and an understanding of the critical role
and power that religion bestows upon its ardent, dogmatic believers. That
these beliefs are not attuned to mainstream denominations is irrelevant;
the beliefs provide legitimacy for the Klan’s inflexible philosophies because
they are itsbeliefs.
This book was begun in 1996; since then it has gone through various
transformations and refinements. What must be made clear is that the
arguments pursued in the book are based on the Klan’s own words. The
extensive citation of the organization’s written materials will substantiate
this.
Introduction
From the pages of Evangelist C. P. Roney’s pamphlet Is the Ku Klux
Klan Scriptural? A Biblical, Sane and Dignified Discussion of the Princi-
ples, Ideals and Policies of the Order,comes the essence of what this work
delves into: “The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan is a great patriot, fraternal
and benevolent secret order. Its principles, ideals purposes and policies
are founded on New Testament Christianity.”1 Roney further stated:
“Among the emblematic implements used by the Knights of the Ku Klux
Klan, the open Bible holds pre- eminence in rank and in importance. The
principles and ideals and policies and practices of the order are founded
upon the teachings of the Holy Book.”2 And, concerning the “Christian
Faith of the Order,” the statement from Hiram Wesley Evans, the Klan
Imperial Wizard of the 1920s, should suffice: “The Knights of the Ku Klux
Klan … is cemented with the morale of Protestant Christianity, the organ-
ization holds tenaciously to the tenets of Christ.”3Evans further asserted
in theImperial Night- Hawk, the Klan national publication, that the order
was “formed, aided, supported, guided, and directed by Almighty God.”4
Other supporters of the Klan reiterated the above statements by
agreeing with or elaborating on such pronouncements. The Imperial
Night- Hawk, in its October 3, 1923, issue, inserted a small statement in
the form of a question which read: “The Klan is founded on the word of
God; you’re not ashamed of it, are you?”5And, Walter C. Wright, a Baptist
minister and the Exalted Cyclops of Plainview, Texas, Klan No. 260, said
of Christ: “Above all else, Jesus Christ was a Klansman.” Wright, like other
Klan leaders and supporters, pointed to Christ as the example that Klans-
men were to follow. Through emulation of Christ’s teachings and activities,
Klansmen were to become better individuals for “the living Christ is the
Klansman’s criterion of character.” Klansmen were to “follow His example
of Klannishness because … He was a real Klansman.”6
3