KKK – Research Notes
R. M. Miller JOURNAL OF SOUTHERN HISTORY – AUG 56 VOL 22 #3 + Dr. Gary Straub + Advent 2017
SUM: Fundamentalism aligns w/ KKK; Clergy openly support —often elected officers. KKK visited local churches bringing “love offerings” Overwhelming secret fact=strong KKK support in pews.
- Christian Century=steadfast foe: “if KKK succeeds, faith fails” Connect KKK roots w/ Jewish pogroms. Blistering editorial attack on Kleagles & Kludds. (i.e.KKK chaplains).
- Methodists refused KKK offerings. Nashville paper strongly opposed: “don’t be duped by KKK— their secret appeal is base passion & high prejudice.”
- KKK motto: “let us do evil that good may come” Presby=> “mobocracy & devilish mischief.” Episcopal=> “Masked mobs are insulting; haters violate all Jesus’ principles”
- Disciples warn clergy=don’t join! Total $-making scheme! Yet sadly: Bapt/Meth/Disciple clergy gave the most support! Few Revs dared KKK to take off their masks & hoods!
- Alabama Bapt never endorse OR condemn KKK > their ‘neutral stance’ tells all! Condoned aims & ‘kinda condemned’ methods. Bapt=> KKK are “just fraternal—all for civic good!
- Church convention=> no mention! Federal Council of Churches chides KKK as lawless & brutal. National Council of Churches=> don’t support, endorse or engage!
- In ’27, Southern Bapt finally denounce cowardly masked mobs. Methodist missionary E. Stanley Jones introduces Assembly resolution deploring KKK=> Uproar!
- Many clergy quietly condemn & secretly join because giving KKK speeches pays so well!
- NY clergy=Sockman, Fosdick & Ainslie denounce fraud KKK =>no room for masked men!
- Meth Bishop McConnell interrupted by KKK=> rejects offering, shows them the door!
- KKK $ rejected by Meth as Bishop punches his own clergy for boosting KKK. Add insult to irony— KKK charges that boxing Bishop w/disturbing the peace!
12) A Prayer fr Klan-ridden OK: “On the day of KKK victory= may no Christians be aboard!”
SUMMARY:
Revs spoke up against KKK=> subject to bullets, branding irons, blunt instruments. Yet proclaimed: “it is not anglo-Saxon blood that saves us, but Jesus blood.” Opposition included Liberal Revs to DL Moody. Scholars show=> Fundy & KKK intimately connected. KKK was not quite the full instrument of Protestantism like the Inquisition served the Medieval Church.
Highest praise=> Disciple Rev Bill Ryan’s grandfather’s famous sermon combating KKK.
