The regalia of the Klan, however, expresses something more in the
present organization than a mere memorial. Its symbols convey to the
initiated the highest sense of patriotism, chivalry and fraternalism.
These symbols were designed by myself during the years that I pondered
a revival of the old order, and contemplated the endangered position
of the native-born American throughout our commonwealth. Every line,
every angle, every emblem spells out to a Klansman his duty, honor,
responsibility and obligation to his fellow men and to civilization.
None of it was wrought for mere ornamentation, and none of it designed
as mere mysticism. All of it was woven into the white robes of the Ku
Klux Klan for the purpose of teaching by symbolism the very best things
in our national life.
Emblematic robes are not uncommon to organizations of men banded
together for either religious or fraternal purposes. My affiliations
with the church and my connection with a number of fraternal orders
have convinced me that the impelling truths which grapple and hold
the loyalties and convictions of men are taught better by symbolism
than ritualism. The Roman Catholic church proclaims the authority of
its mission to the world through the insignia of its clergy and its
rulers; while its service of sacrifice and sanctity, of separation and
consecration, is expressed in the robes of its nuns and its celebrants.
In that colossal pile, St. Peter's at Rome, the most splendid edifice
of Christianity in all the world, is to be found a vast collection of
stones and gold, an array of art so magnificent that it dazzles even
the imagination, an amazing accumulation of trophies torn by conquest
from pagan temples--all symbolizing the universal dominion of the
church not only over all things material but also over all things
religious. The robes of the cathedral are elaborate and impressive
throughout all the grades and ranks of service, from the drab garb of
the keeper of the portals to the flashing parti-colored uniforms of the
Swiss guard, and on through the white, red, and black trappings of the
attendants in the inner courts to the vivid scarlet of the cardinals
and the gorgeous purple of the pope. All are designed to express some
function, or mission, or doctrine of the church in its vast system of
evangelism.
The Anglican church of Great Britain and the Protestant Episcopal
church of America, as well as various other Protestant organizations
have found it to be impressive and inspiring for the clergy and the
sisterhood to wear robes designed to mark them as men and women set
apart for service to humanity. Perhaps the Greek Catholic Church
has the most elaborate system of teaching great religious truths by
symbolism of any other religious organization. It undertakes to convey
to the world the idea of its virility as a Christian organization by
an extensive and artistically wrought out symbolism in its robes and
insignia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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