Saw a really interesting piece this afternoon on OETA about the KKK in Oklahoma. Then found this article in the Oct. 4, 1922 Stigler State Sentinel about the KKK Wagoner, Okla., Sept. 30 – The Ku Klux Klan is displaying activity to a marked degree in Wagoner County. During the last week klansmen have put on parades and made informal visits at Wagoner, Porter, Rothammer, Flat Rock and the Wassom chapel school district. At the Flat Rock Church about 25 robed klansmen filed into the building while the minister, Rev. Hatfield, was holding services. They presented the minister with a $10 bill and complimented him on his good work in the community. Following the donation The spokesman of the klan party made a short speech. He stated that the klan knew there had been certain disturbances and law violations in the community, and if the evil doers did not “watch their step,” the Three-K organization would take hold of the matter. The Flat Rock church is located 12 miles northeast of Wagoner in the Booth settlement. Hold Open Meeting A number of masked and robed klansmen visited the negro section of Wagoner. They paraded in motor cars. It is understood that the parade was staged for the purpose of letting the colored gentry know that the klan has been keeping tab on the alleged bootlegging activity in this part of the city. Automobiles coming through the southwestern part of the county one evening witnessed a meeting o the klan in session about a mile and a half west of Porter. Several hundred men in masks and robes were taking part in the spectacle, the auto tourists declared. Locally it is the supposition that this was a meeting of the different klans of the county and a new contingent of members was being initiated into the mysteries of klansmanship. At the Rothammer school house in the western part of the county, ten klansmen, garbed in the full regalia of their organization, visited an open air revival meeting which was in progress. They made the preacher a present of an envelope containing $5.65. The Rev. Thomas F. Shaw, pastor of the First Christian Church of Wagoner, who has been holding a series of revival meetings at the brick school house south of the city, reports that a number of klansmen in the trappings and habiliments of their order attended the church services. The spokesman for the klan handed the minister an envelope containing a donation of money and a letter. The letter follows: From Wagoner Klan No. 43, To Rev. Thos. F. Shaw: “The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan have observed with pleasure the excellent work you are doing In the community. “We want to show our appreciation in a material way and ask that you accept this gift or contribution which we enclose herewith to help pay the expenses of carrying on you work. “We stand for the things for which Protestant religion stands and we are ready at all times to co-operate with any movement to carry on the work of the religion of our Lord ad Master. “May the Lord bless you and you noble band of workers. “We stand for law and order and the enforcement of the laws. “By order of the Exalted Cyclops. “KLIGRAPH.” Visit Wassom Chapel On the same evening Reverend Shaw received the above letter the klan visited the Wassom Chappel school house three miles east of Wagoner, where Reverend Rose was conducting a religious meeting. The klan favored Rev. Rose with a donation of money, and also a complimentary letter.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 21:35:00 +0000