Description:

KLANSMAN LAMENTS LUKEWARM ATTITUDE OF ALTOONA MINISTERS TOWARDS THE KLAN
A most interesting A.L.S., 1p. 4to., Altoona, Aug. 31, 1923, drafted by "State Speaker" of the Pennsylvania Ku Klux Klan W.P. Wheeler and addressed "To the Klansmen of Altoona, Pa.", lamenting the lukewarm attitude of Altoona religious leaders towards the Klan's activities in their community. In part: "The writer while in your city with nothing to do during the day, thought I would call upon some of the ministers and see how they were standing toward our Klan. I called on the Baptist minister of the 1st Baptist Chruch, also the pastor of the Methodist on the same street. Both seem to think that our order was not necessary and only created hard feelings and they also said that they understood that we stood for the Churches & Christian principles but could see no evidence of it in any way as the attendance or interest of any had been shown as far as they could see. Now men we must as far as possible get at least the good will of our ministers as they are the leaders of many we must have if we are to have real success, if we are going to stand by the Christian religion we must have the support of the leaders. I would suggest that the members of your Klan who belong to these Churches let these pastors know in some way that they deserve the good will if not their support one good way is to select some Sunday evening and fill the building so full there is no standing room. Say nothing just go then later do the same at the other churches and the pastor will want to know where all those people came from. Then some member of the church can say he heard that some of the Klan and their friends wanted to honor us with their presence..." Wheeler signs at the conclusion with the parting salutation "Itsub", a Klan acronym for "In the Sacred Unfailing Being". Shows original folds, else very good. The letter originates from the files of John F. Marshall, "Kligrapp" (secretary) of the Altoona Klan.

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August 1, 2018 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

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