Onslow county people this week are very much interested in the act of the Ku Klux Klan Sunday night when four of the robed members of the organization filed into the undertaking establishment of Mr. G.W. Jones and ordered a casket for a destitute family who had just lost their little four-year old girl.
In addition to providing burial for the little child, members of the klan, according to Mr. Jones, furnished groceries to the family. Mr. Jones cited a number of other instances of good work done by the klan at Jacksonville. In a statement given the New Bernian, he gives his observations. It follows:
“Sunday night about 7 o’clock, four robed Klansmen entered my undertaking establishment and stated that a family living about three miles from town had just lost their little four-year old girl, and that they desired to purchase a casket. After looking them over, they purchased a $40 casket and instructed me to take it to the home of the deceased. They followed behind.
“Upon arrival at the home, they alighted from an automobile, each carrying a turn of groceries. When the casket was presented one of the hooded Klansmen stated that they deeply sympathized with them in the hour of their distress and as a token of their sympathy they desired to present them with casket which would contain the body to its last resting place, asking God to bless them and keep them in due bounds. They then left the room, returned to their automobile and departed to the place from whence they came.
“This is not the first instance that the Klan has rendered assistance to those in distress, only a short time ago, they visited the Methodist church and presented the Pastor with a letter containing a donation of $30. A few Sundays later, they marched in the Baptist church and presented the pastor with a letter containing $25.
“The writer does not know where they came from, but from observation they are representing a good cause. I do not know if Judge-Elect Henry A. Grady is a member of the Ku Klux Klan. If he is not, I feel that a man with the influence he has over the entire state ought to be. He would be an honor to the organization, and from what I can understand the order is composed of only just the very best 100 per cent American. I personally know that Mr. Grady is in this class.”
From the front page of The New Bernian, Dec. 20, 1922. Today we think that if you were born in the United States and are a citizen of the United States that you would be considered 100% American. But the Klan didn’t consider members of the Catholic Church or folks who weren’t “white” to be 100% Americans. It wondered about Henry Grady’s link, if any, to the Klan. Here’s what www.geni.com/people/Henry-Grady/6000000004577721434 had to say about Henry Grady:
“In 1922, Grady was elected a judge of the superior court and took office on 1 Jan. 1923. A popular judge, he easily won reelection in 1930 but declined to seek a third term in 1938, probably due in part to the death of his wife in 1935. After his retirement, he served as emergency judge for life. In 1952 and 1953, then over eighty years old, he held more sessions of superior court than any other judge in North Carolina.
“About 1923, Judge Grady was elected Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan in North Carolina, an organization then promoting law and order. A moderate, he endeavored to steer the organization away from extreme actions. He supported legislation banning the wearing of masks, both as a way to keep the Klan from getting into trouble and to keep it from being blamed for the acts of others. Following a split with the national leadership, primarily because it was felt that he was too restraining an influence, he resigned as Grand Dragon in 1927.”
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