Oregon History Notes: The Klan

Image by J F from Pixabay 

…test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1

Christian revivals, such as the Great Awakening in America that began in 1734, or the revival that began in Wales and touched Portland in 1905, follow interesting patterns. We speak of the revival of 1905, but it actually continued for several years. The Second Great Awakening, which began in 1800, is considered to have lasted for 40 years.  

 

The effects of the Portland revival of 1905 continued, at a less dramatic level, into the early part of the century. Changes in society came out of all America’s revivals as the newly awakened Christians placed higher value on morality, family values, law and order. Many hospitals, orphanages and schools were built, inspired by Christian charity and compassion. 

 

There is another pattern with revivals. II Corinthians 2:11 says, “we are not ignorant of his [the devil’s] devices.” The enemy will try to stop authentic outpourings of the Spirit with various temptations, often in the area of money or sex, or create strife and division among the leaders. Failing that, a counterfeit often appears to highjack a genuine move of God. (“If you can’t beat them, join them.”)

Enter, the Klan.

 

Mystery novels are my “one weakness.” I prefer authors like Tony Hillerman, but anything with an interesting setting and great characters is fine. Some time ago I read a little mystery set in the Pacific Northwest plotted around the dark secret that an ancestor had been a member of the Ku Klux Klan in Portland in the early 1900’s. The nice thing about such novels is that they are often based on historical fact. It’s true: the Klu Klux Klan was very active in Oregon during the 1920’s.

 

The original Klu Klux Klan was started just after the Civil War in the former Confederate States. We would call it a terrorist group today – their purpose was to use fear and intimidation to keep the newly freed blacks from exercising their rights. This second incarnation of the Klan began around 1915, also in the South, but quickly spread to the rest of the country. At heart it was the same organization, using violence and intimidation to impose their white supremacy, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant agenda, but on the surface it had a different face than the original. Made up of middle-class professionals and businessmen, it had a veneer of family values, morality, patriotism and Christianity. In the early 1920’s, with a good PR campaign in place, it gained a wide following in many states, including Oregon. 

 

Luther Powell introduced the Klan to Medford, Oregon in 1921. Shortly afterwards it spread to Eugene, then on to Tillamook County, Portland, and other places. For a short period during the 1920’s many local and state political offices were held by Klansmen. In 1922 the Oregon legislature passed the Compulsory Education Act, a measure promoted by the Klan that required all children in Oregon to attend public school. This sounded good superficially, but was an anti-Catholic bill, intending to close parochial schools under the guise of making education available for all. It did pass, but the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional and it never went into effect.  

Mount Angel Abbey, Oregon

The Klan targeted civic-minded people through wholesome community activities such as community picnics, food drives, beautiful baby contests. They also were known to walk into churches and give large donations, including to the famous preacher, Billy Sunday. It was not a cover they could maintain for long, however, as word of darker activities and fraud began to emerge.

People began to catch on, and many members became disenchanted. But it became clear to Fry and other members that the Klan’s propaganda was “vicious, un-American and evil,” meant to stir radical and religious hatred. Many also learned that the Oregon Klan was being run as a money-making scheme for a few insiders rather than as a civic- minded fraternal organization.  ~”The Rise and Fall of the Klu Klux Klan in Oregon during the 1920’s” by Ben Bruce 

By the 1930’s the Klan was no longer a force in Oregon. It is interesting that the Klan become so popular so quickly – 30 to 40,000 members at it’s peak – and lost favor about as fast. They were heavily into politics, but seem to have lasted about one election cycle. “People began to catch on…”  

 

II Timothy 3: 5 describes those who have “a form of godliness but denying its power.” Paul also chastised the Galatians for turning back to law rather than walking in the Spirit. 

 

Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Galatians 3:3

 

This seems to be the avenue through which the Klan was able to lure some Christians and other upstanding citizens – after having begun with an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, they were enticed by the idea of imposing morality (“a form of godliness”) and law and order. There was genuine bigotry and white supremacy in Oregon, of course, but many seemed to have joined what they thought was a benevolent fraternal organization with good intentions, who would fight against alcohol, immorality and lawbreakers – much like the reformers and prohibitionists.

 

How do we pray?

 

…test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. I John 4:1

 

Pray that the church in Oregon is careful to walk in the Spirit and not the flesh, to discern the spirits and only follow the voice of the Lord. 

 

Pray for revival in Oregon, and that it not be derailed by temptations, or highjacked by counterfeits. 

 

Pray we stay alert during these dangerous times. 

Margaret