A New Secret Society

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1923, Page 4

A New Secret Society

ENGLISH FORM OF FASCIST!. STRANGE RITUAL OF SIVORI) AND SPURS. A strang, secret society, known as tile Onler of Crusaders, which seems to blend with an antique ritual and a call to brotherhood certain points of resemblance to thi> Italian Order o| Fascisti. and the American Ku-Klux-Klan, is springing tip in England. The society was formed about two years ago, the founder and Pro-Grand Master being Colonel Walter Faber. Apparently during the last few months it has been conducting an intensive recruiting campaign, and whilt if. refuses to divulge its strength the Order claims to number its a,dlierent.s in evorv part of the eountrv. ' SECRET CONCLAVES. The avowed object- <>| the society is to bring hack the spirit ‘J the C rusailt r to everyday life. Members are pledged to service. loyally, and brothel' hood, and are counselled in sentiments of unimpeiTeliahlu hut non-comniiltnl terms to carry these ideals into everyday practice. Meetings are held behind carefully guarded drors. On ceremonial occasions the members are habited in a striking garb. Grand officers wear crimson robes, with a largo cross on the left side .and other members adopt a black gown with a white surplice over it. on the hroast oi which is emhlaxoiicd a red cross. as the badge ol service. Some of the end,kins of the soli ’tv. however, are suggestive of a different purpose'. In the ritual, a sword is carried to symbolise ‘'service.” spurs are worn to represent “chivalry." and “loyally'’ is expressed by hanners. And in the vow imposed on the brotherhood, members repeat this sent, lire : “Our sw'ird shall ever he used to the (glory of God. the defence of the Right, and I" Ihc uuiiiileuanre of Equity and J list ice.'’ INVESTIGATIONS. A “Daily News” represent a I ive. who -ought to discover whether behind UMisihle objects of tin society there lay a deeper meaning, found th" headquarters of the Oribr at No 3. j Adelphi Terrace. W.C. The Grand I Scribe was net on duty, but tin- Grand Seneschal, .Major T. H. Hague, ollered to a nswer quest ions.

“The whole point (l f the order is this” he said: “It i.s generally rvi-og-iiisnl that things are all wrong in the’ world at present, hut nobody seems aide In si:i a reiuedv. But if we could revive Ihc old spirit of brotherla,.a] of the Grusaders and imply them to cvervilav affairs, wi would improve f 1... V "ij.l ” •li Im ngge--.fed." -aid Hini, -rvi"v.,'r. "Dial are a F-iglis', form <, I r.-n-'i.-li o, Ku-K lux-Klau. 'Vital is •.tur rcijthat ’ “| am fra id " - id Ilia ' Irani! S- n- j cs'-lial. Aha: I In , ■ very little ah nt '■ ( illier the:- horih' . except what I have rad ia. thi na.j or-. Bull - i u t prepu• "i! •• gi'v a hlir.it air-w. r I o I hat -a - 1 nil. i) | he V coll- I 1 !' 'I HIV I foiliiiil ■' :Fn>'ii the little I know! of the 11 ah an mo v ",vn t. I am not a 1 ' all sure that ii v.-iodd ml ho a good | ii • '"i the !iti rnl arc ol the soen 1V ! I ji ; ■: rs tied i! -■ no inker? aim n! | forming:- j “in ever; ward of each town mid ! in i-verv L'l't • ill-!.'"' n <-ou-. lav,. -■' ] (Ye -idem. I <•’ I''- ' '! i Cl's c. pul,lie o: ■'!!',u Hi. I' eahl' G |he . 1 i I : h |ho < hes, ( j h i -ail rr'er nr, in politic- or :c, i:d ; sli-ai;. all dee • | ~ ,i- i he* !' lend "te ;. • (' sadc in , 'ha'h i uit ■ on ( ouniy aa 1 ' local ~u", J • in 11 ~ I" sird room a-, i i tlm factor, A i U . oiirehrs am' -o' j of them.” Offiee-heari'irs of the society in hid ■ j ia i cal" i l ul pel ir. - : [Li.: -,- Mac. Thurif. r. the Cm- g r. Mi j "vons, Esquire ftf Ceremonies. S-. 1 j of th.- ’English Grand Conclave. Iha . Grand Levs, He Grand 1 1 (triind !.oving Can. •inuu Sillier.; and the Grand Custodian. 1 The la-' ii i,tinned office i- : 11, d by j Cantaiu (hr. V.C.. hut iipjn'i ' n A’>■-i that lie IIISV he qualifying t- 'll ih ' | r,,10 of an English Mussolini, iI is duty is to dose the door when the m ia!."iare met in eonclavi'. : .