It’s great to be patriotic, but we Americans have a history of letting what we think of as patriotism trick us into some bad business through the very place we should be thinking only of goodness and God – church.
For the past almost 5 years, I have been looking through each day’s newspaper from 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, and reading several articles in each edition. Now that I’ve read my way through the fall 1924 Henry Bulletins, I’ve come to see how the Ku Klux Klan got its foothold here in Martinsville and Henry County.
It snuck up on people through their churches.
The first mention I came upon of the KKK locally was when it made a big splash at the end of a two-week revival in May 1924. It was such a big revival that more than 200 people gave public professions of faith, and the preacher took in $745 in offerings.
Here’s how the May 13, 1924, Henry Bulletin describes part of one of those revival services: “Representatives of the Jim Bob Bondurant Ku Klux Klan N. 29 robed in their ghostly uniforms, with masks, entered quietly and sedately, and marched up the aisle to the platform. The chief carried the fiery cross, lighted with small electric lamps, and with him marched an attendant bearing the stars and stripes. Dr. Dudley was presented by the Klan with a $50 note, intended to express the Klan’s approval of the splendid work being done in this meeting, and which was accompanied by a letter to the evangelist. Mr. Dudley expressed his appreciation and accepted it from the Klan, he said upon the statement of its principles contained in the letter as purely American in all ideals and standing for the preeminence of the White race in America, the separation of church and state, and justice for all.”
The KKK No. 29 of Martinsville really got busy in the fall – mostly through local churches.
The Nov. 4, 1924, edition of the Henry Bulletin described how Klansmen visited the five white Protestant churches of the city during the regular 8 p.m. Sunday services.
The usher of the Presbyterian church denied them entry, but at each of the other churches, a group of seven Klansmen presented a short ceremony while presenting the gift of a silk American flag. The KKK’s visit to the churches had been announced the week before; the Henry Bulletin reported that all of the churches were full, some to the point that latecomers had to be denied entry.
Along with the flag, the Klan presented to each church a letter about “that Spirit of Patriotism” and concluding with “You will please accept the flag around, which cluster so many sacred memories, giving it a suitable place in the church; and may its presence always have that enlightening and sobering influence on all who behold it while worshiping here, out of which is born that genuine Patriotism, the flower of an enlightened people, and the Hope of Universal Peace. Yours Most Respectfully, Jim Bob Bondurant Klan No. 29, Realm of Va.”
The Klan misappropriated Christianity’s cross for its evil purposes. We now have learned to fear and dread the image of a burning cross, but in the beginning, it was a beautiful, inspirational sight. On Christmas Eve 1926, about 60 klansmen burned seven crosses on Public Square, near the river and on streets Franklin, Fayette, East Church, Park and Broad. Fiery crosses weren’t frightening omens back then. They were dramatic Christmas decorations.
Even the Klan’s ad for membership hijacked patriotism and Christianity for its own purposes: “If you are a 100% American, believing in the Christian religion, Separation of Church and State, Law and order and the maintenance of white supremacy …”
You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. We are the flies, and church is the honey that we get so easily trapped with.
We Americans put too much stock in that melodramatic Lee Greenwood song.
I bet you “God Bless the USA” came right to mind, but let’s talk about “God Bless You Canada.” Its music and rhythm are exactly the same Greenwood’s “God Bless You USA,” just geared to the people whose dollar shows Queen Elizabeth instead of George Washington.
The Canadian version goes like this: “Cause the flag still stands for freedom / and they can’t take that away / And I’m proud to be in Canada / where at least I know I’m free / And I won’t forget the men who died / who gave that right to me. / And I gladly stand up next to you / and defend her still today / ’Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land / God bless you Canada.”
Yep. Lee Greenwood is a singer. Singing is his job. I’m sure he makes plenty of money singing about the USA and about Canada and who knows what country is next.
Speaking of making money off patriotism, Lee Greenwood sells a “God Bless the USA” Bible, which his website says is “inspired by Lee Greenwood’s patriotic anthem and hit song, God Bless the USA.” That quote is next to a picture of Lee Greenwood and Donald Trump. That Bible costs $60. The BBC and other news agencies report that Donald Trump made $300,000 from endorsing it.
You sure wouldn’t have to pay a Gideon, or you or me, to recommend a Bible to people. In fact, according to the Bible, we’re supposed to recommend God and Jesus and, by extension, the Bible to everyone for free. Just think how much good work the Gideons could do if they received $300,000 to further their work in giving out Bibles to people!
We should remain pure in our churches, dedicated only to our Lord and Savior, to the Holy Trinity, and not allow our churches and our Bible to be hijacked by those who hide behind the disguise of patriotism for nefarious purposes.
We Christians are too easy a target. Just throw a flag or a Bible at us, and we’ll believe anything.
