For a long time people have been trying to find a phrase that will define the personality of the Rev. John Roach Straton, Manhattan preacherman. "Fundamental-ist," "Denouncer," "Loud Baptist," "Saint," "Savior," "Hypocrite," "Dolt" have been variously tried by friends and enemies; none have seemed adequate. Last week the Rev. Mr. Straton made still more difficult the task of definers by as- suming "the headship of all the religious activities of the Supreme Kingdom."
Again, one encounters a phrase. "Supreme Kingdom" in this connection does not mean the entire body of Christ's dominion on the earth. It is the name of an organization. A certain Edward Young Clarke, who, according to various exposes, is "extortioner, fraudulent publicity-man and Mann Act vio-lator," organizer of the Ku Klux Klan, has created the Supreme Kingdom. He created at the same time an "Organization Service Co. " to sell memberships in the Supreme Kingdom. Mr. Clarke made a great deal of money selling memberships in the Ku Klux Klan for $10 apiece, of which he kept $8. Controlling the finances both of the Service Company and the Supreme Kingdom, it is said the following is scale of commissions he will collect for selling memberships:
Foundation membership.... $1,000.00 50%
Charter membership ............ 100.00 60%
Life membership ................ 500.00 60%
Mystic Knight membership 500.00 60%
Alpha membership ............ 50.00 75%
Crusader membership ........ 12.50 65%
The purpose of the Supreme Kingdom is to "combat atheism and its accursed ally, evolution." It points to the spread of atheism in the South, as evidenced by pamphlets urging unbelief which have recently appeared in great quantity, given away at street corners and in the arcades of office buildings. Has the Supreme Kingdom had these pamphlets printed at its own printshop (whence issues Dynamite, the Kingdom's official organ) and had them circulated as if they came from an atheist society? So declared the Macon, (Ga.,) Telegraph. Further, the Telegraph hardily asserted that the Supreme Kingdom was "shot through with the grossest commer-cialism." It stated that Dr. Straton was to receive $30,000 for 60 sermons. Interviewed, the Rev. Mr. Straton denied that his new office would interfere with his work as pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, Manhattan, or with his annual winter trips to Florida. Last Saturday the Rev. Roach Straton went quail-shooting with a Supreme Kingdom underling, one "Pa" Stribling, father of William Lawrence ("Young") Stribling, Macon professional pugilist (white).