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Ku Klux Klan titles and vocabulary
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Kloran of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan of Kanada.

Ku Klux Klan (KKK) nomenclature has evolved over the order's nearly 160 years of existence. The titles and designations were first laid out in the 1920s Kloran, setting out KKK terms and traditions. Like many KKK terms, this is a portmanteau term, formed from Klan and Koran.

Reconstruction period

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The sources of the rituals, titles and even the name of KKK may be found in antebellum college fraternities and secret societies such as the Kuklos Adelphon.[1] Earlier source material, however, states, "The ceremony of initiation was borrowed from some of the features of the introduction of candidates of the long defunct Sons of Malta and other like societies, and was calculated to, and did provoke, much amusement for most of those, if not all, who were present," according to the 1907 Cyclopedia of Fraternities.[2] J.C. Lester, one of the original members of the group, stated that the Klan rituals were "modeled on and embraced the leading features of the rituals of an order which has long been popular in many colleges and universities under various names" such as the Sons of Confucius or Guiasticutus but always styled Ancient and Honorable and Mirth-Provoking. Walter L. Fleming stated in a footnote to Lester's text that the contemporary (early twentieth century) Southern college fraternity that most nearly mirrored the early Klan was "known as Alpha Sigma Sigma" and the institution of snipe hunting.[3] The original prescript of the Ku Klux Klan was adopted by a convention in Nashville, Tennessee in April 1867. A slightly revised edition appeared the next year.[4]

Higher levels

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Grand Dragon (later Grand Wizard) Dr. Samuel Green in Atlanta, Georgia, July 24, 1948, being flanked by two children during the initiation ceremony at Stone Mountain.

In both prescripts there were four levels or "departments" of organization, above the basic level:[5]

  • Empire – constituting the whole area of the Klan's activities. This was led by the Imperial Wizard and his staff of ten Genii, as well as a Grand Schubladen (treasurer) and Grand Scribe, whose duty was to keep lists of the subordinate officers. The Genii, Imperial Exchequer and Scribe were appointed by the Imperial Wizard.[6]
  • Realms – while the role of Realms was laid out in the first prescript, they were only identified as states in the second prescript. Realms were ruled by a Grand Dragon who was assisted by eight Squires, as well as a Grand Exchequer and a Grand Scribe, whose duties were identical to those of the above officers on the imperial level. All officers were appointed by the Grand Dragon.[7]
  • Dominions – identified in the second prescript as "coterminous with such counties as the Grand Dragons of the several Realms shall assign" and "not exceed three in number for each Congressional district".[8] The Dominion was headed by a Grand Titan who was assisted by six Furies, a Grand Exchequer and a Grand Scribe, all of whom were appointed by the Grand Titan.[9]
  • Provinces – the second prescript identified a Province as equivalent to a county. It was supervised by a Grand Giant, who was assisted by four Goblins, a Grand Exchequer, and a Grand Scribe, all of whom were appointed by the Grand Giant.[10]

In the first prescript each officer is given the power to appoint Deputies to organize Realms, Dominions, Provinces and Dens until the latter can elect their own officers.[11] The Grand Wizard was to be elected by a majority of Grand Dragons, and each lower level was elected by a majority of the next lower level of officers (Dragons were elected by Titans, Titans were elected by Giants etc.), as soon as three units had been formed at each level (three Dominions within a Realm for Grand Dragon, three Provinces within a Dominion for Grand Titan, etc.).[12] In the second prescript each officer appoints the lower officer with the approval of his superior.[13]

Dens

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The Dens were the basic level of organization for the Reconstruction Klan.[14] In the original prescript, its chief officer was the Grand Cyclops, who appointed two Nighthawks, a Grand Turk, a Grand Sentinel, Grand Magi and a Grand Ensign in addition to his Grand Scribe.[15] The Grand Cyclops, Grand Exchequer, Grand Magi (second officer) and Grand Monk (third officer) were elected by the body politic of the dens, identified as Ghouls.[16] In the second prescript the Grand Ensign is dispensed with, while the Grand Exchequer was appointed by the Grand Cyclops, who was now appointed by the Grand Giant. Only the Grand Magi and Grand Monk were elected by the Ghouls.[17]

The exact function of these officers and the meaning of the titles varied. The two Nighthawks have been identified as couriers.[18] The Grand Sentinel was in charge of the "Grand Guard", an organization which is not otherwise elaborated upon in the prescripts, but apparently served as the Den's security detail.[19][20] The Grand Turk was the den's "executive officer" and was charged with informing Klansmen of "all informal or irregular meetings" and helping the Grand Cyclops and the Grand Magi maintain the "control and government" of the Den.[21] The Grand Ensign's job was to take care of the Klan's flag.[22]

Initiation rites

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The organ for initiation into the Klan was called the Investigating Committee, composed of the Grand Cyclops, Grand Magi and Grand Monk. Upon the nomination of a new member by a current member, the committee would investigate the candidate's "antecedents and his past and present standings and connections" and would then pronounce the candidate "competent and worthy" to become a member. The Grand Turk would escort the candidate to an "outpost" where he would question him and administer a preliminary oath. After this the Grand Turk would conduct the candidate to the Den, where the Grand Cyclops would administer the final oath.[23] The second prescript elaborates that the candidate must have his left hand on the Bible and his right hand toward heaven and includes a ten-point "interrogation" that the candidate must answer satisfactorily in order to proceed with the final oath. The questions asked included: "are you now or have ever been a member of the Radical Republican Party, Loyal Leagues or Grand Army of the Republic? Did you fight with the Union Army during the Civil War? Do you believe in Negro equality?"[24]

Tribunals

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A system of "judiciary" organs was created in each prescript. In the first the judiciary was divided into a Grand Council of Yahoos, to try officers of the Klan, and a Grand Council of Centaurs to try regular Ghouls. In Art. IV Sec. 4, the Grand Giant is charged with conducting the Council of Yahoo, but Art. VI Sec. 2 states that the council will be composed of officers of the equivalent rank as the accused and presided over by an officer of the next higher rank. A trial of the Grand Wizard would be held by a meeting of all the Grand Dragons, the most senior Grand Dragon presiding[25] It is unclear if these tribunals were ever functional.[26]

The second prescript presented an entirely different judiciary, with officers of the first three levels tried by three judges, appointed by the chief officer of the given jurisdiction, and the officers and attaches of the headquarters (presumably the Genii, Squires, and Furies). Trials of Den officers would be conducted at the provincial headquarters and include five judges, and ordinary ghouls to be tried at their dens with seven judges. As before a trial of the Grand Wizard would be conducted by the most senior Grand Dragon, this time with a quorum of seven dragons. All defendants had the right of appeal to the next higher court, and the proceeding was to be governed as "ordinary court martials".[27]

Miscellaneous

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In addition to the structure outlined above, there are documented cases of organs of slightly different nomenclature from Reconstruction. For instance, a group of twenty men, who were arrested on April 6, 1868, at their "den" at the corners of Beale Street and Hernando street in Memphis, was called the Supreme Cyclopean Council. The constitution that the police captured outlined an organization with a Grand Cyclops, Vice-Grand Cyclops, and Secretary and openly advocated assassination of the "murders and robbers" now ruling the South. Members were bound to participate in the activities of the order, even if it meant leaving the "embraces" of their wife.[28][29][30][31] A Grand Klan, composed of delegates from Spartanburg, York, Union, and Chester counties in South Carolina and a few from North Carolina, met in Spartanburg, South Carolina and declared that no more raids or whippings would be conducted by members of the Klan except by their order and that the penalty for violating this order would be 100 lashes for the first offense and death for the second.[32]

An attempt was apparently made to make Ghoul titles for other officers in Maury County, Tennessee in 1867 and early 1868, but the result was only confusion. Additionally a "Grand Tycoon" notified Klansmen in Lebanon, Tennessee to cease night riding[jargon] and the order was apparently effective in restoring calm to Wilson County, Tennessee.[33] In some early reconstruction Klan units there was also a Lictor, whose role as a guard of the den was later subsumed by the Nighthawks.[28]

Second Era

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The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc. which existed from 1915 to 1944, elaborated on the original prescript in its Kloran and in the constitution and by-laws adopted in 1922. Some titles and jurisdictional designations were carried over from the Reconstruction prescripts intact or slightly modified, and others were original with Imperial Wizard Simmons.

Jurisdictions

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  • Invisible Empire – this designation included both the Klan's geographical domain – up to "the whole world" – but also in a "spiritual sense" all the secrets and workings of the order. All things outside this empire were designated the Alien World and non-members Aliens.[34] The Klan was a military organization and its commander in chief was the Imperial Wizard, whose power was supreme "within the limits of this Constitution" and whose edicts, decisions and rulings were binding on all members of the order.[35] He had a staff of Fifteen Genii.[36] The Empire had an assembly or convocation known as a Klonvokation.[37]
  • Realm – was carried away from the Reconstruction prescript, but it was no longer restricted to the Southern States; any state or territory of the United States could become a Realm, and Realms were also given a number based on the date of organization of the Realm. The convention of the Realm was designated the Klorero (from the Māori kōrero, "convention").[38][39] The president of the Realm remained the Grand Dragon; the other officers were collectively known as the Nine Squires.[40]
  • Province – in the new Klan, a Province was construed as "a county or number of counties" designated by the Grand Dragon. There were a maximum of six provinces per realm, but the Grand Dragon could create more with the permission of the Imperial Wizard. The Provincial convention was the Klonverse (from "converse"). The chief officer of a Province was a Great Titan, and the other officers were known as the Seven Furies.[41]
  • Klan – the basic unit of the Second Era KKK was known simply as a Klan. Its area of jurisdiction was a Klanton (from "canton") which was defined as "extend[ing] in all directions to a distance midway between the location of the Klan and the nearest Klan thereto" unless otherwise directed by the Grand Dragon or Imperial Wizard. The chief officer of a Klan was an Exalted Cyclops and the subordinate officers were known as the Twelve Terrors.[42]

Officials

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There was a nearly identical set of subordinate officers at each level:[43]

The officers at each level above the local Klan unit were designated by a unique prefix: Imperial at the Empire level; Grand at the Realm level; and Great at the Province level. Thus, for instance, an Imperial Kludd would be the chaplain for the whole organization, a Grand Kludd for the Realm, Great Kludd for a Province and simply Kludd for a local Klan.[46]

Imperial Klazik, British Columbia, 1925. The name is derived from Klan and Cazique.

Not all offices were reproduced at each level. The Kladd, Klarogo, Klexter, and Klokard were not present at the Province level, and the Kladd was not included on the Realm level.[47] The Klazik, second vice-president, and Klonsul, attorney, positions only existed at the Imperial level.[48] The Klazik's duties included being head of the department of Realms and organizing new Realms and Provinces.[49] At the Province level there were three Klaliffs that served as an advisory board. A Klokann of three members, each one named a Klokan, filled this role at the local levels and a Klokann of four members at the Imperial level, in which they served as a "Supreme Board of Auditors and Special Advisers" and was led by a Chief Imperial Klokan.[50]

The Imperial Wizards Genii constituted his Imperial Kloncilium; this was the Imperial Wizards supreme advisory board, as well as the Klans highest administrative organ in between Klonvokations. It met regularly every July, but could also be called when the Imperial Wizard or five Geniis petitioned him to do so. The Kloncilium was also the Supreme Tribunal of Justice of the organization with appellate jurisdiction and the right to finally determine disputes between Realms, Provinces, Klans and members in unorganized states[51]

Giant was adopted as an emeritus title: Imperial Giant for an ex-Imperial Wizard, Grand Giant for an ex-Grand Dragon, Great Giant for ex-Great Titan, and Klan Giant for an ex-Exalted Cyclops.[52]

A Kleagle was a recruiter and was responsible for organizing local Klans.[53]

Post-1944

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Since the dissolution of Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Inc. in 1944, there have been many Klan groups. Details of the nomenclature have varied, somewhat, among the different groups, but some terms have had more currency than others. Over time, the term klavern replaced klan for local groups.[54] Imperial Wizard and Grand Dragon have still been generally used for the leader of a Klan organization and for state (realm) leaders. Exceptions included cases of one state Klans, such as the Association of Georgia Klans, whose leader, Samuel Green, kept the title Grand Dragon until shortly before his death.[55] The White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan created some innovations in their organization including a bicameral Klongress with an upper house Klonvokation and lower Klanburgess.[56]

In the late 1970s, David Duke's Knights of the Ku Klux Klan dropped the Imperial Wizard title; the leader was called national director.[57] That organization, now known as the Knights Party, no longer uses most of the traditional Klan titles, and the only fraternal titles used are Page, Squire, and Knight for levels of membership.[58][full citation needed]

Vocabulary

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Aside from titles and geographical designations, a distinctive vocabulary has grown around the Ku Klux Klan organizations. These include names for rituals, code words, and practices of the various Klans.

  • Klankraft or Klanishness – the overall practice and state of being a Klan member. This could be defined as the employment and patronizing of fellow Klansmen, as well as sale of official Klan memorabilia, such as T-shirts, watches and belt buckles.[59] Imperial Wizard Robert Shelton gave this definition: "robes, cross lightings and parades, the mysticism, everything that made the Klan the Klan".[60] Other definitions included maintaining the sanctity of one's home, maintenance of white supremacy and purity, and loyalty to the Klan itself.[61]

Membership

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There are terms related to membership and non-membership:[62][63]

  • Alien – a non-member
  • Naturalization – the Klan initiation ceremony
  • Citizen – a Klan member
  • Passport – membership card
  • Banished – expelled from the Klan
  • Yellow dog – a hazing ritual similar to the type used in college fraternities; when practiced by imperial officers, called the Royal Order of the Purple Dog.[64]

Groups

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Groups of Klansmen that were commissioned for "special activities":

  • Wrecking Crew – an action squad commissioned to take physical action against enemies and wayward members of the Klan. Depending on time and organization, these groups consisted of five to eight members and were authorized either by the klokann, the Exalted Cyclops and/or the Kludd. Sometimes led by the Nighthawk. An action taken by the crew is wrecked. Some names used by wrecking crews include "Secret Six", "Ass-tear Squad" and "Holy terrors".[65][66]
  • Klan Bureau of Investigation – Pioneered by the Mississippi White Knights, these groups investigate the Klan's enemies and check leaks.[67][68]
  • Degree teams – a group which performs the task of initiation.[69]

Finances

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  • Klectoken or Klecktokon – initiation fee. It stabilized around $10 before the 1970s.[54]
  • Imperial tax – membership dues[70]
  • Provincial tax – secondary dues, paid per capita for the upkeep of a Realm.[71]

Code words and phrases

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  • A.Y.A.K. or Ayak – "Are you a Klansman?" to be answered with below.
  • A.K.I.A. or Akia – "A Klansman I am"; these were code words for Klansmen meeting in strange surroundings. They would be inserted into common conversation, for instance "Does a Mr. Ayak live in this neighborhood?" to be responded by "No, but a Mr. Akia does." The password would then be accompanied by a secret handshake or other sign of recognition.[68][72]
  • K.I.G.Y or Kigy – "Klansman, I greet you"[68][73]
  • S.A.N.B.O.G. or Sanbog – "Strangers are near, be on guard"[73][74]
  • Itsub – "In the sacred unfailing bond", a correspondence sign-off[68]
  • Sor – "Sign of recognition"[74]
  • K.L.A.S.P. – "Klannish loyalty a sacred principle"[73]
  • C.A.B.A.R.K. – "Constantly Applied By All Real Klansmen"[73]
  • O.R.I.O.N – Our Race Is Our Nation.[75]
  • L.O.T.I.E or LOTIE – Lady Of The Invisible Empire.[76] This was one of a number of names for Klan women's auxiliaries.

Dates and times

[edit]

Two KKK codes for dates and times have been developed, the Ku Klux Register in the original prescripts and the Kalender developed by William J. Simmons.

Ku Klux Register

[edit]

In the original prescripts the register contained twelve designations, thought to correspond to months:[77][78]

  • 1st – Dismal
  • 2nd – Sassy
  • 3rd – Fast
  • 4th – Furious
  • 5th – Portentous
  • 6th – Wonderful
  • 7th – Alarming
  • 8th – Kool
  • 9th – Melancholy
  • 10th – Mournful
  • 11th – Dying
  • 12th – Fabulous

The second prescript had a slightly different scheme.[77][79]

  1. Dismal
  2. Mystic
  3. Stormy
  4. Peculiar
  5. Blooming
  6. Brilliant
  7. Painful
  8. Portentous
  9. Fading
  10. Melancholy
  11. Glorious
  12. Gloomy

Colors were used for the days of the week:[77]

  • 1st Prescript
    1. White
    2. Green
    3. Blue
    4. Black
    5. Yellow
    6. Crimson
    7. Purple
  • 2nd Prescript
    1. White
    2. Green
    3. Yellow
    4. Amber
    5. Purple
    6. Crimson
    7. Emerald

Twelve designations were used for the hours of the day:[77][80]

  • 1st prescript
    1. Fearful
    2. Startling
    3. Awful
    4. Woeful
    5. Horrid
    6. Bloody
    7. Doleful
    8. Sorrowful
    9. Hideous
    10. Frightful
    11. Appalling
    12. Last
  • 2nd prescript
    1. Fearful
    2. Startling
    3. Wonderful
    4. Alarming
    5. Mournful
    6. Appalling
    7. Hideous
    8. Frightful
    9. Awful
    10. Horrible
    11. Dreadful
    12. Last

Kalender

[edit]

The Kalender developed by W. J. Simmons included codes for days of the week, weeks, months and years. For months:[81][82]

  • January – Bloody
  • February – Gloomy
  • March – Hideous
  • April – Fearful
  • May – Furious
  • June – Alarming
  • July – Terrible
  • August – Horrible
  • September – Mournful
  • October – Sorrowful
  • November – Frightful
  • December – Appalling

For weeks and days:[81][82]

  • Weeks
    1. Woeful
    2. Weeping
    3. Wailing
    4. Wonderful
    5. Weird
  • Days
    1. Dark
    2. Deadly
    3. Dismal
    4. Doleful
    5. Desolate
    6. Dreadful
    7. Desperate

Years were reckoned according to reigns and cycles. The Reign of Incarnation and Incantation was all time up to the American Revolutionary War. The First Reign of our Incarnation and Incantation was the period between the Revolution and the establishment of the original Klan, which was reckoned to May 6, 1866, in this scheme. The Reign of our Second Incarnation and Incantation was reckoned between 1866 and Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest's dissolution of the Klan, which is reckoned to 1872. The Reign of our Third Incarnation and Incantation began in 1915.[83] The Klan year, Anno Klanslar, began in May of each year, and the cycle was reckoned from December of each calendar year.[84]

Footnotes

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ku Klux Klan titles and vocabulary

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Ku Klux Klan titles and vocabulary comprise the hierarchical ranks and specialized adopted by the organization to enforce , delineate , and ritualize membership, originating with the first Klan's 1867 Prescript and later standardized in the second Klan's handbook. These terms, often prefixed with "kl-" for alliterative distinction from the group's name, drew inspiration from fraternal orders and ancient to cultivate an aura of exclusivity among white Protestant adherents. The foundational Prescript established a pyramid structure with the Grand Wizard as national chief, overseeing Grand Dragons for states (realms), Grand Titans for districts (provinces), and Grand Giants for local dens, alongside investigative roles like Goblins. This framework emphasized discipline through oaths and signals, reflecting the group's initial aim to restore Southern order post-Civil War via clandestine coordination. Revived in 1915 by William J. Simmons, the second Klan expanded and formalized the nomenclature in the , a ritual manual detailing ceremonies and offices such as Imperial Wizard (national head), Grand Dragon (state leader), Cyclops (chapter head), and functionaries including Kludd (chaplain), Klokard (lecturer), and (recruiter). Vocabulary like Klavern (local unit), Klonklave (meeting), Ayak ("Are You a Klansman?"), and Akia (affirmative response) facilitated secure communication and initiation, underscoring the order's fraternal rituals amid its peak membership in the 1920s. Subsequent iterations post-1940s adapted titles variably, with groups like the United Klans retaining core terms while fragmenting into independent realms, yet preserving the esoteric lexicon to distinguish authentic adherents from infiltrators or pretenders. This persistence highlights the vocabulary's role in sustaining ideological continuity despite legal suppressions and internal schisms, as documented in internal handbooks and defector accounts.

First Klan (1865–1871)

Leadership Hierarchy

The leadership hierarchy of the First Ku Klux Klan, as outlined in its foundational Prescript adopted in Nashville, Tennessee, on March 28, 1867, established a secretive, militaristic structure modeled loosely on fraternal orders but adapted for clandestine operations across the former Confederacy. The organization divided into an "Empire" encompassing all realms, with authority flowing downward through regional and local divisions to enforce discipline, oaths of secrecy, and resistance to Reconstruction policies. Nathan Bedford Forrest, a former Confederate cavalry general, was selected as the inaugural Grand Wizard in late 1867, serving until issuing a public order for the Klan's dissolution on January 1, 1871, amid federal crackdowns under the Enforcement Acts. At the apex, the Grand Wizard held supreme authority over the , advised by ten Genii (consultants without vote) and empowered to appoint subordinates, issue edicts, and convene grand assemblies. Subordinate to the Grand Wizard, each Realm—typically corresponding to a state—was governed by a Grand Dragon, assisted by five Hydras (lieutenants), responsible for organizing provinces, propagating the order's tenets, and reporting to the . Realms subdivided into Dominions (often counties), led by a Grand Titan with two Night-Hawks (messengers and guards), who managed local dens and enforced intra-order tribunals. Further down, Provinces (smaller districts) fell under a Grand Giant, supported by two Goblins (enforcers), tasked with den oversight and recruitment. The basic unit, the Den, was presided over by a Grand Cyclops (equivalent to a local commander), with auxiliaries including a Grand Magi (vice-commander), Grand Turk (executioner or sentinel), and roles like Grand Scribe (secretary), Grand Exchequer (treasurer), and sentinels for perimeter security. This pyramid ensured decentralized yet hierarchical control, with each officer bound by oaths of loyalty and empowered to discipline via "Nighthawk" raids or expulsions, though enforcement varied due to the order's loose federation and evasion of federal authorities. By 1868, estimates placed active membership at 40,000 to 550,000 across six states, reflecting rapid but uneven expansion under this structure before its suppression.

Local Den Structure

The local organizational unit of the First (1865–1871) was the , serving as the primary assembly for members known as Ghouls, with membership typically capped to ensure and operational security, often limited to 10 to 72 individuals depending on local conditions. operated clandestinely in rural and small-town settings across Southern states like , , and the , convening irregularly for initiations, planning, and enforcement actions, with locations disguised as social gatherings or night rides to evade detection by federal authorities during Reconstruction. The structure emphasized hierarchical roles with esoteric titles derived from pseudo-mystical nomenclature, as outlined in the Original Prescript adopted in , on April 28, 1867, and its revised version of 1868, which formalized duties to promote discipline and loyalty. At the apex of the Den was the Cyclops (later designated Grand Cyclops in the revised Prescript), who functioned as the chief executive, presiding over meetings, appointing committees, and directing raids or investigations into alleged threats like carpetbaggers or freedmen's activities. Assisting the Cyclops was the Klokard, serving as lecturer or advisor to interpret the Prescript and educate Ghouls on protocols. The Klocan acted as communicator or lieutenant, handling internal messaging and coordinating with higher Provincial structures while maintaining oaths of secrecy. Administrative functions fell to the Kligrapp (secretary), who recorded proceedings in cipher and managed correspondence, and the Kladd (treasurer), responsible for modest dues and resources, though Dens often operated with minimal funds. Security was enforced by the Mako (sentinel), who guarded entrances, verified identities via passwords like "Cave" (response: "Hermit"), and policed for intruders during assemblies. Dens maintained internal tribunals for discipline, comprising a Nighthawk (outer guard) and selected Ghouls appointed by the Cyclops to adjudicate violations such as oath-breaking, with penalties ranging from reprimands to expulsion or, in extreme cases, vigilante enforcement. Vocabulary reinforced anonymity and ritual: Ghouls donned disguises including hoods and robes during operations, using terms like "Paleface" for white allies and "scalawag" for Southern Unionists, while communications employed a numeric to obscure plans from federal investigators. This structure facilitated decentralized autonomy, allowing Dens to respond to local grievances—such as perceived or social upheaval—without rigid central oversight, though coordination occurred through Provincial organizers like the Goblins. By 1871, federal enforcement under the dismantled many Dens through arrests and infiltrations, rendering the model obsolete.

Initiation and Rites

The original Ku Klux Klan den in , formed in December 1865 by six Confederate veterans, initially structured its initiation as a light-hearted modeled on college secret societies, emphasizing amusement through mystery and grotesquerie rather than solemnity. Candidates were blindfolded and led through a dilapidated house, subjected to absurd interrogatories by the presiding Grand Cyclops, such as queries about mythical beasts or nonsensical lore, before being unveiled before a mirror adorned with a featuring donkey ears, prompting communal laughter from masked members in elaborate costumes of horns, tails, and tall conical s. This process, conducted in a den or secluded site, required only a nominal fee of one and concluded without formal oaths beyond a simple pledge of to preserve the order's exclusivity and prevent disclosure of membership or solicitations. As the organization expanded beyond Pulaski in 1866–1867 amid Reconstruction tensions, local dens adopted modified rituals, introducing greater formality while retaining elements of disguise and symbolism to foster loyalty and intimidation. The 1867 Prescript, the order's foundational document drafted by General George W. Gordon and ratified in May 1867, standardized admission procedures across subordinate dens: a candidate, recommended by an existing member, underwent investigation by a committee comprising the Grand Cyclops, Grand Magi, and Grand Monk, followed by outpost questioning and formal entry into the den presided over by the Grand Cyclops with assistance from the Grand Turk as marshal. A preliminary obligation bound the initiate to non-disclosure of proceedings: "I do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal any thing that I may this day (or night) learn concerning the * * *. So help me God." The rite culminated in a kneeling posture, right hand raised and left on a Bible, with interrogatories affirming allegiance to the United States Constitution, opposition to radical Republican policies, and commitment to white Southern governance, enforced by a severe penalty clause invoking death for betrayal. The final oath emphasized absolute secrecy regarding signs, grips, passwords, and membership: "I ———— of my own free will and accord, and in the presence of Almighty God, do solemnly swear or affirm that I will never reveal to any one not a member of the Order of the * * *, by any intimation, sign, symbol, word or act, or in any other manner whatever, any of the secrets, signs, grips, pass-words, or mysteries of the Order of the * * *, or that I am a member of the same, or that I know any one who is a member; and that I will abide by the Prescript and Edicts of the Order of the * * * So help me God." Ghouls—ordinary members—participated under titles denoting roles in the ceremony, such as Night Hawks for aides and sentinels, reinforcing hierarchical discipline without prescribing elaborate symbolic acts like those sensationalized in contemporary exposes. These rites, varying by locality due to the Prescript's decentralized structure, prioritized operational secrecy over uniform liturgy, evolving from prankish origins to instruments of political cohesion against perceived federal overreach, though internal accounts dispute claims of or skull-drinking as fabrications by critics.

Tribunals and Discipline

In the Original Prescript adopted in April 1867, the established a structure at level to adjudicate offenses by members, known as Ghouls. This included two primary tribunals: the Grand Council of Yahoos for trials of elected officers, composed of their peers and presided over by the next superior officer, and the Grand Council of Centaurs for Ghouls and non-elective officers, consisting of six judges appointed by the Grand Cyclops. These councils had authority to summon the accused and witnesses, deliberate on evidence, render verdicts, and prescribe penalties, which were then executed accordingly. For minor infractions, the Grand Cyclops, as den leader, could impose fines or reprimands directly to maintain order during meetings or operations. Specific edicts outlined fines ranging from $1 to $5 for intoxication, with expulsion possible by majority vote of the den for graver breaches of discipline or the . Post-expulsion violations of the order's rules or betrayal of the invoked the "extreme penalty of the ," implying execution as the ultimate sanction to deter disloyalty. Higher-level trials, such as for a Grand Wizard, required a council of at least seven Grand Dragons presided over by the senior among them, with decisions final after appeals to superior courts where applicable. This system emphasized secrecy and internal enforcement, reflecting the Klan's character during Reconstruction, though actual applications were limited by the organization's decentralized and ephemeral nature before federal suppression in 1871.

Auxiliary Terms

In the First Klan's organizational framework, as outlined in the 1867 Prescript, ordinary members were designated as Ghouls, forming the core of the order and subject to its oaths and disciplines. This term emphasized the secretive, spectral nature of membership, distinguishing rank-and-file participants from elected officers. Ghouls swore preliminary and final obligations on the , pledging perpetual secrecy regarding the order's mysteries, signs, grips, passwords, and activities, under penalty of death. Judicial processes employed specialized tribunals: Yahoos for adjudicating elected officers, comprising peers under a higher-ranking presider, and Centaurs for Ghouls and non-elective officers, consisting of six judges appointed by the local leader. These bodies enforced internal discipline, reflecting the order's pseudo-mythological nomenclature drawn from classical and fantastical references to maintain an aura of arcane authority. Operational aides included Night Hawks, two per local unit, assisting the presiding officer in coordination and enforcement. Guards were termed Lictors, serving as outer and inner sentinels to secure meetings and rituals. Communications relied on coded systems, such as a "register" using numbered adjectives (e.g., categories for times like "Dismal" to "Dying," colors, and fears) to obscure dates and instructions in orders. Cryptic public notices, like "ALERT! T T T T" summoning members to concealed sites (e.g., "the cave where the Greased Lightning Slumbers"), facilitated mobilization while evading detection. Ritual elements featured whistle signals for coordination during silent parades or assemblies, enforcing discipline without verbal cues, and a general password like "Cumberland" for inter-member verification. These terms and practices, though formalized in the Prescript, were often adapted loosely by local dens amid the chaotic enforcement of Reconstruction-era resistance from 1867 to 1871.

Second Klan (1915–1944)

National and Imperial Offices

The national leadership of the Second Ku Klux Klan, operating from 1915 to 1944, centered on the Imperial Wizard, who served as the supreme executive and head of the Invisible Empire. This office held ultimate authority over organizational policy, rituals, and expansion efforts. William J. Simmons occupied the role from the group's founding in 1915 until 1922, when succeeded him, leading until 1939; Evans emphasized centralized control amid rapid membership growth to approximately 3-5 million by the mid-1920s. Supporting the Imperial Wizard was the Imperial Cabinet, a body of appointed officers handling national administration, finances, recruitment, and ceremonial duties. These positions mirrored but scaled up local roles, ensuring hierarchical consistency across the empire. The cabinet included the Imperial Kligrapp, responsible for supreme secretarial functions such as record-keeping and correspondence; the Imperial Klabee, who managed national treasury and fee collections; and the Imperial Kludd, serving as supreme chaplain for ritual and moral guidance. Recruitment at the imperial level fell to the Imperial Kleagle, who directed a commission-based sales force of kleagles to drive membership growth; Edward Y. Clarke held this post initially, earning a percentage of initiation fees to fund national operations. Additional cabinet roles encompassed the Imperial Klokard for lecturing and education, and the Imperial Klaliff as deputy to the Wizard, though their exact duties varied with leadership priorities. This structure facilitated the Klan's business-oriented expansion, with revenues from $10 initiations supporting imperial oversight of state realms.

State and Provincial Ranks

The state-level administrative unit of the Second Ku Klux Klan, known as a , was led by the Grand Dragon, the principal officer responsible for directing all activities within the state, including recruitment, membership retention, financial oversight, and coordination with local Klaverns. The Grand Dragon reported directly to the Imperial Wizard and wielded authority to appoint subordinates, convene provincial meetings, and enforce Klan bylaws. Historical examples include as Grand Dragon of in the early 1920s, who expanded membership to over 250,000, and John Galen Locke in , who influenced state politics from 1923 to 1925. Assisting the Grand Dragon was a state executive committee, typically comprising the Great Titan as vice officer, the Klokard (state lecturer tasked with ideological instruction), the Kligrapp (secretary handling records and correspondence), and the Kladd (organizer for propagation and expansion). This structure, formalized in the Klan's bylaws and handbooks like the , ensured hierarchical control and operational efficiency across realms. In expansive realms or those spanning large territories, such as certain Midwestern states or Canadian operations, subdivisions called were established, each headed by a Great Titan analogous to the state-level deputy but focused on regional coordination of multiple counties or districts. The Great Titan managed local recruitment drives, disciplinary proceedings, and resource allocation within the Province, reporting to the Grand Dragon. For example, Colorado's Northern operated under a Great Titan during the mid-1920s Klan peak. in , like , adapted these ranks to provincial boundaries, with leaders overseeing cross-border adaptations of U.S.-style organization. This tiered system allowed the Second Klan to scale operations rapidly, peaking at millions of members by 1925.

Local and Jurisdictional Roles

In the Second Ku Klux Klan, extended below the state-level realm, governed by a Grand Dragon, to comprising one or more counties, each led by a Great Titan responsible for coordinating multiple local klaverns within that jurisdiction. The Great Titan functioned as a regional , enforcing imperial edicts and maintaining discipline across the . Local operations centered on the klavern, the basic chapter or den, presided over by the Exalted Cyclops as chief executive who convened and directed klonklaves, the regular meetings, and oversaw initiation rituals known as naturalizations. Supporting the Exalted Cyclops were specialized officers with defined duties, as outlined in the , the official handbook first published in 1916 by Imperial Wizard William J. Simmons.
Officer TitleRole
Klaliff, assisting the Exalted Cyclops and explaining the fourfold Klan duty to candidates.
KlokardLecturer, responsible for educating members and examining applicants during ceremonies.
Kludd, leading prayers and administering oaths of allegiance.
Kligrapp, recording minutes and handling petitions for membership.
Klabee, managing financial affairs of the klavern.
KladdConductor, guiding candidates through proceedings.
KlarogoInner guard, securing the inner entrance and verifying entrants' credentials.
KlexterOuter guard, protecting the external perimeter of the klavern.
KlokanInvestigator, vetting prospective members for suitability.
Night-HawkSpecial , charging candidates with the Fiery and facilitating ceremonial processions.
These roles ensured hierarchical control and ritualistic order within klaverns, with the Exalted Cyclops reporting upward to provincial and authorities. By 1925, thousands of klaverns operated under this framework, peaking membership at an estimated 4-5 million nationwide.

Specialized Propagandists and Officials

In the Second Klan, specialized propagandists included the , a commissioned organizer tasked with recruiting members and establishing new local Klans, often traveling across states to propagate the organization's ideology through salesmanship and public appeals. Kleagles reported to state Grand Dragons and earned fees based on memberships secured, fueling the Klan's explosive growth from fewer than 5,000 members in 1915 to millions by 1925 via a pyramid-like structure emphasizing anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic, and Protestant supremacist messaging. This role exemplified the Klan's business-oriented approach to propagation, blending fraternal recruitment with ideological dissemination. The Klokard, serving as lecturer at local and higher levels, focused on educating members in "Klankraft"—the Klan's doctrinal principles of white Protestant nativism—through speeches, rituals, and interpretive sessions drawn from the handbook. Locally, the Klokard instructed initiates on the organization's codes and during meetings; at the imperial level, the Imperial Klokard coordinated nationwide efforts to standardize and spread propaganda, including oversight of publications and lectures to reinforce unity against perceived threats like Catholicism and . For instance, Imperial Klokard William J. Mahoney articulated the Klan's religious in official statements, positioning it as a defender of American . Administrative officials with propagandistic functions included the Kligrapp, the local who maintained records of proceedings, memberships, and correspondence, thereby preserving and transmitting the Klan's operational and directives for ideological consistency. These roles, formalized in the constitutions, prioritized internal cohesion and external outreach, distinguishing the Second Klan's bureaucratic from the more vigilante-oriented First Klan.

Third Klan and Fragmented Groups (1946–Present)

Core Retained Titles

In the Third Klan era commencing in 1946 and extending through fragmented successor organizations, core titles from the Second Klan's hierarchy persisted, providing continuity in nomenclature despite organizational decline and splintering. The paramount national position, Imperial Wizard, denoted the supreme leader of the Invisible Empire, wielding authority over affiliated realms and provinces. This title was employed by figures such as Robert M. Shelton, who assumed the role in the in 1959, directing operations amid civil rights tensions. State or realm oversight fell to the Grand Dragon, a rank revived early in the period by Dr. Samuel Green, who organized the Georgia realm in 1946 and expanded recruitment northward. The Grand Dragon managed provincial dragons and local klaverns, enforcing imperial edicts on membership and activities. At the grassroots level, the Exalted Cyclops led individual klaverns, presiding over meetings and initiations, a role documented in mid-20th-century tribunals and persistent in later factions. These titles—Imperial Wizard, Grand Dragon, and Exalted Cyclops—formed the skeletal framework retained across groups like the , White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and modern splinters such as the Loyal White Knights, underscoring a deliberate invocation of historical legitimacy amid post-1944 fragmentation. While auxiliary roles like Kleagles waned in prominence due to shifted recruitment tactics, the core endured, adapting minimally to decentralized operations by the .

Factional Variations

The Third Klan's fragmentation into autonomous factions after led to minor divergences in titles and vocabulary, though most groups preserved the Second Klan's core hierarchy of Imperial offices, state Dragons, and local Cyclopses. Primary variations centered on the paramount leader's designation, with larger organizations like the (UKA) favoring Imperial Wizard—a title held by Robert M. Shelton from the group's 1961 founding until its 1987 collapse amid civil lawsuits over violence, including the 1965 murder of . Smaller, regionally militant factions, such as the White Knights of active from 1964 under Samuel H. Bowers, occasionally reverted to Grand Wizard or simply Wizard, evoking the Reconstruction-era Klan's to signal ideological purity and separation from national bodies perceived as compromised. Operational vocabulary also adapted to factional priorities, with violence-oriented groups like the UKA emphasizing terms for discipline and security, such as enhanced roles for Klokards (lecturers) in anti-civil rights propaganda and Kludd (chaplains) for justifying as divine mandate. In contrast, politically oriented splinters, including the under in the 1970s, introduced hybrid phrases blending Klan with electoral , like "KlanPAC" for political action committees formed in 1978 to support candidates opposing busing and . Contemporary fragments, such as the Loyal White Knights established circa 2012 in , retain standard ranks like Grand Dragon for state heads but integrate non-traditional signals from broader white supremacist networks, including numeric codes (e.g., "14" for the slogan) over purely Klan-derived phrases, reflecting diluted insularity amid declining membership estimated at under 100 active in many realms by the . These adaptations prioritize interoperability with groups like , diverging from historical while core membership terms like Klansman persist unchanged.

Adaptations in Modern Contexts

In the fragmented landscape of post-1946 Ku Klux Klan groups, core titles such as Imperial Wizard for national or group leaders and Grand Dragon for state or regional heads have persisted with minimal structural alteration, reflecting a decentralized to smaller, independent factions rather than a unified . As of , over 40 active Klan organizations existed, many emerging from recent splits driven by internal disputes, leading to a proliferation of Imperial Wizards across localized units. This oversaturation has diluted the exclusivity of titles, with observers noting an abundance of claimants comparable to fictional archetypes, underscoring the shift from the Second Klan's centralized authority to autonomous, often short-lived entities. Specific examples illustrate retention amid variation: the Loyal White Knights, one of the larger active groups until its effective dissolution around 2018, was led by Imperial Wizard Christopher Eugene Barker, with Grand Dragons like William Ernest Hagen overseeing realms such as . Similarly, the Confederate White Knights employed Imperial Wizard and Grand Dragon for operations, maintaining traditional delineations despite ideological overlaps with neo-Nazi elements in approximately 40% of contemporary factions. Remnants of dissolved groups, such as the Sacred White Knights formed from Loyal White Knights splinters in , continue analogous leadership structures without documented innovation in nomenclature. Adaptations have primarily manifested in operational flexibility rather than terminological overhaul, with titles applied to roles in and localized events, as seen in groups like the Trinity White Knights in , which prioritize flyering under retained hierarchical pretense. Infighting and ideological diversification—encompassing traditional white supremacism, , and —have prompted factional naming conventions (e.g., Teutonic Knights or Global Crusader Knights), yet underlying ranks remain anchored to historical precedents, enabling continuity in ritualistic appeals despite diminished membership, estimated in the low thousands nationwide by monitoring organizations. This persistence prioritizes symbolic mystique over bureaucratic evolution, adapting to modern constraints like scrutiny and digital fragmentation without substantive reinvention.

Vocabulary and Coded Language

Membership Designations

The primary designation for an initiated male member of the during its second iteration (1915–1944) was "Klansman," referring to those who had completed the first degree of membership, designated as K-Uno. This term encapsulated the rank-and-file participants in the organization's activities, distinguishing them from uninitiated candidates or higher-degree members in the second (K-Duo) or third (K-Trio) orders, though the latter were less commonly referenced in standard operations. Within local units known as klaverns, members ascended to roles through or appointment, each bearing a distinctive title prefixed with "Kl-" to evoke and uniformity. The Exalted Cyclops served as the president and chief executive of the klavern, presiding over meetings and rituals. The Klaliff acted as , assuming duties in the Cyclops's absence. Other key designations included the Klokard (, responsible for instructing members), Kludd (, leading prayers and invocations), Kligrapp (secretary, maintaining records), Klabee (treasurer, handling finances), Kladd (conductor, managing initiations and paraphernalia), Klarogo (inner guard), and Klexter (outer guard). Investigators, termed Klokan (singular) or Klokann (plural), scrutinized candidates and enforced discipline. Specialized roles extended beyond klavern officers, such as the , a traveling recruiter compensated via commissions on fees—typically $4 per $10 fee in the —who organized new locals and expanded membership. The Night-Hawk oversaw the fiery cross and candidate processions during ceremonies. Former officers retained honorifics like "Giant" for past Exalted Cyclops. These designations, outlined in the ritual handbook first published around 1916, emphasized hierarchical structure and ritualistic exclusivity, drawing from fraternal orders while adapting to the Klan's nativist and supremacist ethos. In subsequent Klan iterations post-1946, core terms like Klansman and Exalted Cyclops persisted across factions, though some groups simplified or varied them amid fragmentation; for instance, certain modern units retained the for recruitment while others adopted less formalized labels. This vocabulary served not only administrative purposes but also as coded identifiers, fostering in-group cohesion and opacity toward outsiders.

Group and Unit Terms

The Ku Klux Klan designated its local assemblies using era-specific terminology to emphasize secrecy and internal cohesion. During the Reconstruction period (1865–1871), the foundational unit was the "den," a clandestine gathering led by a Grand Cyclops and typically comprising 10 to 40 members for localized enforcement of the group's objectives. In the second Klan's expansion from 1915 onward, particularly peaking in the with membership exceeding 4 million by 1925, the local chapter became the "klavern," an alliterative adaptation suggesting a hidden cavern for meetings, often numbered sequentially within states (e.g., Klavern No. 1 in ). These klaverns handled , rituals, and community actions, convening in "klonklaves" for decision-making. Higher echelons included the "" for state-level coordination, subdivided into "provinces" as geographic or administrative districts to manage dues, , and discipline across jurisdictions. The national structure was the "Invisible Empire," denoting the purportedly omnipresent yet unseen authority overseeing all realms, with conventions termed "klonvocations" for imperial policy-setting, as in the assembly attended by over 20,000 delegates. Post-1940s factions retained these core designations amid fragmentation, though some smaller groups simplified to generic "klan" units without formal provinces, reflecting diminished scale—e.g., fewer than 100 active members in Illinois by the 1960s. This vocabulary, outlined in ritual manuals like the 1921 constitution, reinforced hierarchical loyalty and obscured external scrutiny.

Financial and Operational Vocabulary

The Ku Klux Klan's financial vocabulary centered on dues and fees structured to support its hierarchical organization, with revenues flowing upward from local klaverns to state realms and the national Imperial Palace. New members paid a $10 initiation fee in the 1920s second Klan era, of which $4 was remitted as the "Imperial tax" to the national headquarters, $1.50 as the "realm tax" to the state level, and the balance retained locally for operational costs like regalia and meetings. Monthly dues, typically $1 per member, followed a similar per capita division, with the "provincial tax" or realm portion funding state-level activities such as propaganda distribution. These terms reflected the Klan's pyramid-like revenue model, which generated an estimated $14 million in 1920s fees before inflation adjustment, primarily through recruitment-driven collections. Key roles in financial handling included the Klabee, the klavern tasked with collecting dues, paying bills, and safeguarding funds, etymologically linked to "kaba" (to keep) and "kees" (an ancient Egyptian ). The Klectoken denoted the receipt or token for remitted monthly dues, ensuring accountability in payments preferably made in advance. The Kligrapp, or klavern secretary, compiled quarterly financial reports detailing dues collected, assessments, and Imperial tax remittances, which were forwarded to higher authorities for oversight. Operational vocabulary intertwined with finances through terms governing resource allocation and activities, such as Klonklave for formal business meetings where dues payments and budgets were approved, and Klokann audits by a three-member board reviewing the Klabee's accounts for transparency in expenditures on robes, travel, and "kluxing" operations. These procedures, outlined in the Kloran handbook, emphasized fraternal secrecy while enabling efficient fund disbursement for recruitment drives and local enforcement actions, with dues covering practical costs like $2-6 per robe in the 1920s. In later fragmented groups post-1946, such terms persisted with variations, like simplified dues without formal Imperial taxes amid declining membership.

Identification Phrases and Signals

The utilized coded acronyms, ritualistic phrases, and gestures to enable members to recognize one another discreetly, particularly during the second Klan's peak from to the , when membership exceeded 4 million by 1925. These signals, detailed in the —the ritual handbook compiled by Imperial Wizard William J. Simmons and first published in 1916—served to verify loyalty amid secrecy oaths prohibiting disclosure of identities or proceedings. Verbal cues were embedded in everyday speech to avoid detection, while physical signals reinforced group cohesion in public or ceremonial settings. Prominent acronyms included AYAK ("Are You a Klansman?"), prompting the response AKIA ("A Klansman I Am"), allowing subtle confirmation of affiliation without explicit revelation. Another greeting acronym, ("Klansman, I Greet You"), facilitated polite acknowledgments among known members. KLASP denoted "Klannish Loyalty, A Sacred Principle," invoking a core tenet of fraternal duty. In ritual contexts from the , phrases like Tsog (an abbreviation tied to the standard ) were exchanged as greetings during visitations or ceremonies, while entry to klaverns required whispering a countersign (CS) and (PW), changed periodically to maintain exclusivity. Gestural signals were less emphasized post-first Klan but persisted in the second era. The primary recognition gesture, the Klan salute, involved extending the right arm forward with palm downward, performed at rallies or oaths to symbolize unity and authority; it predated similar gestures in other movements and was retained in some fragmented groups into the late . Ritual manuals specified additional cues, such as the Allw signal (used by officers like the Kladd during naturalizations) or Otds (to open portals), though these were confined to internal proceedings. Exposure of such methods through defectors and federal investigations, including the 1871 congressional hearings on the first Klan, diminished their efficacy over time, leading to adaptations like numeric codes (e.g., 12 for KKK) in post-1946 factions.

Temporal and Calendrical Terms

The Ku Klux Klan utilized a proprietary calendrical system in its internal documents and communications to obscure temporal references from outsiders, employing coded for years, months, weeks, and days. This system, detailed in organizational handbooks such as the , designated years as "Anno Klan" (abbreviated A.K.), reckoned from the order's refounding, with indicating the count; for instance, official correspondence from referenced "Year of the Klan LVII." The Klan year formally commenced each May, diverging from the to align with internal cycles of activity and secrecy. Months, particularly toward year's end, received euphemistic or foreboding designations to veil standard dates: as "Sorrowful," as "Frightful," and as "Appalling," as noted in contemporary Klan kalendars. Weeks and days followed suit with ominous phrasing, such as "Woeful week," "Hideous month," and "Dark day," which appeared in charters for denoting assembly or operational timings, e.g., "the Dark day of the Woeful week of the Hideous month of the Year of the Klan 106." A "cycle" comprised twelve calendar months starting from , providing a secondary reckoning layer for long-term planning or record-keeping. This vocabulary extended to ritual and propagandistic contexts, where phrases like "Anno Klan" prefixed dates in oaths, seals, and publications to evoke continuity with the order's origins while evading . Such terms reinforced internal cohesion but were largely abandoned in fragmented post-1940s groups, which reverted to conventional dating amid declining central authority.

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