om West Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama or Texas,
visiting in a neighborhood where the order prevailed, would be
initiated, and on his departure carry with him permission to establish
a "den" at home. In fact, it was often done without such permission.
The connecting link between these "dens" was very fragile. By a sort
of tacit agreement the Pulaski Klan was regarded as the source of
power and authority. The Grand Cyclops of this "den" was virtually the
ruler of the order, but as he had no method of communicating with
subjects or subordinates, and no way in which to enforce his mandates,
his authority was more fancy than fact. But so far there had appeared
no need for compact organization, rigid rules and close supervision.
The leading spirits of the Ku Klux Klan were contemplating nothing
more serious than amusement. They enjoyed the baffled curiosity and
wild speculations of a mystified public even more than the rude sport
afforded by the ludicrous initiations.

Such is the account of the Ku Klux Klan in the first period of its
history from June, 1866 to April, 1867;[31] yet all this time it was
gradually, in a very natural way, taking on new features not at first
remotely contemplated by the originators of the order; features which
finally transformed the Ku Klux Klan into a band of "Regulators."

The transformation was effected by the combined operation of several
causes: (1) The impressions made by the order upon the minds of those
who united with it; (2) The impressions upon the public by its weird
and mysterious methods; (3) The anomalous and peculiar condition of
affairs in the South at this time.

The mystery and secrecy with which the Klan veiled itself made a
singular impression on the minds of many who united with it.

The prevalent idea was that the Klan contemplated some great and
important mission. This idea aided in its rapid growth. And on the
other hand the rapid extensions of the Klan confirmed this idea of its
purposes. When admitted to membership this conclusion, in the case of
many, was deepened rather than removed by what they saw and heard.
There was not a word in the ritual or in the obligation or in any part
of the ceremony to favor such a conclusion; but the impression still
remained that this mysteriousness and secrecy, the high-sounding
titles of the officers, the grotesque dress of the members, and the
formidable obligation, all meant more than real sport. This impression
was ineradica