Yes, I wasn’t trying to characterize the KofC in general, merely explain why it was secretive. The Klan (and yes, other branches of free-masonry) was very active throughout America, not just the Deep South, and their target was largely Catholics, not even principally blacks (until Birth of a Nation). I’ve been researching the Klan in the Southwest professionally, and frankly astounded how the KofC wasn’t just adopting mere ritual, but often wound up using martial force to defend their co-religionists.
Before someone misreads me, when I write, “the Klan (and yes, other branches of free-masonry),” I do not mean that all of Free Masonry shares the hatred of the Klan. But yes, the Klan is a masonic organization whose hatred springs from parent masonic organizations. Free Masonry originally had only 3 levels, was probably much friendlier to traditional Catholicism than Pope Francis, and worked to restore Churches whether they were Catholic or Protestant. Later branches of masonry mixed in ideas from rosencrucianism (sp?), Karballah, the Knights Templar, etc., and in some cases, even Satanism. If anyone wanted to claim these branches were not authentic to masonry, I would hardly oppose that claim, except to note that this pagan filth was extremely prominent throughout America; many prominent preachers and politicians belonged to masonic organizations tainted by such literally diabolical evil, although not nearly as many as claimed by such groups in their propaganda.