100 years ago in Spokane: ‘Military Order of the Serpent’ planned downtown parade

From our archives, 100 years ago

Over 300 costumed members of the Military Order of the Serpent – an organization of United Spanish War Veterans – planned to snake their way through downtown Spokane in a bizarre parade.

The group based its rituals “on the Kathee Puna society of the Philippines, and stands for the blood brotherhood of the Filipinos.”

“Admission to the order calls for ‘stabbing with knives and blood infusion among members.’ ”

The members of this U.S. military veterans order gave themselves comical titles, such as “GuGu Grandissimo,” “Lord High Keeper of the Sacred Amphora,” “Insidious Thumper of the Sanctified Sheepshide,” and “Dog Robber to the Unhallowed.” One member boasted the title “Ungodly Villain Smith.”

From the movie beat: The manager of the Auditorium Theatre said he planned to screen “The Birth of a Nation,” in its entirety, in defiance of a city council censorship order.

The council, under a new censorship law, had decreed that two “objectionable scenes be eliminated.” The manager clearly intended to ignore that order.

The city, in turn, threatened to “take such enforcement actions as it deems necessary.”

The showdown was scheduled to take place in four days.