Supreme Kingdom
The Supreme Kingdom was a short-lived white supremacist religious organization founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Edward Young Clarke after his fall from power, blending fundamentalist anti-evolution activism, anti-atheist politics, school purges, fraternal-style secrecy, and religious nationalism into a new vehicle for Klan-adjacent influence; through figures such as John Roach Straton, Caleb A. Ridley, and Roy E. Davis, it connected Baptist fundamentalism, Klan leadership, anti-modernist crusading, financial exploitation, and white supremacy networks that overlapped with the religious world surrounding Davis and, later, William Branham.
The Supreme Kingdom was a short-lived white supremacy religious cult[1] founded by former Ku Klux Klan Imperial Wizard pro tempore Edward Young Clarke,[2] who was ousted from the 1915 Klan after violations of the Mann Act[3] protecting young women from sexual abuse. It was originally organized under the name "Supreme Kingdom Shrine", but renamed after members of the Mystic Shrine filed an injunction.[4] After leaving the Klan, Clarke formed the "Supreme Kingdom", and began advocating for extreme fundamentalism, seeking to drive all proponents of "evolution, atheism, and revolution"[5] from the American School System. One of his first orders of business was a widespread interrogation of all teachers, professors, and ministers in Georgia[6] resulting in a motion ordering several Georgia teachers to resign.[7]
One of Clarke’s strongest and most famous advocates was Evansville, Indiana native John Roach Straton. Straton was paid $30,000 (almost a half of a million dollars in today's money)[8] to lead the organization as the "religious director."[9] Straton held leading pastoral positions in several major cities including Chicago, Baltimore, Norfolk, and most notably at the Calvary Baptist Church in New York City.[10] After newspapers published Straton's salary, however, Straton denied the claims.[11] During a lecture advocating for the group in Macon, Straton attacked the newspapers for publishing his salary, after which many people in the audience walked out.[12]
Straton's connections to white supremacy and his views on race and relationships with blacks were exposed in 1927, however, after the Macon Telegraph published an investigative report into the new white supremacy group and Straton was named.[13] On the front page of the Telegraph, under a headline reading "Straton Battles Against Evolutions' Peril As E. Y. Clarke Reaps More 'Sucker Money'", reporters exposed the group for planting the data used for the lectures against the atheists.[14] The paper not only exposed Straton's financial gains but also the substantial amount of money benefiting Clarke during his years as leader of the Klan. After the publication, Straton attempted to distance himself from the Supreme Kingdom. On January 11, 1927, the trustees of the Calvary Baptist Church demanded that Straton provide a complete description of the "Supreme Kingdom" before he was permitted to use the Calvary Baptist Church to further the cause.[15] By January 20, Straton was forced to resign from the "Supreme Kingdom", the New York Fundamentalist League (Bible Union), and the New York State Bible Union."[16]
Roy E. Davis worked closely with Straton as one of the national directors of the "Fundamentalists of the World". Davis and Straton held bible conferences for a period of three years.[17] Davis also worked with the Ku Klux Klan Imperial Kludd,[18] Caleb A. Ridley,[19] who was also a leader in the Supreme Kingdom sect.[20]
Edward Young Clarke was found guilty of cheating and swindling in connection with the "Supreme Kingdom" and his other organization, the "Esskays".[21] During the course of the trial, it was learned that Clarke had several enterprises, many of which were in bankruptcy, and some were incorporated in Indianapolis, Indiana.[22]