 No crosses had been used as a symbol by the first Klan, but it became a symbol of the Klan's quasi-Christian message.Its lighting during meetings was often accompanied by prayer, the singing of hymns, and other overtly religious symbolism.In his novel "The Clansman", Thomas Dixon Jr. borrows the idea that the first Klan had used fiery crosses from 'the call to arms' of the Scottish Clans, and film director D.W. Griffith used this image in "The Birth of a Nation"; Simmons adopted the symbol wholesale from the movie, and the symbol and action have been associated with the Klan ever since.