Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-10-19

River and INTO the Staked Plains, then
to the head waters of the Brazos,
part of the time without food OF
water. Finally Pike, with four
others, left the company and reached
Fort Smith, Ark, in December, 1882,
after passing through almost incredi-
BILE perils and hardships. He first
turned his attention to trading, then
became editor of the arkansas AdU0-
cate. After three years. occupancy OF
the editorial tripod, he sold out his
paper and entered upon the practice
of law at Little Rock, in which he was
very successful. For many years
he was recognized as the fore
most lawyer and brightest intel
lectua1 light in Arkansas. His
Hymns to the Gods" contributed to
BldckUood's Magazine in 1889, at
once gave him an honored name among
American poets. He served as Cap
tain of company in an Arkansas regi-
ment IN the Mexican war, and COM
manded brigade of Arkansas troops
in the Confederate army. In 1867 he
removed to Memphis and became editor
of the Appeal, removing to Washing
ton the following year. He retired
from the practice of law in 1880, and
has since devoted his attention to itera-
ture and Freemasonary.
As Venerable Grand Commander of
the Supreme Council of Inspectors
General, Thirty-third Degree, of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of
Free Masonry for the Southern Juris-
diction of the United States, whose See
is at Charleston, in the State of South
Carolina" being "the Mother Supreme
Council" General Pike is the ranking
Masonic dignitary of the world. Gen
eral Pike is the only Masonic poten-
tate in America elected and crowned"
for life. He has been at the head of
the Scottish Rite since 1859. He has
also been at the head of the Royal
Order of Scotland in the United States
since that exclusive Masonic order was
planted in this country by his lord
ship the Earl of Rosslyn, about
twelve or thirteen years ago.
The Ancestral Council, as Gen. Pike
sometimes styles it, was founded at
Charleston in 1901. The "high grades"
under the name of Rite of Perfection,
limited to 25 degrees, had fourished
in France since the middle of the last
century, but until 1901 there had never
been any organized governing body.
The Charleston Council at the start
added eight degrees, making thirty
three in all, and exercised Scottish
Rite jurisdiction over the entire globe, 1
until it granted patents for the estab-
hshment of other Supreme Councils of
the thirty-third degree, with co-ordi-
nate administrative rank, several years
later. It issued the patent for the
Northern jurisdiction in 1913. There
are now between twenty-five and
thirty Supreme Councils scattered
throughout the world, each having its
charter or patent either directly or in
from the Charleston Mother
Council. Some years ago representa-
tives of these councils met in con-
vention at Lausanne, in Switzerland,
and formed league or confederation,
and this inter-conciliar affair recog-
nized General Pike as the Senior
Grand Commander and President, al
though he was not present in person.
Thus a sort of primacy or Masonic
patriarchate has come about, and Gen
eral Pixies successor as Grand Com
will be recognized and respect
ed as President of the Confederation.