Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-03
His Masonic Career.

recent biOgraphsr, speaking of Albert Pike,
at was at Little Rock that this grand old
man Of masonry first saw Masonic light-where
lie was initiated, passed and raised 1t was
there at any rate that he first presided as
master in the east. Not very long after max
ing Washington his home he retired from
the bar and has since devoted his entire time
and energy to the order he loves SO well. The
splendid rituals OF the Scottish Bite today are
for the most part from his pen. When he
accepted the grand commandership the
degrees were quite too commonplace
for his broad mind and sublimated
fancy. 30 he vent to work to re-
cast and embellish them, and how we'll he has
succeeded the intellectual, cultured members
of the Scottish Rite can testify. Had he given
the public the full benefit of his literary labors
he would today rank in the world OF letters
with Max FULLER and Thomas Carlyle. Pike
has the pathological and critical turn of the
one. with n comprehensive knowledge of the
oriental religion, and the bold, rugged, pictur-
esque style Of expression which dieting uished
the other. He also reminds one in many re-
spects of John Ruskin. He reyels in an atmos-
phere Of poetic spirituality and has little use
manners.
AN lNDEFATIaABLE WORKER
"In the matter OF book binding and stationery
On the shelves Of the Supreme Councils rare
and magnificent library are seventeen or
eighteen elegantly bound quarto volumes con-
tanning his translation OF the Rigveda, the Zen
dayesta and other works of Aryau literature;
they are not printed, but are In manuscript,
every word being quill written by the transla-
tor-this venerable Masonic sage--and in all
these thousands of pages there is not a scratched
word or an erasure This work has all been
done since Gen. Pike came to Washington and it
will stand % one of the great monuments to the
scholarship and industry of a man who has
done more toward putting Masonry on . high
intellectual plane than any other Mason living,
and, with 9 very, few exceptions. than any
Mason of the past"
Several years ago Gen. Pike caused to be
abolished Ia the southern Jurisdiction the alb
surd, bombsstic and superfiuous titles Of the
Offices and the degrees. For example, his title
was formerly most puissant sovereign grand
| commander. Now 1t is simply grand comman-
der. Instead Of grand minister OF state, that
oticsr u simply minister of state. Instead of
grand secretary general, that officer 10 score
tary general Instead Of the thirty-second de-
gree being entitled sublime prince Of the royal
secret, il Is now ximply master of the royal
secret. Iuspeotors general, thirty-third degree,
until the pruning took place, were styled sovsr-
eign grand inspectors general Gen. Pike, in
proposing to the supreme council the elimins-
ton Of these high-sounding phrsseA explained
that the use OF them made tho order IN object
Of ridieuls in the world
6RN. pIxK's AYRRARANcx.
Albert Piks's appsaranes, 70 which reference
has been made, was wonderfully stEikins and
would attract attention anywhere He was q
| man Of gigantic frame, with large Reed Of the
antique mold; his face YES - soft = IN infant'l
and lust - rpsy, aud his long flowing beard
and silken while lockA which fell gracefully
/ over his Ahouldsrs, vsre much sdnired Hil
| eyes we're ~ clsar and - strong ~ Egsr'a
and - never used glasses. His dress vas sim
! Paieiv ttsslf-a iesss, bs0sy eoas, . shirt Of