Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1891-04-09
GEN. ALBERT PIKE DEAD.
THE MOST PROMINENT MASON IN
AMERICA DIES IN ms Sc yEAR.
FAMOUS Az A MASONIC WRITER
AND JURIsr.


AND JURIsr.
His Career.
General Albert Pike, the most dis
tinguished Mason in America died At
his home in Washington, D. O., April
?, at $ o'clock p. m, being in the 50
year Of his age.
General Pike was venerable grand
commander Of the supreme council Of
inspectors-general, Thirty-third De-
gree Of the Ancient and Accepted Scot
tish Rite Of Free Missionary for the
southern jurisdiction OF the United
States. He was the ranking Masonic
dignitary OF the world. General Pike
was the only Masonic potentate in
America elected and Crowned for
life. He had been at the head OF the
Scottish Rite since 1850 He had also
been at the head Of the Royal order of
Scotland in the United States since that
very exclusive Masonic society was
planted in this country by the Earl of
ROsslyn, about fourteen years ago.
The day that brought William +.
Gladstone into the world was also the
first that Albert Pike opened his eyes
upon. He was born in Boston Decem-
Der 20, 1909. AT l6, he was matricula-
ted at Harvard, but his parents found
that they could not afford the expense
OF the college course and young Pike
left college and began teaching school
In after years, on account Of his ripe
scholarship, Harvard conferred upon
him the degree OF master OF arts.
In 1881 Pike went west. After re-
manning year at Santa Fe, he visited
the head waters OF the Red and Brazos
rivers, with a party Of trappers and,
with his hardy companions, travelled
800 miles on foot to Fort Smith, Ark.
In 1894 he became editor Of the Arkan-
sas Advocate, published at Fort Smith.
While editing the advocate he studied
law and in two years was admitted TO
the bar. In the Mexican war he served
with marked spirit and in the civil war
he was confederate brigadier In com
mand of the Cherokee Indians, and was
in the celebrated battle of Pea Ridge.
His chief service TO the confederacy,
howeve was in making treaties with
the liz ians skirting confederate terri
tory
lii the COS after the war, General
Pike edited the Memphis Appeal, and
from Memphis he removed to New Or
leans and practiced law His legal en-
gagements took him to Washington
about fifteen years ago and here or at
Alexandria, Va, he has lived ever
since. General Pike is author OF
Hymns TO the Gods and prose
Sketches and Poems, and his Arkansas
law reports gave him high standing in
the legal profession many years ago.
1t WAS at Little Rock that this
Grand old Man Of Masonry first saw
Masonic light-where he was entered,
passed and raised. Itwas there, at any
rate, that he first presided as master In
the East. Not very long after making
Washington his home he retired
from the bar and afterwards devoted
his entire time and energy to the order
he loved SO well. The splendid rituals
of the Scottish Rite are for the most
part from his pen. Had he given the
public the full benefit Of his literay la
beors he would to-day rank in the
world of letters with Max Muller and
Thomas Carlyle. Pike had the philo-
logical and critical turn OF the one
with a comprehensive knowledge OF
the Oriental religion, and the bold,
rugged, picturesque style OF expression
which distinguished the other. He al
so reminded one in many respects of
John RuslIin. He reveled in an at
mosphere Of poetic spirituality, and
had little use for the conventional or
commonplace in art or manners.
In appearance Albert Pike was won
derfully striking. He was man OF
giant frame; he was 6 feet inches in
height; his head was Of antique, massive
mould; his face was as soft and rosy as
child's; his silken white hair and beard
flowed freely, his locks falling graceful
ly over his broad shoulders; his eyes
were clear and strong: he never used
glasses. As became his commanding
person the grand commander dressed in
loose, baggy garments, Of simple, soft
texture-a coat or blouse OF blue flannel
a shirt Of unbleached linen, pantaloons
OF confederate gray and large moceas-
sins. His attire suggested somewhat |
his frontier life with the Indians and
trappers OF the exciting days agone. On
state occasions he was always attired in
plain black. He wore no jewelry ex-
cept the obligatory ring of the thirty |
third degree, being triple ring-three !
small gold bands joined together. This |
is worn on the little finger of the right !
hand.
General Pike was very fond of birds, |
and hundred songsters were housed at |
his residence. Next TO birds and flow
ers his fancy was for odd-shaped pipes. |
He had scores Of them Of all shapes and |
sizes, and many Of them with curious
histories.
Genes al Pike made and spent for
tunes. He received a fee of 500, 000 |
from the Creek Indians for securing |
certain land grants, and in six months |
he did not have 81. In another instance /
he was known to have received a fee Of |
$50, 600 and to be dead broke" in thir-
ty days. He never took account Of /
money, and was most princely enter
tainer 1t used TO be his habit to give |
hunting parties and pay all the bills at
an enormous cost to himself. On these
expeditions it was his fancy to do the
cooking himself, and it is said that he
was one Of the finest cooks in the coun-
try. While he was very fond OF nimro-
dian sports, yet in his long life he ney-
er shot living thing, and this made
the purchase OF a very fine gun by him,
imported from London at a cost OF $3.50,
all the more strange. The general en-
joyed an ample revenue from the Ma
sonic fraternity.