Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-19

an outcome the prac-
tical dismantling of library which is probably
the most valuable, Masonically, in the world.
and, considering the collections numbers, one
OF the rarest and most unique in a general
sense well.
Comparatively few people at the capital with
literary turn of mind are doubtless aware Of
the existence Of library here to which they
might have had free access during the last nine
years outside of the congressional collection
under Mr.. Spofford s supervision. But there is
such library, and ever since the Scottish Rite
Supreme Council took possession of its new
temple at Sd and Z streets northwest the col
lection has been steadily growing. 1t now
numbers about $1,000 titles and nearly 10, 900
books all told, and while in point of aggregate
contents and variety 1t does not begin TO COM
pare with the Goo. 900 individual works on the
catalogue of the Congressional Library. in the
direction of costly old literature, antique speci-
mems Of typographical work and literary
well as historical curios Of an all-around char
acter the governments possessions are. if
anything, inferior. To secure the 1900 vol
umes entaied an outlay of nearly 900. 900; but
many of the rarer class of works were
picked up in old book stalls for comparatively
little or nothing. and these gems are next to
priceless now In the present owners hands.
MOVEMENT TO START THE LIBRARY.
As early as 1850 Messrs. Frederic Weber and
Council to purchase choice books as the nucleus
OF library for the headquarters of the organ
ization known as the Southern Jurisdiction of
the United States. With the assistance of Gen.
Albert Pike and the liberal expenditure of
money the library soon assumed fair proper
tons, and within four years quite 10, 600 vol
unes occupied the quarters prepared for them
at the new temple. Then Gen. Pike. as the
head of the Supreme Council. generously offered
to donate his entire private collection of 5000
volumes of the choicest variety which the
famous Mason had gathered during forty years
OF travel and searching for any literary rarities
and oddities to be found on both sides of the
Atlantic. The Supreme Council. however,
would not accept the gift without a val
liable consideration, freely as the proposed
donor extended it and finally purchased the col
lection at an appralscment of COO, set upon
1t by dlsiaterested judges. In this way the or
ganization became possessed of Gen. Pixies
hundreds of books and manuscript on Masonry,
which are everywhere acknowledged by the
most advanced members of the fraternity to be
the finest exposition of Masonic principles ex-
tant Besides. there were rare specimens OF
minerals, fossils and general curiosities, in ad-
Gitlon TO the works OF a more strictly literary
nature, aud these Gen. Pike kept enlarging in
quantity until his death, i'll April. 1891.
THE PUBLIC SHUT OUT.
At the October convocation q rule was de-
clared obligatory on the secretariat that, be-
ginning with 1898, non-members of the Scot
fish Rite should no longer be permitted TO have
free acccss-or. indeed, access of any kinj-to
the costly rows of books stored in the temple
Directions were also given whereby members
in twenty-nine states and territories. from the
Canadian frontier to Texas, are allowed the
privilege of having such books as they apply
for sent them by mail for use. on condition
that each volume must be returned within a
certain period. Western members were mainly
responsible for this action and their conteation
il it, favor was that western con;istories had
in reality contributed largely to the 600 900
invested in the library. which. being located
here III Washington, WAS practically denied
them for use. unless the Supreme Council
pI ohibited. further access to the agCre-
CATION on the part of the general public
and authorized the move. which is soon to be
lnaugurated Under this argument the law
was passed. but the great objection now being
urged among Washington members IL the more
than probable loss of many valuable books
which can never be replaced, through the
neglect of distant members to return them,
and the common wear and tear of constant ship
nlent to and fro. Bat whatever may be the re-
suit of the experiment, it cannot be repealed
until 1894, when the next couvocation occurs,
and meanwhile the most valuable portions of
the library may be numbered among the miss
ing. The outside demand. though. Col. White
thinks. will be largely for the works Of a par-
ticdlarly Masonic nature and in the line of
fiction. in which event the rare classes are not
SO apt TO drop out of the files through the ac-
cidents of Transmission.
THE MASONIC DIVISION
Although large in numbers and furnishing
very complete data of almost every description.
the Masonic division of the library consists in
the main of publications. of comparatively re-
cent years. Aside from the many expositions
from Gen Pixies own pen, the bulk comprises
published reports Of grand lodges IN the United
States and supreme lodges abroad, over large
number of which ROYALTY presides. This por-
ton of the $4,000 volumes is of course largely
valuable for its completeness more than for any
other reason, but the lower gallery contains the
specimens which would delight the heart of the
most exacting literary connoisseur.
Possibly the rarest book among the number
is the divine Poemander OF Hermes Trisma-
gistus." The original manuscript and printed
copies of this philosophical treatise on the wis
dom and power OF a supreme being were in the
Greek language, and have probably been lost
for hundreds Of years, no traces OF either
are known. But the work was translated into
Latin by Marsi,ius Ficinus during the fifteenth
century and again printed at Venice in 1893.
The copy in possession of the Supreme Council
was struck off at that time and DR.. Elliott Coues
of the Smithsonian who edited the ornitholoel-
cal definitions of the Century Dictionary, Sc
cured it while abroad in 1889. 1t was pur-
chased for q mere song. but the ancient book is
priceless now. for perhaps there are not more
than five copies like 1t in existence. The old
Latin idioms would scarcely be ineligible
to the average modern Latin scholar,
but DIR. COues made copious fsot notes
on the work, and presented it to Gen. Pike,
who, In turn, gave the Greek philosophers
masterpiece into the keeping of the Scottish
Rite. The original covering of the book is still
intact without rent, and the type is large and
clear. Considering that the printers work
was performed within one year of four GEN.
turtles ago, when this country had not been dis
covered above a twelvemonth, the whole il re-
markably well preserved and literary rarity
among rarities.
WEALTH OF ANCIENT HISTORY.
Hundreds of other books range in title from
ancient history by ancient authors and essays
on the oriental and Asiatic peoples to complete
histories of the continental nations, American
Mexican and South American ethnoIogy and
ethnography. The choicest of English, French
and American literature, classical and other
wise, follows, coupled with the efforts Of earliest
English prose writers and antiquarians. Philo-
logical students would have no dearth of mat
ter in their line to complain about here and the
antiquarian in Anglo-Saxon lore could find an
abundance Of literature OF King Afred's and
Beowuks time. The poetical attractions COM
prise specimen copies complete of ali the En-
Rlish poets. even in periods long prior to the
Norman conquest. but unquestionably tho
most varied collection as well as the most valu-
able belongs to dramatic compositions.
Naturally drnmaa Of En0lish authovu1;r .rn