The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-14
STATUE TO ALBERT PIKE.
The Supreme Council of the Sco''ish
Rite To Erect One in Washington

WASHINGTON April l6.-Special.-
Tho Supreme Council Of the Ancient ana
Accented Scottish Rite OF Freemasonry
for the Southern jurisdiction Of the
Irrited states another council OF the
world. whose seat is in the House oil
me Tempe. corner Third and +. streets,
in this city. will soon erect statue OF
the late Albert Pike, VINO was grand
commander for over thirty years, IN one
of the parks or triangIes and present II
10 the government.
The bill, providing suitable size IN
troducea by Representative Qulgg, OF
New York has been reported iSNoTdo!X
bv the Library Committee, and II VIII
be passed at this session. II is PROVIDED
that the statue IS 10 cost not less than
$1,000 but IL is understood that the Ma
sonic Committee having the work III
charge. will willingly pay more II IL gets
lust what u wants in the way or
model or design. Edward V. Valentine
has been suggested here as sculptor
who would be exceptionally well qual-
ned TO execute j splendid figure Of the
nictIresoue man of letters and Masonic
sage. Mr.. Valentine had a personal ac-
ouslntance with General Pike. having
spent some time in his company when
the Grand Commander paid a Masonic
,fsit TO Richmond in 1876.
This will be the first instance OF
Masonic monument erected under gov
eminent auspices II will also be the
Irst instance OF statue IN the
national capital portraying man VINO
held rank in the Confederate army. But
pike Will be represented only IN MS ma
rine character. of course as the Work
is 10 be the gift Of the Supreme Council
which is composed of men OF various
svmpathies and shades Of politics.
Albert Pike was the only great scholar
i'm this country who ever devoted his
whole time to FreemasOnry. This he dld
during the last eighteen or twenty years
Of his life. And from 1891 when ne was
d practicing lawyer, until he gave up ms
practice early I'm the seventies, ana TOOK
mn Masonry as q profession. the Scottish
Rite was very dear to his heart.
When pike was elected Grand Com
mander for life he :ound the rituals of
the degrees from the fourth TO the thir-
tv-thira meagre and poorly constructed.
After wears of toll ne gave 10 the KITE
"a collection of scholarly rituals mat
would have been monument 10 ms gen
ius had he done no more. But the vast
Scottish Rite library contains many vol
umes from mis- pen. The Morals ana
Dogma" which ne gave TO Masonry. Is
matchless work. and is in constant ue-
mand in all Masonic communities.
When pike took the grand commander
shin there was much reference 10 phil
osophy I'm Masonic lectures ana text
books. but nothing like philosophic
system In Masonry had ever been tormu-
lated or attempted In The Morals ana
Dogma" are TO be found luminous as
cusslons Of abstract truth. profound dis
cusslons Of politica, problems and mar
verous sweeps or oriental wisdom and
mystical lore. Yes. Pike placed Free
masonry on d higher intellectual plane
than IL had ever occupied before and
Masonic scholars in Europe and Ameri-
ca have gladly accorded him the lore
most rank in the world Of Masonic let
tiers.
The unwilling Of the Pike statue viii
be a conspicuous event in this city. and
tho ceremonies will be participated in
by many eminent Masons and a commit
tee from Congress.