The Washington times., 1901-12-08
THE BOOK OF GOLD
SACRBDLY GUARDED.
UNIQUE V9LUMEIN HOUSE OF TEMPLE
cnnint Patents Issued to the Late
Grand Commander Of the Scot
ti>h Ride s!nsons. General
Albert Pike.

One OF the curious articles IN the Hol!
House of the Temple OF the Scottish Rite
of Free Masonry in Washington, the OF.
fetal residence Of the Grand Commander
is the Book of Gold 1t is sacredly guard
| ed
This ponderous volume is of peculiar
! binding and locked with gold clasp OF
immense size and exquisite workmanship
There is but one key. and that is always
/ in possession Of the Grand Commander
/ The most secret records of the doings OF
the Supreme Council and the recommen-
datloEs and nominations OF the Grand
Commander are between its covers.
The quaint patents issued to the late
Grand Commander, General Albert Pike,
by the Grand Lodge OF the Royal Order at
Edinburgh are within its sacred covers.
The documents are dated October 4, 1871,
and are Of the Restoration Of the order
the 564th year. This was just before the
late Rotert ST. Clair Erskine. Earl Of
Rosslynn. became chief OF this venerable
select society OF Masons.
Extracts from the Contents.
These extracts from their contents viii
prove Interesting to Masonic readers:
In the name Of the holy and Undi-
yided Trinity We, Sir John Whyte,
President OF the Judges and Council,
Deputy GIand Master and Governor OF
the High and Honorable order OF II. X.
NJ OF X. l. ". y. G. and the r. 5. y. c.
s. Sir Alexander. Senior Grand Warden,
and Sir William, Junior Grand Warden,
.rs ls ufrIr GONNA n
Grand Lodge assembled. to Sir Albert.
Knight Of the order OF the r. :. Y. {. s.
send greetings in God everlasting.
BY virtue Of authority vested in US
from time iTnmemorial, we do hereby
grant unto ycu and the rest Of the Right
Worthy and Worshipful Brethren Of the
Royal Order Of H. II. NJ. and Of the K. S.
y. c. S in the United States OF America.
fun power, warrant, and authority to hold
n chapter in Washington or elsewhere
within the United States Of America. so
long as yCu and they shall behave as
brethren OF the said order.
And. Furthermore We hereby invest you
with fun power. warrant, and authority
to depose or displace from his or their Of
fees any officer or officers who shall be
guilty OF improper conduct or i1dignity TO
your Worship, or to fine, mulct. or amerce
them. or any Of them. for the same, with
out being obliged to bring them TO a for
NAL trial. or asking the consent or appro-
bation Of the brethren for so doing, unless
you snail Of your own free will prefer so
to do.
And We further strictly require OF the
brethren in general. your Provincial Grand
Officers. as well as others. to respect, ac-
knowledge and obey you, the said Sir Al
bert, and pay you due respect as Head
Ruler and Governor OF them and their
chapter or chapters In your province"
Founded on Blue Degrees.
The ritual Of this order Is founded upon
the Blue Deerees-entered apprentice. fel-
low craftsman, and master mason-or the
81 Johns Masonry, as it is called in
Scotland.
General Pixies manuscript on the
symbols OF the three degrees OF
Blue Masonry is dedicated to the Royal
Order of Scotland. There are only two
copies. and the author ordered tnat no
more than this number should ever be
made One OF these copies is kept in the
secret vault OF the Holy House for the
lerusal of Masonic scholars. and the other |
was sent by private hand as a Gift TO his |
'iiend. Robert Freke Gould the foremost |
Masonic historian in England This copy
n England is as carefully guarded as the |
me in the Holy Hoaae here.
Head of thc Scottish Rite.
Those who knew General Pixies peculiar |
itness for such an undertaking-ho how he |
lrougbt his poetic feeling and singular
wisdom to bear upon Masonic symbolism |
can imagine what an invaluable treatise
his is General Pike Was looked upon bv
n the Masonic dignitaries and students
f Great Britain as not only the head of
he Scottish Rite. but the most thorough
y informed Master Mason and ablest
,riter on the Blue Degrees in the United
tates.
He gave Gould great assistance in the
reparation OF the history Of Free Ma
onry, the most exhaustive work of this
ort ever published. and as an acknowl-
dEment Of his Indebtedness TO him. Gould
opied with his own hand for General
Ike the rarest and most important man
script yet discovered in the British Mu-
cum.
The Masonic writings left General Pike
re among the most valuable IN the world
nd the vaults OF the Holy House are
lore carefully guarded than were they
He'd with gold and precious stones.