The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-31
CENTENNIAL OF
 GEN, ALBERT PIKE IS CELEBRATED Birmingham Bodies of Scottish Rite Masons Observe Anni-
 versary At Temple ADDRESS DELIVERED BY
 GEORGE FLEMING MOORE pr. J. H. Phillips and James Bowron Also Make Addresses-J. w. Mor- ris Among Prominent Visiting
 Masons Who Attended.

yesterday afternoon by the BlrmlngnaIu bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scott tish Rite of Freemasonry in celebration of the centennial anniversary of Gen. Albert Pike, who for more than 30 years was grand commander of the Scottish Rite, supreme council, for the southern Jurisdiction, and was honorary grand commander of numerous supreme councils of foreign countries. The affair took place in the chapter room at the Masonic temple.
 was the address by George Fleming Moore. 83 degree. sovereign grand inspec- tor general for Alabama and Porto Rico. James Bowron, s3 degree-elect of Birmingham, master of kadosh. also deliv- cred an impressive address on the effect that the work of General Pike has had on the thought and action of the nation. Among the notable visiting Scottish Rite Masons present was J. w. Morris. sovereign grand inspector general of West Virginia
 The music was on an unusually pre- tentious scale and was furnished by the solo quartet of the Episcopal Church of the Advent, of which Prof. Fred L. Grambs is director. The quartet consists of Miss Bessie Cunningham. soprano; Mrs. Marie Kern-Mullen, alto; Harry L.. Culver. bass. and J. A. Bate. tenor. The numbers rendered were as follows:
 Rest in Peace," quartet.
 "Ah, Force Lui," aria from La Tray iata tverdD. Miss Bessie Cunningham.
 "Oh, mic Fernando" Donizetti, Mrs. Marie Kern-Mullen.
 Evening Hymn," Rheinberger. quartet.
 pr. J. H. Phillips. Ss degree. deputy in- spector general for north Alabama, pre- sided. and following the invocation by the Rev. L. c. Branscomb, pastor of the First Methodist church, spoke of General Pike as one of the really great men of the nineteenth century, man who excelled in many things and who acquired inter- national fame as a poet, a linguist and greatest of all as philosopher. pr. Phil lips first introduced William P. Aldrich, 33 degree-elect, who read Every Year." one of General Pike's most famous poems, as an example of his ability in that field.
 MT. Moore was introduced as man who for many years enjoyed the close per sonal acquaintance and friendship of Gen. eral Pike. MT. Moore said that his first impression upon meeting General Pike was of his massive frame and head, fit ting repositories for the giant intellect which he possessed" Many of the speak CTS references to General Pike were of a personal nature that made them doub- ly interesting and impressive to the large audience present Calling atten- tin to the fact that General Pike was born on the same day of the same year as William D. Gladstone. he first alluded to his greatness as poet "But General Pike did not place high value upon his ability as a poet" said the speaker. 'He insisted all through his life that his poems should not be published. and when once submitted some youthful verses of my own to him for his opinion he gave them some praise but urged me not to let them be published
 'Hs was also great as 1urist and I have 1t upon the highest authority that President Lincoln would have appointed him to the supreme court of the United States if he had wished the place.
 "He was great as a soldier, and dis tinguished himself on the Held at tho bat tie of Buena Vista and in later years be- came g brigadier general in the Confed- crate army. But though he fought for the Stars and Bars no man has done more to inculcats reverence and love for the Starr and Stripes than has Albert Pike.
 ''1e also distinguished himself as an ex- plorer. He made notable trips through the wild western country. and while 1t is not generally known, he was the first man to suggest an international railway which should bring the Pacific coast in touch with the east.
 "As an alchsmist he was . man who dealt not with chemicals as did the old alchsmists, but his work was to trans- mute the baser passions of man to tho higher realms of human endeavor, where men become worthy of the life they arc to live hereafter.
 "As philosopher he was greatest of all. He was . true representative of philosophy in his original sense. lover of wisdom and as . seeker after truth he established his name and fame forever.
 ''TIis learning was prodigious. Tho last interview I had with him I found him translating some books from the ancient sanscript He learned sanscript after he was N years of age. and translated the old Vegas into English after he was 70 The magnituds of this work can be ap-. preciated when 1t is known that these translations now preserved in Washing ton mako four volumes of 75o pages each of closely written manuscript, ana through tho whole four volumes there cannot be found . single srasure or in- terlineation.
 '1Iis work is, of course. appreciated most by Trsemasons and his whole life was devoted to the task of making the 86ffd wiser and hettsr. and in 70 doing making himself wiser and better.
 'srhere h preasrvsd in the temple at washington pencil and piece Of scratch
 sb which arc inolossd in frame. On hi6 deathbed, after he had lost the power of speech. hs called for psner and papsy and wrots the Hshesw weEds wiaich trans lated mean Peace. peace. psace.' They were his last words"
 James Bowron said in opening his ad- dsss. T an giaA to sec suoh an audisnee