El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-25

Ell Paso Consistory Cele-
brates the Event With
Speeches in Hall.
Personal Recollections Of
Gen. Albert Pike by
Capt. T. j. Beall.


vision of the great man himself, lead
ing members of the Ell Paso Consistory
spoke Of the life and deeds of Gen AL
bert Pike, for more than 80 years grand
commander of the supreme council
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite
Masons of the southern jurisdiction of
the United States, and known as the
| grand old man of Masonry
The Tooth anniversary of the birth OF
Gen Pike occurred on Dec. %, but be-
| cause the date occurred during the holI-
days. the celebration of the anniversary
was postponed by the FL PaSo consis-
. tory until Monday evening, when full
measure of tribute was paid the man
who by the touch Of his hand gave FL
J Paso Masonry its start in the direction
/ OF its present success.
In the lodge room of the Masonic
temple where the exercises Were he'd
I was the altar that was constructed IN
I der Gen. Pixies personal supervision
4 when he visited FL Paso in 1883 on his
way TO California This altar mas the
metal horns, the, rail, gate columns and
| candelabra symbolic of the order and is
cherished as ore of the most sacred
relics OF the Ell Paso lodge of Perfec-
/ ton, because of its connection with the
] history of Gen. Pike.
! Capt. T. J. BeaH, who spoke at the
anniversary on Albert Pike. Man and
Mason" was listened to with unusual
interest because he had the honor of
, having Masonic degrees conferred upon
him by Gen. Pike, the man whom the
FL Paso Masons had met TO honor. Capt.
Bealrs address consisted of sketch OF
the great Master Mason, both as a man
and as a Mason and TO the interesting
IL.
Gen. Pike, Capt. Beall added a wealth
of "Reminiscences to his talk on the great
Mason. His personal association with
Gen. Pike and his memory for the de-
tails of the mans character, little
things that would have been overlooked
had it not been for Capt. BealfS talk,
made this part of the program one of
the most interesting of the entire ami
verSary meeting.
Sketch of Gen. Pike.
a sketch of Albert Pike prepared
from the scattered data referring TO his
life and works by one of the local
Mas follows:
Albert Pike was born Dee. 30, 1909, in
Boston, Mass. He died April ?. 1891. at
Washington. d. c., at the age OF 50.
His early life was passed in New3ury,
Mass, where he was educated IN the
grammar and primary schools. Later
he dIlGHQcu (OllSSS, nav NJ
taught 10 make money for his tuition
and expenses. After graduating from
Harvard college, he taught school until
1881. when he went west as far Santa
Re, y. NJ. reaching there in 1892. There
he Joined hunting and trapping party
to explore the PecoS river region and
staked plains country of west Texas.
A School Teacher.
In December, 1892, he reached Fort
Il .-.wl,~ IL,
wrote political and literary essays.
These writings attracted the attention
of the mana cement of the Little Rock |
Advocate and he was offered and ac-
cepted the associate editorShip of the /
paper. When the Mexican war broke !
out in 1916 he joined the American forces !
and was a captain under Gen. Zachary (.
Taylor In 1861 when the civil war 1
threatened, he cast his lot with Arkan-
sas and the confederacy and was made ,
a brigadier general and placed in COM /
mand of the Indian territory.
After the war he spent some time in 4
Louisiana. where he translated the
French law into English his transla-
tions yet standing as the code in
Louisiana He was made a Mason in
Little Rock in July, 1850. He became
a Royal Arch Mason at the same place
about the same time Jhd Knight
CE4pidi III 1000. he VcSTteS OI the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite were
conferred upon him at Charleston, S.
c., on March 20, 1853.
His Masonic History.
He was made a 33d degree honorary
OF the supreme council at New
Orleans on April %, 1857. He became
an active member of the supreme coun-
ell on March 80, 1858, and was made
sovereign grand commander of the
southern jurisdiction on June 2, 1859,
which position he filled with great
honor to himself and the lodge until
his death in Washington. The position
as sovereign grand commander is now
filled by Gen. James d. Richardson.
who was in 81 Paso last year on an
inspection trip of the lodges in his
J. J. Ormsbee, SO degree. honorary,
and one OF the leading members of the !
I. Fl Paso Masonic bodies, presided at
the Albert Pike Tooth anniversary. and
before introducing the speakers on the
program spoke briefly regarding the ,
man whom the FL Paso Masonic lodge (
had sought TO honor. Mr.. Ormsbee
said: I
j. j. Ormsbee Speaks. {
We are assembled here this evening i
20 celebrate the Tooth anniversary of !
he birth of man who achieved enc /
,ess as a teacher a LAWYER. a so1diay :
L poet, a scholar, and a pbilosonber f
L may be asked why We as Masons +
should honor the memory of Albert a
Pike more than that of other men Who c
nave stood head and shoulders above @
their comrades. Some of them have ]
,een Masons, too, but none other has f
leVoted the best part of his life to the Il
'esults as did Gen. Pike.
FOR more than 80 years. from Jan.
!, 1853 to April 2, 1891. he served as
grand commander Of the Ancient ana J