The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-25
ALBERT Pike
THE HERO OF AMERICAN FREE
MASONRY.
(COmmunicated.)

following bit of news:
More than hundred Scottish Rite
Masons, who attended the meeting in
Washington of the Supreme Council
for the Southern jurisdiction of the
Order, made pilgrimage to Glenwood
Cemetery today to decorate the grave
of General Albert Pike, one of the
founders of Masonry in the United
States"
Albert Pike is still the hero of Amer
ican Freemasonry. The pilgrimage to
Glenwood Cemetery is the proof An
other proof is the installation some
years ago of a statue to him in front
of the Masonic Temple in the City of
Washington. Still another is the con-
tinued reverence with which his name
is hailed whenever it is mentioned in
Masonic lodge rooms and the author
ity as that of an oracle which is ac-
corded to his writings. Undoubtedly
Albert Pike ranks high among the
highest in American Freemasonry. In
view of all this, it may not be amiss
to recall his military record at time
when America was in peril of death,
when the civil and political liberties
of the world, dependent upon the sur
vival of the Stars and Stripes, were
menaced with ruin and long oblivion.
The part of Albert Pike in the Civil
War is such that Americans, Freema-
sons no less than others, should be
ashamed to do him honor.
Albert Pike in taking up arms
against the Union had not the excuse
that he was native of one of the
Confederate States He was born and
grew to manhood in Massachusetts.
In taking his place in the Confederate
ranks, he was arraying himself against
his friends and neighbors. Not only
did he arm himself against his own
State and the Union to which Massa-
chusetts was so loyal, but he did this
through means disgraceful to civilized
warfare, enlisting under his flag the
semi-barbarous Indians of the South
western plains and letting loose their
savage instincts in wild conflict
against the forces of the Union.
In the battle of Pea Ridge, or Elk
Horn Tavern, in Missouri, Albert Pike
as Brigadier General commanded two
regiments of Cherokees and one of
Greeks, whom he had, through his
personal influence and efforts, induced
to join the Confederate army. Gen
eral John w. Noble, of st. Louis, Sec
retary of the Interior under President
| Cleveland, was a cOmbatant at Pea
Ridge. Reading a paper before the
Companions of the Loyal Legion, in st.
Louis, he describes the behavior of
those regiments in the battle.
Together with Texan regiments, the
Cherokees charged upon the Third
Iowa Cavalry and the Artillery sup
porting them. The charge was at the
outset successful; the guns of the
artillery were captured, but not the
caissons. A considerable part of the
Indian forces stopped with the cap
tured shooting wagons" falling into
confusion, laughing, talking, riding this
way or that, wholly regardless of or
ders (See Pixies own official report).
Here and there "a ward of the nation"
artillery horse on his neck, the trace
chains changing at his heels, exclaim-
ing, me big Ingen, big as horse" The
Union Cavalry rallied and charged.
Then the Indians (See again Pixies
own report) could not be induced to
appear in the open field, each one seek
| ing a tree in the woods beyond the
prairie. Later the whole horde scam
pered off to the mountains, having,
however, before their flight murdered
and scalped many of the wounded
Union soldiers. General Pike led a
feeble band, the following day, to the
heights of Big Mountain, near Elk
Horn, where he was of no use in the
battle, and whence he fed, between
roads, through the woods, "disliked,"
says General Noble, "by the Confed-
crates, and detested by the Union
men"
General Noble sums up Pixies rec
ord, as that of one, ito be known in
history as son of Massachusetts,,
born in Boston-who, in the middle of
the nineteenth century, led merci-
less, scalping, numbering, uncontrolla-
BILE horde of half-tame savages, in de-
Tense Of slavery, themselves slave
holders, against that Union, his own
native State was then supporting, and
against the flag of liberty. He scarce
ly struck blow in open fight. His
service was servile and corrupt: his
fight was abject, and his reward, dis
grace"
And Albert Pike is the terrestrial
deity of American Freemasonry! And
in the Capital City OF America more
than a hundred Scottish Rite Masons
go In solemn pilgrimage to decorate
his grave to draw thence inspiration to
foster brotherhood, liberty and
| patriotism!