The Washington herald., 1913-03-23


Washington are aware that among the
several large libraries which grace the
Capital of the Nation, the Library of
the Supreme Council of the Thirty
third Degree is included. Its present To-
cation Is at the corner Of Third and E
Streets Northwest. but 1t will soon be
moved to the handsome new temple
of the Supreme Council. now in course
of construction at Sixteenth and S
Streets Northwest.
This collection of books, now num-
bering some $4,000 volumes. had its
nucleus in the donation Of the library
of Gen. Albert Pike, who may be re-
garded, therefore. as the founder The
impression often prevails that because
it is a Masonic library, its books are
only of Masonic character. when in
truth there are thousands of volumes
along all general subjects of litera-
ture, ard all proper persons when duly
vouched for are entitled to the privi-
lege Of their persual Gen. Pike. who
was grand commander of the Supreme
Council from 1859 to 1891. was a schol-
ar of worldwide reputation, and an
author of note, who was constantly
purchasing books on every conceivable
subject, and had agents in all parts Of
the globe, who were on the lookout for
his many and varied wants.
w. l.. Boyden Librarian.
A visit to the library and a talk with
the genial librarian, William l. Boy
den. thirty third degree, honorary. dis
closes many interesting features, one
of them being the special collections.
Here is stored the celebrated library
of the late DR.. Leroy NJ. Taylor. thir-
ty-third degree, honorary. on philoso-
ply. occultism, spiritualism, and out
of-the-way subjectS-Some $500 VOL
umes-the original bindings of all of
them having been removed and the
books rebound 10 suit the fancy of the
doctor, who had a hobby on this sub
ject. The Collins collection comprises
about 1900 volumes on Americana,
principally American travels and works
descriptive of American customs and
scenery. the gift of Martin Collins.
thirty-third degree, former inspector
general in Missouri. now deceased.
The Busby collection is the donation
of Hon. William Busby. thirty-third
degree, sovereign grand inspector gen.
eral in Oklahoma, and is entirely on
scientific subjects. The Perkins collec-
tioI comprises some 1,400 volumes on
philosophy. presented by d. E. Perkins.
thirty-third degree. honorary, of Des
Moines, Iowa. The HALEY collection
comprises about 1900 valumes on art
and architecture. and the generous do
nation of d. NJ. HALEY, thirty-third de-
gree, honorary, of Haileyville. Okla.
The Num- collection consists of 1.4O0
volumes on antiquities and archaeol-
ogy, anc is the gift of members of the
Scottish Rite. of Savannah, Ga. as
memorial to The late DR.. Richard ].
Num-. late sovereign grand inspector
general in that State. The Wolf collec-
ton is on Hebraica, and is the donation
gree. honorary, of the District of Co
lumbia. 1t is still being added TO.
about 1000 items being at present on
the shelves. The Parsell collection is
the gift of Henry V. A. Parsell thirty
second degree, of New York and Wash
ington. and is on mechanics, magic, and
kindred subjects. There are about
1900 books aud it is still on the in
crease.
Books on Court Memoirs.
The generosity of Fred A. Cimeran.
thirty-second degree, of Arabi, La.
gives the library his collection of 500
volumes on biography and court me-
moirs. and the New Age collection has
recently been started. and will be the
additions from time to time Of the New
Age Magazine. the official magazine OF
the Supreme Council. published month
feature that these collections are all
on special subjects. a unique feature
also is the fact that most of these COL
leCtions have been purchased by the
librarian with funds provided by the
donors. so that in this way the dupli-
eating of books already in the library
has been avoided. Oil portraits of the
donors adorn the several alcoves in
which their collections are placed.
In addition to the thousa nds of other
volumes in the general library. there
are, of course, the thousands of works
on which 1t specialiZes. namely, the
books. pamphlets, magazines, &C, on
freemasonry. than which there is prob
ably no better collection in the world.
Few persons realize the vast extent of
the literature of Freemasonry. but
when 1t is understood that Masonry is
universal. that II is old. and that in
every cline and country il has its devo-
tees and scholars. who have written
upon the subject in its various phases,
some idea may be gotten of its extent
and rsmifications. One of the scarce
volumes in the library is Robert Plots
Natural History of Staffordshire, Eng
land, printed at oxford. In 1856. and 1t
might be interesting to quote its curl
Gus reference to Freemasonry. in speak
ing of the customs of the county,
wherein The author says:
ITO these add the customs relating
to the county. whereof they have one
admitting men into the Society Of Free
masons, that in the moorlands of this
county seems to be of greater request
than anywhere else, though l find the
custom spread more or less all over the
nation. For here 1 find persons of the
most eminent quality that did not dis
dain TO be of this fellowship. Nor in
deed need they. were it of tnat an
tiquity and honor that is pretended in
large pa: chment volume they have