Ill. Albert Pike, 33° Degree
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When most of us think of Albert Pike, our image is influenced by the pontifical-looking statues and busts of
Pike sculpted when he was an old man, rather overweight, and a bit shabby looking. Of course, whenever
Pike's name is mentioned, we instantly remember his famous "Morals and Dogma." Unfortunately, the
mental picture we generally have of Albert Pike is skewed, and fails to give an accurate depiction of this
colorful and active Freemason. Today, our image of Pike comes from old photographs, paintings and busts
that gather dust in dank, dark hallways. We have wrapped the poor man with so much plaster, marble, and
bronze that we have quickly lost sight of the vital and vibrant man himself. Who was - or better yet - what was Albert Pike? A brief review of Pike's life reveals that he was of the following: Teacher: As a young adult, Pike started as a schoolteacher, and would return to the classroom several times during his life. When he no longer taught in a classroom, he used the pages of newspapers, magazines and the Scottish Rite to inform and educate people. Poet: He started writing poems at a very early age and won a great deal of critical acclaim. The renowned Edgar Allan Poe praised him as America's greatest classic poet, and Pike's poetry was printed in every major literary magazine of the day. Essayist: Pike's essays covered an immense amount of ground. Some, such as his essays on the transcontinental railroad, the economic future of the South, and infrastructure improvements in Arkansas, were economic. Many, however, were political, satirical, or biographical. Others were philosophic, such as his essays that comprise Morals and Dogma. Trapper/Explorer: His treks through what is now Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico was the source of several short stories and poems, and he became a widely acknowledged authority on that part of the country. Historian: Pike's records give us some of the earliest detailed descriptions we have of New Mexico and the old Southwest. In addition, he contributed to several other histories written by many imminent authors of the day. Revolutionary: As a young man, Pike was both a revolutionary and a radical on social issues, and he never lost that fire throughout his life. Support for revolution occurs in his many of his works. Repeatedly, he wrote into the ritual of the Scottish Rite the absolute right of men to self-determination, the wrongness of tyranny in any form, and the right of an oppressed people to retake their liberty by any means necessary. A great admirer of our revolutionary Masonic ancestors, he was greatly influenced by their patriotic views. Short Story Writer: He wrote over a hundred short stories that appeared in many of the leading literary magazines of the day. Newspaper Editor: He served as Editor for The Arkansas Advocate, The Memphis Appeal, and The Patriot. Bon Vivant: Typically, when in a restaurant today, we simply order the entree we want and take whatever comes with it. However, a meal in the 19th Century was a very different experience. One selected the first course from many alternatives, prepared in many different ways, and a wine to accompany it. One specified what vegetables were to accompany that course, how the salad was to be prepared, and so on. The same was true for each subsequent course of the meal. Five courses were considered the minimum, and seven were not at all uncommon. Pike was so knowledgeable as a gourmet that other restaurant patrons would simply tell their waiters to duplicate whatever Pike was having. Many newspapers of the day would reprint Pike's epicurean choices for their readership's education in the "art of eating well." Lawyer: Pike became one of the best-known lawyers in the South. He had a very large and lucrative practice, and was later admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court at the same time as Abraham Lincoln - whom he knew and greatly admired. Legal Scholar: In addition to practicing law, Pike developed a reputation as a legal scholar. He recodified the laws of Arkansas; he wrote and published The Arkansas Form Book, which contained not only digests of the law, but also a complete set of legal forms (wills, mortgages, etc.); he was the reporter for the Arkansas Supreme Court; and he became a nationally recognized authority in the field of comparative law. Educational Reformer: Pike's interest in public education and progressive reform, never weakened. He advocated a system of free, publicly supported education for all children in Arkansas, regardless of race or creed. In fact, his theories about the learning patterns of children and the importance of self-learning became the forerunner of today's popular Montessori system of teaching that has proven so effective for young children. Political Activist: Until the outbreak of the Civil War, Pike was deeply involved in the political life of Arkansas and the South. He served as chairman of numerous political parties and committees, wrote extensively on contemporary political issues, and worked tirelessly in campaigns for the Whig party (the same party to which Lincoln belonged). Humorist: After attempting to read Morals and Dogma, it is difficult to envision Pike as a comedian, but Pike's humorous writing took on various forms. In prose, he wrote mock essays, such as those on the "philosophy" of walking, bowling, and smoking a cigar. He also wrote half dozen truly hilarious poems depicting various political and social events of the day. Publisher: In addition to working as a writer and editor, Pike was also owner or part owner of several newspapers, and one short-lived literary magazine. Apologist: The term "apologist," meaning one who writes or speaks in defense of some person, cause or action, has largely vanished from contemporary English. Yet, in his eloquence, passion and zeal, Pike is considered by academic scholars to be of equal rank and skill with the great American apologists Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and Henry David Thoreau. His best-known work is his defense of both the Masonic Fraternity and the American value system against the attack by Pope Leo XIII. However, his powerful portrayals of the lot of women in the 19th Century and the movement for women's' rights, his defense of the poor, and his support of the Bill of Rights, show that his concerns for justice and toleration were not limited to just Freemasonry. Military Commander: Pike served as Captain of the Little Rock Artillery, as a Captain in the War with Mexico, and as a Brigadier General in the Civil War (unfortunately, for the wrong side). Orator: He was the most popular orator of his time in Arkansas, and one of the best known throughout the country. He was in constant demand at debate societies, political conventions, and civic and patriotic events. His logical and rhetorical style was impeccable. State Supreme Court Chief Justice: After resigning as an army officer, Pike served as Chief Justice of the Arkansas State Supreme Court. Social Reformer: At an early age, Pike became convinced that social reform was absolutely essential, and advocated reforms that were highly radical for his time, including: The rights and equality of women, the legal protection of children, economic reform, access to legal advice for the poor and dispossessed, improved working conditions for laborers, as well as economic actions to insulate them against the cycles of business, and the reform of both prisons and the treatment of prisoners. Indian Advocate: Pike was deeply concerned about the treatment of American Indians by the Federal Government and white society in general. He became their advocate in Congress, pressing for the payment of the claims due them from the Federal Government for lands taken from the Indians. He also lobbied for legislation guaranteeing them legal rights. Philosopher: Philosophy was, perhaps, Pike's truest love. He read it constantly and wrote widely on the topic. In Morals and Dogma, he attempted one of the first general courses of philosophy and comparative religion ever written in America. Freemason: Pike was the quintessential Freemason of the 1800s. He held offices in virtually every Masonic Body, but his work and tenure as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, including his revision of the Scottish Rite's ritual. Albert Pike was born in Boston on December 29, 1809. He received his early education in Boston, and entered Harvard College in 1825, supporting himself by teaching. He advanced only as far as the junior year when his lack of finances forced him to continue his education alone. He returned to teaching in the Boston area, where he was principal of a grammar school, and soon established a private school of his own. In later years, he had attained such national and international recognition for his poetry and short stories that the Harvard faculty awarded him a Master of Arts degree. In 1831, he went west with a trading party to Santa Fe. The following year, with a trapping party, he went down the Pecos River and into the Staked Plains, where, with four others, he traveled mostly on foot until he reached Fort Smith, Arkansas. His adventures and exploits are related in a book of prose and verse published in 1834. He was admitted to the Arkansas bar in 1835, and practiced law until the Mexican War, when he recruited a company of cavalry, and took part in the battle of Buena Vista where he distinguished himself as a soldier. In 1849, he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States. In 1853, he moved to New Orleans, having prepared himself to practice in the courts of Louisiana by reading and translating several French law books into English. In 1857, he resumed his law practice in Arkansas. For many years, he served as attorney for the Choctaw Indians, and in 1859, he secured for them a $3 million award for land acquisitions from the U.S. Senate. An avowed Whig and anti-secessionist, he was a prominent lawyer and large landowner in Little Rock, Arkansas until 1861. Against his better judgment, he cast his lot with the South rather than desert his friends and his property. He was appointed as the Confederate Commissioner to the tribes of Indian Territory. As such, he brought the Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Cherokee Nations into alliance with the Confederate States. Because of his appointment as Indian Commissioner, he was also commissioned a Brigadier General in the Confederate, and at the battle of Pea Ridge, he commanded a brigade of Indians. He was, in fact, the only Confederate commander to lead native American troops into battle. Pike's Civil War career was unfortunate, to say the least, and ultimately resulted in his arrest for court martial. He was, however, acquitted. With the Indian troops, Pike fought at Elkhorn Tavern, and their dubious conduct reflected unjustly on Pike. He later alleged they had been recruited only for service in defense of their own territories and refused to pursue Union forces beyond their territories. In his defense, it should also be noted that Pike had virtually no opportunity to work with or drill his Indian troops. When the deaths of the senior Confederate Generals left him as the senior surviving officer at Leetown, Pike was ineffective in rallying or reorganizing his troops. After considerable hostility, Pike resigned his Confederate commission in 1862. Pike lived in semi-retirement during the balance of the war. Like most other Rebel officers, he was indicted for treason by the United States, but was subsequently restored to his civil rights. After the war, he resided in Memphis, and edited the Memphis Appeal until 1867. The following year he moved to Washington, D.C., and practiced law in Federal Courts until 1880. During the remainder of his life, he devoted his attention to writing legal treatises and promoting the Masonic Order. He was one of the most famous and widely known Masonic dignitaries in the 19th Century, and was author of several valuable Masonic works. He died in at his desk in his office at the Scottish Rite Temple in Washington, D.C. on April 2, 1891, and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. Most men who join Masonry today generally have absolutely no idea of who Pike was - and, in all probability, never even heard of Albert Pike. In fact, of those who join Freemasonry, few will own a copy of any of Pike's works. Of the few that do, and they are mostly members of the Scottish Rite, it will likely be Morals and Dogma - a book most admit to never having actually read. For about 60 years, Morals and Dogma was given to all who joined the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. Of the few who actually begin reading this ponderous 850+ page book, few ever finish it, and of those that do, the great majority will readily admit that they could barely understand it. Yet, despite this, anti-Masons assert that Pike and his works exert significant influence over Freemasonry today. Morals and Dogma is a philosophical work. It is not a manifesto, that is, a public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions of Freemasonry. It is, rather, an attempt by Pike to provide a framework for understanding the religions and philosophies of the ancient past. Pike believed that, without understanding the history of a concept, one could not grasp the concept itself - and, thus, his lengthy explanations of various religious beliefs. Because of the stiff, formal writing style used by Pike (and most other authors of his time), many of the explanations he seeks to provide are totally lost on current day readers. Consequently, he attempted to put literally everything he read, learned, or "knew" into his prodigious writings. In the case of Morals and Dogma, its sheer size alone keeps most Freemasons from reading, much less understanding, it. For those who sought to learn Masonry's so-called "secrets," this book seemed to be a ready reference. After all, it had a Masonic emblem on its cover; it referred to "all" of the degrees (or so they thought); and, for many, it was a book that had been in their households since they were old enough to remember. Unfortunately, Morals and Dogma has been so misquoted and used completely out of context to the point that it is unlikely that Pike would recognize quotations plucked from his book. Starting with the first edition of Morals and Dogma in 1871, every edition is prefaced with these words:
In other words, believe it or not. Pike did not assert that Morals and Dogma contained the beliefs of Freemasonry. All he did, and it was no small feat, was to collect a wealth of information about ancient cultures, religions, beliefs, and customs, and put it all into a single book. He did not state that they were his personal beliefs, nor did he state or imply that they were the basis of Freemasonry. He reported what he found, and left the reader to form his or her own conclusions. Thousands of authors have written about Freemasonry and several have achieved wide recognition for their scholarship. Other Masonic authors have pursued theories that, at best, are without factual support and, at worst, are embarrassingly wrong. Because Freemasonry values free thought so highly, Grand Lodges, as a rule, neither endorse nor condemn ideas; that decision is left to individual Masons. Thus, it is quite possible to find otherwise highly-regarded Masonic authors who have espoused ideas of Masonic origins or symbolism that are without substance, ideas that have been politely ignored and have been allowed to quietly fade away. Unless formally endorsed by action of a Grand Lodge, no writer can speak for Freemasonry within a given jurisdiction. He speaks only for himself. Anti-Masonic groups regularly parade the writings of so-called "Masonic authorities" before their audiences and dissect their words, looking for a sentence here or a phrase there to be used to support their wild and baseless accusations. While they generally target poor Brother Pike, they also often attack Dr. Albert Mackey or Manley Palmer Hall or some other author who is simply espousing his own personal theories about Freemasonry. Today, some Masons attempt to diminish Pike's importance in order to deflect the charges of the anti-Masonic contingent. Other Masons, particularly those who may not be very familiar with the genius and accomplishments of this man, will dismiss him as being a meaningless figure in the role of Freemasonry. However, that is simply not true. Pike was a giant of his time who did extraordinary things during his lifetime. For example, he is, in fact, the only Confederate soldier to be honored in America's capitol where a huge statue of him dominates a major intersection (Judiciary Square). Even today, the United States honors Pike through its interstate highway system. The Albert Pike Highway runs from Hot Springs, Arkansas to Colorado Springs, Colorado. There is even a national park as well as several schools named in honor of Albert Pike. Masonically, The Grand Lodge of Arkansas currently gives the "Albert Pike Award" for excellence in Masonic Internet web site design and content. Albert Pike was a man that symbolized many of the looming national issues of his time. In his twenties, when the United States ended east of Arkansas, he lived on the edge of the American frontier as a trapper and explorer. Until well into his eighties, he went on frequent extended camping trips among the Native Americans of the plains and aided in the westward expansion of the United States. He was an emblematic figure for his time in other ways, too. Americans in the 1800s were mostly self-educated. Schools were rare, and opportunities for "school-learning" were few. Like Lincoln and so many others, Pike made self-education a life-long process. Americans of his generation were a people who valued refinement. The concert hall and the lecture platform were very popular. To be able to sing, to play, and to write were regarded as highly desirable accomplishments. Pike sang beautifully, played the violin well, and wrote poetry that was highly praised in his time. His spoken eloquence was famous, and his orations were reprinted in newspapers and books. Freemasonry, in the 1800s, was growing at an unprecedented rate, and, here, again, Pike fit the mood of his time. He became arguably the best-known Freemason in the United States, as well as Freemasonry's most prolific writer and profound philosopher. Elected to head the Scottish Rite of the Masonic Fraternity, he held that position for more years than any other man did in the history of the Scottish Rite. America in Pike's time was a nation of great characters, of men and women larger than life - people like Davey Crockett, Sam Houston, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Stephen Crane, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Abraham Lincoln. Pike knew many of these people and counted most of them among his friends. He, too, was a character larger than life. Whether swirling through the Washington, D.C. social scene, where he was accounted an outstanding dancer and a host without parallel, everyone knew, and most people admired, Albert Pike. Finally, America in the 19th Century had an unbounded faith in the future, in progress, in expansion, in the certainty of humanity's continuing moral and spiritual improvement. Pike preached those things and, more importantly, worked tirelessly to make them come true. He was a man of action, and he lived with an unshakable confidence that the best was yet to come - both for America and for humanity. If Albert Pike is to be remembered for anything by modern generations of Freemasons, then let it be for one of his most inspiring quotes:
To this most noble of sentiments, we can only humbly add:
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Famous Quotations from Morals and Dogma |
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Examples of Albert Pike's Poetry |
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© Copyright 2001. Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of St. Louis. All rights reserved.