more light #2
ALbert pke
by Ed Halpaus
Grand Lodge Education Officer
Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota
17 January 2005
On January 6, 1910 the centennial celebration of the birth of Albert Pike was
held at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. Brother Albert Pike was born
December 29, 1809 in Boston, Massachusetts, so while the celebration in 1910 was
to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth, this past December 29th was the
195th anniversary of his birth.
For the 100th anniversary there was a program of the day’s events produced in
the form of a souvenir book, which contains the orations of the Brothers who
spoke that day. Brother and Reverend Dr. Abram Simon 33° spoke about Albert
Pike, The Prophet of Masonry. In Brother Simon’s oration he mentioned
Freemasonry and religion, which I will reproduce here; I think it is
interesting.
Brother Simon begins his piece telling us what he means by prophet: “A prophet
is the creator of one and the creature of the newer age. He represents the
culmination of past forces, and the starting point of the new epoch. He does not
build entirely new landmarks, nor does he even uproot the old. He removes the
crumbling stones or rotting timber, to fit them with fresh material as a better
protection and signpost. Upon the foundations of the past he builds a lordlier
structure, bearing throughout the stamp of his individuality. While listening to
the call of the past as well as to that of the present, it is the voice of his
imperious conscience which has the most insistent and eloquent power. Everything
is stamped with the die of his splendid personality. What he does is not new; it
is renewed.”
“Without calling Masonry a religion, he took it as seriously as if it were one.
He sincerely felt that it bore the impress, the signet, the sanction of God. He
believed in its future destiny as one of the world’s greatest levers for the
uprooting of error, superstition, and hatred. He made it more possible for
thousands of men of variant creeds to meet in the Capitol of universal democracy
and civic patriotism. Many stones were cast at him and at his message; but
Albert Pike, the Mason, covering these stones with the structural mortar of
fraternity, squaring and plumbing them along the line of righteous toleration,
fitted them accurately and consistently into the edifice of speculative
Masonry.”
“Hence, Masonry stands to-day between the church and the state with its two arms
around the necks of both in friendly and cooperative embrace. No sect, no party,
no home needs fear the entrance, the enthusiasm, and the ethical persuasion of
Masonry. To all religions, to all governments, to all human institutions Masonry
holds aloft the welcoming torch, blazing forth this appeal; ‘Blessed be the name
of the Lord. We bless you from the house of God.”
“A slab in St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, marking the resting-place of its famous
architect, Sir Christopher Wren, contains this very appropriate epitaph: “Si
monumentum requires, circumspice” – ‘if you would seek his monument, look about
you.”
“See ye now the monument of him who found Masonry hoary with ancient tradition
and left it drinking at the fount of Perpetual Youth? Look ye for any one
structure or stately pile of stone? Ye look in vain! Seek ye rather the monument
which he himself has reared during his own lifetime, and carved out of the
quarry of his adamantine spirit, and with the diamond pointed chisel of his
intellect! Brothers he himself has shown you where to find it. He once wrote,
“When I am dead I wish that my monument be builded only in the hearts and
memories of my brethren of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.” Now, seek ye
his monument! Look about you! The great Masonic Temple, built of thousands of
throbbing human beings; the great Masonic Temple, reared on the lands of the
entire inhabited globe; the great Masonic Temple down whose vaulted aisles the
swelling anthem of fraternity rolls in widening waves of rhythmic power, is the
breathing, exulting, triumphant, monument to Albert Pike, the Prophet of
Masonry.”
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