Albert Pike
Albert Pike: A Life Shaped by Philosophy and Freemasonry
Full Name and Common Aliases
Albert Pike's full name was Albert William Pike. He is commonly known as the "Prince of Freemasons" due to his significant contributions to the fraternal organization.
Birth and Death Dates
Albert Pike was born on December 29, 1809, in Boston, Massachusetts, and passed away on April 2, 1891, at the age of 81.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Pike held American nationality and was a lawyer by profession. He was also a prolific writer and philosopher, with interests spanning various subjects including law, philosophy, history, and spirituality.
Early Life and Background
Born to a family that valued education, Pike's early life laid the foundation for his future accomplishments. His father, Benjamin Pike, was a minister in the Universalist Church of America, which encouraged intellectual pursuits within the household. Albert's mother, Sarah Dutton Pike, also played a significant role in fostering his love for learning.
Pike attended Harvard University at the age of 14, where he studied law and graduated in 1829. He later moved to Arkansas Territory (now Arkansas), where he became involved with Freemasonry, an interest that would define much of his life's work.
Major Accomplishments
Albert Pike's achievements span multiple fields:
1. Masonic Leadership: He was a prominent figure within the fraternity, serving as Grand Master of the Scottish Rite for over 25 years.
2. Literary Contributions: Pike wrote extensively on various subjects, including law, philosophy, and spirituality. His book "Morals and Dogma" remains a foundational text in Masonic studies.
3. Civil War Service: During the American Civil War, Pike joined the Confederate Army as a major general.
Notable Works or Actions
Pike's notable works include:
"Morals and Dogma: An Introduction to the Study of Symbolism, which outlines his views on spirituality and philosophy.
"Lectures of the Supreme Council", which he authored and is still studied by Masons today.
Impact and Legacy
Albert Pike's influence extends far beyond his own time. His writings have been translated into numerous languages, making him a global figure within Freemasonry. The Scottish Rite's headquarters in Washington D.C., known as the Temple, was built under his leadership and remains an iconic symbol of Masonic tradition.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Pike is widely quoted due to the profound insights he shared on spirituality, philosophy, and human nature through his writings. His legacy serves as a testament to the enduring power of philosophical inquiry and the importance of understanding the world's mysteries.
Quotes by Albert Pike
Albert Pike's insights on:

All eyes do not see alike. Even the visible creation is not, for all who look upon it, of one form and one color.

Every Masonic Lodge is a temple of religion and its teachings are instruction in religion.

A good man will find that there is goodness in the world; an honest man will find that there is honesty in the world; and a man of principle will find principle and integrity in the hearts of others.

There is a perennial nobleness and even sacredness in work. Be he never so benighted and forgetful of his high calling, there is always hope in a man that actually and earnestly works: in Idleness alone is there perpetual Despair.

The Secret of the Occult Sciences is that of Nature itself, the Secret of the generation of the Angels and Worlds, that of the Omnipotence of God.

What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us. What we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal.

Man is not to be comprehended as a starting-point, or progress as a goal, without those two great forces, Faith and Love. Prayer is sublime.

She must, above all things, be just, not truckling to the strong and warring on or plundering the weak; she must act on the square with all nations, and the feeblest tribes; always keeping her faith, honest in her legislation, upright in all her dealings. Whenever such a Republic exists, it will be immortal: for rashness, injustice, intemperance and luxury in prosperity, and despair and disorder in adversity, are the causes of the decay and dilapidation of nations.

Justice to others and to ourselves is the same; that we cannot define our duties by mathematical lines ruled by the square, but must fill with them the great circle traced by the compasses.
