-Caveat Lector- from: http://www.masonicinfo.com/pike.htm <A HREF="http://www.masonicinfo.com/pike.htm">Tall Tales: Albert Pike</A> ----- Interesting. from the anti anti-masons page. From a rhetorical style and substantive position, there ain't much. I read the 'book' and most evrry other thing else i could find on the man and this don't jive to me, seems more hoodwinky. Om K ----- Albert Pike "The Anti-Masons, traitors and perjurers some, and some mere political knaves, purified Masonry by persecution, and so proved to be its benefactors." Albert Pike (1809-1891); "Morals and Dogma" No discussion of anti-Masonry would be complete without an extensive mention of Albert Pike. The flyleaf of a recent biography of Pike by Mason Jim Tresner describes him as "...a pioneer, a crusader for justice for Native Americans, a practical joker, a reformer, a journalist, a philosopher, a prominent Washington lawyer, and a Civil War general." For many years, he was leader of the Scottish Rite in the southern United States and he was the author of Morals and Dogma published in 1871. Most who join Masonry have no idea who Pike was. In fact, most of the small percentage of the population who join Masonry actually own a copy of any of Pike's works - and precious few have actually read Morals and Dogma. Of the few who begin reading the book, even fewer finish it and of those who do, the great majority can't 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, created by an individual who was a prolific writer, and fashioned in the style of his time. It is not a manifesto (i.e. public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions) for Masonry or even for the Scottish Rite's Southern Masonic Jurisdiction. It is, rather, an attempt by Pike to provide a framework for understanding religions and philosophies of the past. Pike believed that without understanding the history of a concept, one couldn't grasp the concept itself - and thus his lengthy explanations of various religious beliefs (consistent with knowledge of those beliefs in the mid-1800s). If one were to estimate, the numbers would likely be as follows: Out of 100 who join Masonry world-wide, less than 10 will obtain (either through purchase or from a library) Pike's Morals and Dogma. Out of those 10, perhaps 8 will actually pick it up to read. (Others will have received it as a gift from a relative or mentor - and simply aren't interested.) Out of those 8, perhaps 3 will actually finish reading it. (It is, after all, over 900 pages long and has an index of over 200 pages. When's the last time YOU read a book with over 1,100 pages???) Out of the 3 who actually finish, perhaps one will feel he understands it! It is a massive book and is certainly not 'light reading'! And we suspect that precious few anti-Masons have ever really read the book - but are not at all hesitant about quoting passages they've found (or have been pointed toward). Because of the writing style used by Pike, many of the explanations he seeks to provide are totally lost on current day readers. The sheer size of the Morals and Dogma keeps most from reading, much less understanding it. (Don't believe it? Use our Reality Gauge and get a copy from your local library. READ IT! Don't just browse and look for offensive passages which you might find if you take it out of context; actually READ THE BOOK! Grabbing quotes out of context (and this was, after all, a discussion of various world religions), it's quite easy to find things which will make Pike sound just awful. In context - and particularly when one considers that this is one book by one writer - Morals and Dogma simply has no relevance. How did Morals and Dogma gain such 'notoriety'? For many years, the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States' Scottish Rite gave those who received the 32nd Degree a copy of this book. It was a tribute to a man who had done so very much for their organization. For many Masons, it might have been the only book which they owned which related to Freemasonry - even though it really wasn't about Masonry at all! Hundreds of thousands of copies of this work were published and they have collected dust on the bookshelves for years. For those who sought to learn Masonry's supposed "secrets", this tome seemed to be a ready reference. A phrase was plucked from here and there - and suddenly Masonry was an all-encompassing satanic group in their mind. Starting with the first edition of Morals and Dogma in 1871, Pike prefaced every edition with these words: "Everyone is free to reject and dissent from whatsoever herein may seem to him to be untrue or unsound. It is only required of him that he shall weigh what is taught, and give it a fair hearing and unprejudiced judgement." Today, many Masons will diminish Pike's importance so as to deflect the charges of anti-Masons. There is no doubt, though, that he was among the most influential Masons of his time. It must be also remembered that this was a time when communications even with surrounding states was severely limited and travel from place to place took days. Pike wrote Morals and Dogma some eight years before Alexander Graham Bell transmitted the first wireless telephone message! Other Masons - particularly those who may not be totally familiar with the stature of this man - will dismiss him as meaningless. However, that's not true. Pike was a giant of his time who did extraordinary things in his lifetime. His philosophical writings, however, have been misquoted and used completely out of context to the point that likely today even he would not recognize them! For more examples, please see: [AlbertPike] [KKKandMore] [LeoTaxil] [TheMorganAffair] [ EldersofZion] [TheGoat] [BloodyOaths] [KnightsofColumbus] [Authors] [KnightsTemplars] [B'naiB'rith] DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
