“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” Albert Pike was born on 29th December 1809 in Boston and was the eldest of six children. He was raised in a Christian home. Even though passing for Harvard at the age of fifteen, lack of funds prevented him from pursuing his early studies there. Despite these limitations he became a lawyer, soldier, poet and author, and one of the most remarkable figures in American history. He attended school at Newburyport, the town to which his parents moved while he was still a boy, and at an academy in Framingham, Massachusetts. Through most of the years 1824 through 1831 Pike pursued private study and wrote poetry in his spare time. His self-acquired knowledge of the classics was prodigious, and he acquired a working knowledge of Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and French. In addition to a strong literary leaning, he had a great physical presence and energy. Over six feet tall and large of frame, with hair that reached his shoulders and a beard that reached near his waist, Pike also presented an impressive appearance. An adventurous spirit caused him to set out for the West in March 1831. Reaching Missouri, with little money and no particular plans for his future, Pike joined a party of traders and hunters bound for New Mexico. On the trail his horse broke away, leaving him to walk the remaining 500 miles to Taos. After reaching Taos, Pike accompanied another expedition, at the end of which he had travelled a total 1,300 miles, 650 on foot, and had experienced many hardships and exciting adventures. While working as associate editor, Pike was able to write of his travels in the form of a short story, poems, tales and memoirs. These were initially serialised in the Advocate and later published in 1834. Marrying Mary Ann Hamilton in October 1834, enabled him to purchase an interest in the Advocate with the dowry. The following year he became its sole owner and editor. In 1837 however, he sold the newspaper, having been licensed to practice law. Within a few years he was regarded as one of the most capable attorneys in the Southwest and became the first reporter of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Although opposed to both slavery and secession, he cast his lot with the Confederacy and during the first year of the war greatly assisted Gen. Ben McCulloch in formulating alliances with the civilized tribes of the Indian Territory. He was commissioned a brigadier general but criticism of his command caused him to offer his resignation on 12th July 1862, but it was not accepted until 5th November. His response to continued criticism led a fellow officer in the department to the conviction that Pike was "either insane or untrue to the South," and on 3rd November 1862, he was arrested and briefly placed under confinement in Warren, Texas. Pike was later to be very instrumental in the signing of treaties with many Indian tribes in negotiations of alliance. He made several contacts among the Native American tribes in the area, at one point negotiating an $800,000 settlement between the Creeks and other tribes and the federal government. At the beginning of the war, Pike was appointed as Confederate envoy to the Native Americans. Albert Pike is best known for his work as a Freemason however and he was elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite's Southern Jurisdiction in 1859. For many years he was engaged in rewriting the rituals of the society. "Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry" remains one of the standard works on the subject, which was first published 1871. The Scottish Rite is one of two largest concordant bodies of Freemasonry in which a Master Mason may proceed after he has completed the three degrees of Craft lodge masonry. The Scottish Rite expands and elaborates on the lessons of the three Craft Degrees and a freemason, after viewing these dramas, will eventually attain the 32nd degree in Scottish Rite masonry. To a non-mason this may sound like the member is a high-ranking mason, however, this would be a misconception. The highest degree in Freemasonry is the 3rd or Master Mason degree. Degrees as they relate to the Scottish Rite indicate the level of knowledge that a Master Mason has attained. Pike died in Washington, D.C on 2nd April 1891, aged 81 and was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, against his wishes, as he had left instructions for his body to be cremated. In 1944 however, his remains were moved to the House of the Temple, headquarters of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite