______________________________
THE ALBERT PIKE
ROOM
This room is a memorial to Albert Pike, who
was Grand Commander of this Supreme Council from 1859 until his
death in 1891, at the age of 82. During these 32 years, he wrote
and compiled many books and became familiar with numerous
languages, among them Latin, Greek, and Sanskrit. He is recognized
as a great Masonic scholar, philosopher, and historian. He used
his vast talents to research and rewrite the Rituals of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. His renown as a jurist,
orator, philosopher, scholar, soldier, and poet extends throughout
the world.
The Albert Pike Room contains,
in addition to his personal memorabilia, a model of the monument
erected in his memory, the original of which is located at Third
Street and Indiana Avenue, Northwest, in Washington, D.C., near
the U.S. Department of Labor building. This is the only statue in
the District of Columbia honoring a Confederate General. Also
included in the Pike Room’s displays are first editions and
holograph copies of many of Pike’s works; his original desk, lamp,
clock, and chair; many personal items including Masonic regalia, a
representative sampling of his large collection of pipes, and a
plaster-cast mask similar to a life mask of Abraham Lincoln on
display in the Americanism Museum of the House of the
Temple.
_______________________________THE AMERICANISM MUSEUM
The Americanism Museum contains a rich and
varied exhibit of artifacts that illustrate our Fraternity’s
dedication to personal, social, and intellectual freedom. Here are
displayed relics of the colonial and other periods of American
history. For instance, there is a foundation stone from the White
House which dates back to the original construction. Discovered
during renovation started in 1948, the stone bears Masonic
markings and is authenticated by a letter from former President
Harry S. Truman, 33°. The collection also includes a life mask of
President Abraham Lincoln, a lodge lantern used by a Union Army
Lodge during the American Civil War, and a kamikaze rifle
recovered from a Japanese suicide plane in World War II.
_____________________________THE ARCHIVES
The Archives of The Supreme Council are a
priceless repository for correspondence, rare documents, important
proceedings, and general information about Masonry and the
Scottish Rite. Over three million items make up the valuable
collection, with the oldest dating back to the early part of the
16th century.
The four rooms that house the
Archives are climate controlled for an optimal temperature of 68
degrees and relative humidity of 50 percent. The facility holds
records from the Grand Commander’s office for the last 20 years
and additional rare documents are stored in a large walk-in vault
on the lower level of the House of the Temple.
The most modern archival techniques and
supplies are used for the preservation of items to be placed in
the Archives. Documents, photographs, and imprints are filed in
special protective boxes. Among the many papers neatly stored in
the boxes, arranged on steel shelving, are rare books and od
Rituals. Everything is cataloged and cross-referenced on cards. In
1987, part of this card file system was transferred to electronic
format. Ultimately, record retrieval will be entirely
computer-based though file cards will always be nearby.
The Archives of The Supreme
Council contain one of the best historical repositories of Masonry
and the Scottish Rite in the world. Naturally, it corresponds to
the history of the United States. As the history of The Supreme
Council advances, it does so in parallel with the contributions of
the Scottish Rite to our nation. The important material in the
Archives holds the key to that story.
_________________________________THE BURL IVES COLLECTION
For many decades, Ill. Burl Icle Ives, 33°,
Grand Cross, an award-winning singer and actor, touched the hearts
of young and old. Beginning his performance career at the age of
four, Ill. Ives spent his entire life bringing joy to those around
him through both his artistic talent and his kindness. Although
most of the world knew him as an entertainer, his membership in
Masonry meant a great deal to him, and he constantly devoted
himself to numerous charities.
With the help of many generous
donations from his wife, Dorothy Ives, and daughter, Barbara
Vaughan, The Supreme Council has created a glowing tribute to
Brother Burl’s life and work. The room housing the Burl Ives
Collection was dedicated during the 1997 Biennial Session. The
displays are designed to walk the visitor through the different
stages of Brother Burl’s life, beginning with his childhood,
passing through his performance career, and ending with his
Masonic accomplishments. Included in the impressive display are a
collection of record album covers, family photographs, and
personal effects as well as different honors and awards Ill. Ives
received both as an entertainer and as a Mason. The collection
displays, for instance, the Grand Cross jewel he received in
October 1993. This is the highest individual honor The Supreme
Council bestows. Of his Masonic awards, it was an honor his wife
says meant the most to him. A series of audio clips and color
slides of this outstanding Scottish Rite Mason’s unforgettable
music and career accompany visitors throughout their viewing of
the Burl Ives Collection.
___________________________________
CORNERSTONE HALL OF FREEDOM
The Cornerstone Hall of Freedom was added
to the House of the Temple to commemorate the bicentennial Masonic
reenactment in 1993 of the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S.
Capitol. The stone used during the ceremony, a perfect 18-inch
cube, serves as the exhibit’s centerpiece. The display also
includes other memorabilia from the event including a photographic
collage, a replica of the engraved silver plate affixed by George
Washington under the original stone, a copy of an 18th-century
Masonic apron, and a print of the painting, "George Washington
Laying the Cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol, Sept. 18, 1793," by
Ill. John D. Melius, 33°.
___________________________________THE COWLES COLLECTION
The Cowles Collection remembers Sovereign
Grand Commander John Henry Cowles who served from 1921 to 1952. An
unusual item in the Cowles Collection is his highly decorated
leather chair. Since he resided in an apartment at the House of
the Temple, many interesting personal effects are included, as
well as a collection of gavels.
__________________________________THE KLEINKNECHT COLLECTION
The Kleinknecht Collection is the most
recent addition to the heritage of the House of the Temple.
Established by The Supreme Council to honor Sovereign Grand
Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, it features selections of fine
porcelains from around the world, including Royal Copenhagen,
Royal Crown Derby, Boehm, Meissen china, and American cut glass.
Housed in fine cabinets with Chinoiserie decoration, this unique
collection reflects the international scope of the Scottish
Rite.
_______________________________________PAST GRAND COMMANDERS’ COLLECTION
This collection features a unique portrait
of Sovereign Grand Commander Luther A. Smith (1955–1969) in spun
fiberglass; an impressive oil portrait of Sovereign Grand
Commander Henry C. Clausen (1969–1985), created by his son, Don
Clausen, a noted artist; and includes a display of Masonic
regalia, rare medals, fine porcelains, glassware, and gifts from
Masonic groups around the world.
___________________________________THE ROBERT BURNS LIBRARY
During his lifetime, Bro. William R. Smith,
32°, former Director of the National Botanical Gardens in
Washington, D.C., assembled one of the most complete collections
of published works by and about Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Recognized as one of the finest of all Burns collections, second
only to the Burns Collection in Glasgow, Scotland, it was
cataloged by Mr. William Thomson of the Public Library of
Edinburgh, Scotland, and recently converted to the library’s
computer catalog system by Joan Sansbury, Librarian of the Supreme
Council. The industrialist Andrew Carnegie, trustee of Mr. Smith’s
estate, decided that because Robert Burns had been an ardent
Freemason, it would be appropriate to place the Burns collection
in the library of The Supreme Council, with the condition that it
be housed in a special room available to the public and community
of scholars.
Also included in the Library
are numerous special holdings such as the Dr. Lewis Carman
Collection of Lincolniana, the Claudy Collection on the works of
Goethe, and the L.M. Taylor Collection of esoteric literature.
Each of these contains enough in-depth materials to satisfy the
most demanding scholar.
