The Albert Pike Room

Albert Pike was a schoolteacher, lawyer, and a prolific author. Pike was a preeminent Masonic scholar and elected Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite's Southern Jurisdiction in 1859. He remained Sovereign Grand Commander for the remainder of his life (a total of thirty-two years), dying in 1891, devoting a large amount of his time to developing the rituals of the  order.
 

In 1883 Pike was received in El Paso and as Sovereign Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite, instituted at El Paso the first Scottish Rite Lodge in West Texas. Pike supervised and assisted a  local carpenter by the name of John J. Stewart in the making of the Lodge room furniture. This included the redwood altar with its copper  top and horns, the railing and the gate, the red and white columns, pedestals, the wooden candelabra and other items. All are unique and priceless items of his stay in El Paso. This is the only furniture in existence known to have been designed and built under the personal direction of Albert Pike.  

The Master's chair was in use before 1896 by El Paso Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar, in their old Lodge Room located in the two story Masonic Temple on San Antonio Street, El Paso, Texas. The El Paso Scottish Rite Bodies used this chair continuously in several locations from 1905. It was restored by Brother Rolla V. Cartwright, 33oof Amarillo, Texas, and placed in the Honored East of the Albert Pike Room.  

The floor of the Albert Pike Room follows as closely as possible the design of the floor of the Masonic Lodge of ancient times with the Mosaic Pavement, Blazing Star and Tessellated Border. All Masons should note that floors of this type are seldom seen today although the authenticity of such design is given in the Albert Pike writings.

This furniture and these artifacts had been in constant use by the Lodge of  Perfection since 1905. Realizing that it would be necessary to withdraw them from actual use to preserve them, this room was partitioned off in 1952 to place and display these items. The small cottage organ in this room was purchased by El Paso Lodge No. 130 in 1880 for $225 and the Scottish  Rite obtained it in 1905.