Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
courtesy and kindliness of his manner , avid his desire to oblige those brethren who had communications to make to the G . M .
BEO . FRANCIS CREW , P . G . STEWARD , P . M . NO . 1 , & o . Time—inexorable in its determination , however long postponed—has this iveek terminated the existence of the above well-known member of our Order at the ripe age of 86 . Initiated in the Perpetual Friendship Lodge , No . 157 ( now 135 ) Bridgewateron the 5 th February , 1821 ,
, , Bro . Crew joined the Grand Master ' s Lodge , JSTo . 1 , on the 21 st April , 1821 . Having passed the chair in this lodge , Bro . Crow subsequently officiated as Secretary , and held that position to the close of his active career . This , it may bo remembered , occurred in 1861 , in which year illness compelled him to resign the Secretaryship of the Eoyal Freemason ' s School for Female Children , ivhich
he had hold for 20 years , from the 29 th of July , 1841 . It was in this position Bro . Crew became more extensively known , and his services in connection with that valuable institution can never be forgotten . They arc tangibly and prominently preserved , and commemorated by a fulllength portrait , placed in thc dining hall of the Institution , painted by subscriptions from members of the various
committees , his friends , and admirers , by whom his services were best known ancl appreciated . Few men possessed the power , as did Bro . Crew , to form , perfect , and maintain friendships . His genial humour , happy disposition , generosity , both of heart and hand , eminently fitted him for social life , and when to the numerous good qualities by which he was distinguished wore added a
persuasive eloquence , and vocal powers characterised by so exquisite a charm as to distance all competitors , it can be easily understood how readily he drew towards himself the warm attachment of those amongst whom his
lot was cast . This was never forfeited , even when struck down by paralysis , and consequent loss of speech , and debarred from the pleasures of conversational intercourse , as old friends have during tho last eight years been constant in their visits , delighted to find that consciousness—the powers of recognition—tho intellect—remained unclouded and as powerful as in the
days when the flashes of wit " would sot tho table in a roar , " or when the melodious notes would move to tears by strains of pathos , or excite to delight by the winninggraces of a voice that never failed to please . Bro . Crew married late in life , and it is not too much to say that his last years were cheered—if not absolutely prolonged- -by a care and devotion such as has rarely
been exhibited even by woman —and which deserves and demands the warmest acknowledgement of all by whom our departed friend was revered and respected in life , as by them he is regretted in death . Bro . Crew died at his residence in Burton Crescent , on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., and will be interred in Highgate Cemetery , at noon on Saturday next . This hasty and imperfect tribute
is penned by one who enjoyed Bro . Crew's friendship for some years , and who had ample opportunities of testifying to his goodness . There are doubtless many others who possessed these advantages to much greater extent , and to whom it must be left to supply particulars with which he is not acquainted , bnfc by none can his memory be more fondly cherished , or held in greener recollection . Bro . Crew was a member of tho "Nine Muses Lodge" ( No . 23-51 and the St . James' Royal Arch Chapter ( No . 2 ) .
Address.
ADDRESS .
Delivered " bij BRO . JAMES A . Biucir , P . M ., at the Installation Jlanquet of the Shakespeare Lodge No . 1 , 000 , Manchester . Brethren , there are two great difficulties , under which a speaker may labour , in connection with the subject on which he has to speak . The one is , that the object of
his discourse maj- be , but of trivial importance , and the other , and greater , is , having a subject of too overwhelming interest and magnitude . I feel myself in the latter difficulty , and I am at a loss to know how my feeble tongue , can add one leaf to that chaplet which crowns the brows of our immortal Shakespeare .
His , was a combination and a form indeed , where every God did set his seal to give the world assurance of a man . We ar ^ told that the proper study of mankind is man , and if so how well must this great poet have perfected his extraordinary researches into this study . What an intimate unowledge of the intricate workings of the human brain , what a wonderful power of
unravelling the tangled skeins of feeling , which the human heart contains , did this man possess . He could still the tempest , ancl make the Desert-Island bloom beneath the wand of Pi-ospero . He could conduct you amidst the bustle of tho busy Eialto , where merchants most do congregate , or sequester you in the sylvan recesses of the Forest of Ardenns . He could
assume the motley garb of a fool , and make him talk like a philosopher , while he could don with equal ease the homespun of Bottom tho weaver , or the fairy woven tissue , of Titania and her elfish crew . He could teach you how to tame a shrew , or show the fairer sex , how to lure a benedict into the toils of love . He has shown you in the person of a king and a father ,
who had abandoned all to his children , how sharper than a serpents tooth it is , to have a thankless child . He has placed before you , one of the mightiest rulers of the world rushing headlong lo ruin , allured by the lascivious snares of an amorous queen . He could present you at the court of our own dear kingdom , ho could introduce you to the majesties of Franceof Denmark ,,
, or of Sicilly , or into the august presence of a Cassar , in ages long antecedent to his own . Ho could show you , the all absorbing power of Jove in the breast of Romeo , the corroding canker of jealousy in the heart of Othello , the murderous grasp of ambition on the mind of Macbeth , or the deep yearnings of filial piety in the
philosophic brain of the moody Prince of Denmark . Brethren shall we drink this toast in the solemn silence which , speaks of the migration of a mighty spirit to realms above . No ! let our voices and our toast be as resonant as the fame of Shakespeare . Ho is not dead , nor will he die till Chaos comes again . Gone , not forgotten ; passed , not lost . The hand of God endowed this mortal with
many Godlike attributes , and the world has added that last one still wanting , the world has made him immortal . Is not this immortality the source of the noblest aspiration—is it not the most cherished guerdon for which man fights the battle of life ? For what did the sago Egyptians acquire their wisdom , but to render themselves immortal ? What stimulated the ancient Athenians to
deeds of heroic valor but the ever present hope of immortality ? That same hope that nerved tho breast of Curtius when ho rode , all armed , into the fearful chasm that yawned in the streets of Rome . For what does the loving father live , but for the future of his child ? Why do we all struggle along the rugged path of life ? Surely not for the transient pleasures and evanescent gratifications
of this world , but for the immortality to come here or hereafter . Not for an ago , but for all time—not for a country , but for all nations—not for a generation , but for the whole human race , tho effulgence of his name shall shine with a brighter radiance as time rolls on . Yes my brethren , even if the vast empire of England should , ever crumble away—if the power , the intellect , and the
industry of Great Britain should over cease to be stamped on the universal mind of man , the name of Shakspeare would again recall tho memory of his mother country . That name shall be received with reverence by generations yet unborn , and tho trumpet of Fame . shall herald forth for ever his undying glory . Brethren , lot us add our libation to the immortal memory of Shakspeare .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Obituary.
courtesy and kindliness of his manner , avid his desire to oblige those brethren who had communications to make to the G . M .
BEO . FRANCIS CREW , P . G . STEWARD , P . M . NO . 1 , & o . Time—inexorable in its determination , however long postponed—has this iveek terminated the existence of the above well-known member of our Order at the ripe age of 86 . Initiated in the Perpetual Friendship Lodge , No . 157 ( now 135 ) Bridgewateron the 5 th February , 1821 ,
, , Bro . Crew joined the Grand Master ' s Lodge , JSTo . 1 , on the 21 st April , 1821 . Having passed the chair in this lodge , Bro . Crow subsequently officiated as Secretary , and held that position to the close of his active career . This , it may bo remembered , occurred in 1861 , in which year illness compelled him to resign the Secretaryship of the Eoyal Freemason ' s School for Female Children , ivhich
he had hold for 20 years , from the 29 th of July , 1841 . It was in this position Bro . Crew became more extensively known , and his services in connection with that valuable institution can never be forgotten . They arc tangibly and prominently preserved , and commemorated by a fulllength portrait , placed in thc dining hall of the Institution , painted by subscriptions from members of the various
committees , his friends , and admirers , by whom his services were best known ancl appreciated . Few men possessed the power , as did Bro . Crew , to form , perfect , and maintain friendships . His genial humour , happy disposition , generosity , both of heart and hand , eminently fitted him for social life , and when to the numerous good qualities by which he was distinguished wore added a
persuasive eloquence , and vocal powers characterised by so exquisite a charm as to distance all competitors , it can be easily understood how readily he drew towards himself the warm attachment of those amongst whom his
lot was cast . This was never forfeited , even when struck down by paralysis , and consequent loss of speech , and debarred from the pleasures of conversational intercourse , as old friends have during tho last eight years been constant in their visits , delighted to find that consciousness—the powers of recognition—tho intellect—remained unclouded and as powerful as in the
days when the flashes of wit " would sot tho table in a roar , " or when the melodious notes would move to tears by strains of pathos , or excite to delight by the winninggraces of a voice that never failed to please . Bro . Crew married late in life , and it is not too much to say that his last years were cheered—if not absolutely prolonged- -by a care and devotion such as has rarely
been exhibited even by woman —and which deserves and demands the warmest acknowledgement of all by whom our departed friend was revered and respected in life , as by them he is regretted in death . Bro . Crew died at his residence in Burton Crescent , on Tuesday , the 3 rd inst ., and will be interred in Highgate Cemetery , at noon on Saturday next . This hasty and imperfect tribute
is penned by one who enjoyed Bro . Crew's friendship for some years , and who had ample opportunities of testifying to his goodness . There are doubtless many others who possessed these advantages to much greater extent , and to whom it must be left to supply particulars with which he is not acquainted , bnfc by none can his memory be more fondly cherished , or held in greener recollection . Bro . Crew was a member of tho "Nine Muses Lodge" ( No . 23-51 and the St . James' Royal Arch Chapter ( No . 2 ) .
Address.
ADDRESS .
Delivered " bij BRO . JAMES A . Biucir , P . M ., at the Installation Jlanquet of the Shakespeare Lodge No . 1 , 000 , Manchester . Brethren , there are two great difficulties , under which a speaker may labour , in connection with the subject on which he has to speak . The one is , that the object of
his discourse maj- be , but of trivial importance , and the other , and greater , is , having a subject of too overwhelming interest and magnitude . I feel myself in the latter difficulty , and I am at a loss to know how my feeble tongue , can add one leaf to that chaplet which crowns the brows of our immortal Shakespeare .
His , was a combination and a form indeed , where every God did set his seal to give the world assurance of a man . We ar ^ told that the proper study of mankind is man , and if so how well must this great poet have perfected his extraordinary researches into this study . What an intimate unowledge of the intricate workings of the human brain , what a wonderful power of
unravelling the tangled skeins of feeling , which the human heart contains , did this man possess . He could still the tempest , ancl make the Desert-Island bloom beneath the wand of Pi-ospero . He could conduct you amidst the bustle of tho busy Eialto , where merchants most do congregate , or sequester you in the sylvan recesses of the Forest of Ardenns . He could
assume the motley garb of a fool , and make him talk like a philosopher , while he could don with equal ease the homespun of Bottom tho weaver , or the fairy woven tissue , of Titania and her elfish crew . He could teach you how to tame a shrew , or show the fairer sex , how to lure a benedict into the toils of love . He has shown you in the person of a king and a father ,
who had abandoned all to his children , how sharper than a serpents tooth it is , to have a thankless child . He has placed before you , one of the mightiest rulers of the world rushing headlong lo ruin , allured by the lascivious snares of an amorous queen . He could present you at the court of our own dear kingdom , ho could introduce you to the majesties of Franceof Denmark ,,
, or of Sicilly , or into the august presence of a Cassar , in ages long antecedent to his own . Ho could show you , the all absorbing power of Jove in the breast of Romeo , the corroding canker of jealousy in the heart of Othello , the murderous grasp of ambition on the mind of Macbeth , or the deep yearnings of filial piety in the
philosophic brain of the moody Prince of Denmark . Brethren shall we drink this toast in the solemn silence which , speaks of the migration of a mighty spirit to realms above . No ! let our voices and our toast be as resonant as the fame of Shakespeare . Ho is not dead , nor will he die till Chaos comes again . Gone , not forgotten ; passed , not lost . The hand of God endowed this mortal with
many Godlike attributes , and the world has added that last one still wanting , the world has made him immortal . Is not this immortality the source of the noblest aspiration—is it not the most cherished guerdon for which man fights the battle of life ? For what did the sago Egyptians acquire their wisdom , but to render themselves immortal ? What stimulated the ancient Athenians to
deeds of heroic valor but the ever present hope of immortality ? That same hope that nerved tho breast of Curtius when ho rode , all armed , into the fearful chasm that yawned in the streets of Rome . For what does the loving father live , but for the future of his child ? Why do we all struggle along the rugged path of life ? Surely not for the transient pleasures and evanescent gratifications
of this world , but for the immortality to come here or hereafter . Not for an ago , but for all time—not for a country , but for all nations—not for a generation , but for the whole human race , tho effulgence of his name shall shine with a brighter radiance as time rolls on . Yes my brethren , even if the vast empire of England should , ever crumble away—if the power , the intellect , and the
industry of Great Britain should over cease to be stamped on the universal mind of man , the name of Shakspeare would again recall tho memory of his mother country . That name shall be received with reverence by generations yet unborn , and tho trumpet of Fame . shall herald forth for ever his undying glory . Brethren , lot us add our libation to the immortal memory of Shakspeare .