Portrait Of Bro. Crew.

PORTRAIT OF BRO . CREW .

10 THE EDITOU OP THE EBEEMASOKS' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC MIBBOB . DEAB SIR AND BROTHER , —I am much obliged to you for having inserted , in your MAGAZINE , my former letter upon the subject of the proposed portrait of Bro . Crew ( late Secretary of the Freemasons' Girls' School . ) A committee has since been formed , with the approval of the M . W . Grand Masterand I am glad to say that we

, have good promise of success . As our brother was widely known and respected , I believe that many of our country brethren would take pleasure in contributing towards such an object ; but that possibly Ihey might be deterred from doing so , by the idea that the sum collected will be more than required . It has however been suggested , that should there be a sufficient

surplus , it should be invested under the name of " Crew ' s Memorial | Fund , " and the interest appropriated each year to the use of the most deserving of the girls , who may be leaving in the institution , in the shape of prize money . This would be an additional incitement to good conduct and study on their part , and I much wish that our subscriptions may be large enough to carry

it out . I remain , dear Sir and Brother , Yours truly and fraternally , R . WARNER WHEELER . United University Club , Pall Mall , March 26 th 1862 . P . S . —Subscriptions can be forwarded to Bro . E . W , Patten , P . G . S . B ., Hon . Secretary to the Committee , 16 A . Great Queen-street , Lincolns' Inn Fields .

The Channel Islands.

THE CHANNEL ISLANDS .

10 TUB IDITOB OP THE PBEBMASOXs' MAGAZINE AND MASONIC HIKEOI ! . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —A letter appeared in your last number criticising one from myself published on Feb . 22 nd . As your correspondent announces his intention not to trouble you again , I shall content myself with doing little more than pointing out what appears to me to be misconceptions on his part . A controversy would be

unwise , as necessitating an exposure of matters which ought to come before another tribunal rather than public opinion . I trust , therefore , that this will conclude the subject . I am glad to find that Omega addresses you from London , which leads to the supposition that he objects to my course on general grounds , not from any knowledge

of the case . He observes that all the letters of the character mentioned are signed H . H ., and that " no one takes the slightest notice of his remarks in the shape of a reply . " Allow me to suggest a reason for this , namely , that they are unanswerable ; also to mention , that though the correspondence bears my initials , it expresses sentiments by no means confined to myself ; that it has in all

cases , before insertion , and on the present occasion also , been submitted for tbe approval of many brethren ; that in some instances alterations have been made at their suggestion ; and moreover , that it has subsequently received the approbation of a much larger number . I should indeed be glad , could I " hope that the evils complained of would havo been speedily removed ; " in such

case , no one would be more willing than myself to desist , but I am not by any means singular in a strong impression that such a change is most Jimprobable , judging from past continuance , present existence , and other circumstances , of which not the least prominent are the urgent personal remonstrances of members ofthe Craft to the individual complained of . Omega will excuse me if I observe that I did not state that " the matter has been inquired into . " My objection was not to the verdict , but rather that a verdict was

given without inquiry , for on one point my expressions were , " a decision was given without examination , on the bare word of one individual against that of upwards of forty honourable men and Masons ; " and on another point I said , "though I gave ample references to those who could prove the truth of my statements , no examination was made . " After due enquiry . held , I shall

undoubtedly feel myself , " as a Mason bound by law to acquiesce in that decision , " whatever it may be , or to retire from the Craft , a course I should deeply regret , especially as by my Masonic career , and by my published works on the subject , I am committed to a thorough appreciation of its beauties and advantages . Omega is respectfullinformed that No . 4 on the

y Agenda of the Board of General Purposes does not apply to us here . Quite aware that it was illegal " to permit circumstances reflecting upon his conduct out of lodge to be discussed in lodge and entered on the minutes , " we have been careful not to violate the law in this respect . Nor do the proceedings in regard to the Prov . G . M . of South Australia affect us , the circumstances not being

analogous . As to a high officer in Jersey , " having decorated him with the highest honour he could give him , " the designations appended to my initials below will correct the error into which Omega has fallen . I beg to say , however , that if , by possibility , such could be offered to me here in the present state of things , I should respectfully decline to receive them . I have for some time acted on

this feeling by refusing to wear in a lodge in Jersey the badge of a Provincial Grand Officer , under the conviction that when half-a-dozen Masons just initiated aredecorated with the purple , and thus made rulers in tho Craft , the distinction conveys no honour . It is very different when I visit my original province iu England , in which I filled the chair of a lodge of hih character founded in 1733

g , and for seven successive years was a Provincial Grand Officer , under a Prov . G . M . who may with justice be pointed out as a model for others to imitate . Let it be distinctly understood that my observations on the new Masons who have been advanred " over the heads of

those long ago " initiated in this province" convey no reflections on them personally , for they are well known as gentlemen of talent , high character , and undoubted social position ; as such they are worthy of all respect , and their accession to the body is a matter of congratulation . Omega is clearly mistaken in the suppositon that I have been placed " over the heads of those

initiated in this province" of Jersey . No one more than myself desires to promote peace and harmony in Freemasonry , and I unhesitatingly affirm that my antecedents in Warwickshire will justify this assertion ; but at the same time I cannot but feel that so happy a result may be purchased too dearly by a sacrifice of princile and honour . We are enjoined

p ourselves to carry out , and , as far as may be , to induce in others , " the practice of every moral and social virtue , " as well as " the sacred dictates of truth , of honour , aud of virtue , " and though silence as to the failings of a brother is in most cases desirable , there are circumstances where , for the sake of the character of tbe Craft , it becomes impossible .

Agreeing with your correspondent that "it were better far he should retire rather than disturb the harmony of the province , " I have repeatedly expressed a wish to send in my resignation as a member of a lodge in Jersey , from which I have been withheld solely by the urgent request of many esteemed brethren , not to desert them in their protest against proceedings of which they

disapprove . If all who unite with me in sentiment were to do so , the province would be deprived of a considerable number of honourable , conscientious , zealous Masons . Yours fraternally , H . H ., P . M . 51 , and Past Prov . G . S . W . for Warwickshire