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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to C. F. Russell
63 Was. Sq.
May 27 / 19
Care frater,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I was very glad to get your note. There seems to be a good deal of misunderstanding—Any reticence in my letter was due to the rule of my life never to refer to certain subjects in writing except by hints which can always be explained away. About this girl of yours, however, there is no reason why you should not tell me who she is, in case I don't [illegible]. The advice which I wrote was very general—The main point is that your courage is greater than your discretion. Witness your little experiment at the hospital [Annapolis Naval Hospital]. It's the best fault a man can have but it certainly gets him into more hot water than most of the vilest vices. You are very young and I don't want to see you in a mess, as I have seen so many. I should like to see your [magical] record but not until Jones [Charles Stansfeld Jones] has commented upon it. I should like to be able to comment on his comments, thus killing two magicians with one memorandum. Tell Jones that that is my idea.
I shouldn't worry about anybody's social relations but thy own, if I were you. As to criticism, there are two kinds. The kind that results in helpful suggestions is the best friend a man can have. Incidentally, you are in a rather privileged position with regard to hearing things and it is perhaps no harm, in your case, but at your age you have not the experience to estimate such things with due balance. A person may state an opinion not because he holds it but because he wants to hear it discussed. I am sending this to 57 as you ask. Does that mean that you are working there? It would be very nice if it were so.
You don't tell me about your lectures. I should like full details. What we need just at present is a strong body of adherents, working energetically together with absolute devotion to the cause.
Love is the law, love under will.
Yours fraternally (with a headache from overwork)
[signed] 666.
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