BURNS CLUB LECTURE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 257, 27 July 1936, Page 3

BURNS CLUB LECTURE

The Works of Scots Poets The address at the monthly meeting of the St. Andrew Burns Club, held in the Rechabite Hall this week, was given by Mr. Robert Hogg, his subject being “Shots Poets I Have Known.” The president of the club, Mr. J. G. MacKenzie, was in the chair. Mr. Hogg explained that as far as possible he would let the poets referred to speak for themselves through some of their better known pieces. He would merely give an outline and any interesting features of the lives of each one. The first poet dealt with was Robert Reid, who wrote under the name of Wanlock, his birthplace near the source of the Clyde, and who afterward emigrated to Canada. His poem “My Ain Hills,” dealing with his birthplace, was read by the speaker. Mr. Hogg then described his association with such poets as Willie Thomson, who died at the early age of 22, and whose poems were published the day prior to his death; Robert Buchanan, who afterward became a famous poet, dramatist and novelist; Robert Ford, who was a writer of humorous poetry such as “Thistledown,” as well as serious works, and whose best poem was “An Address to the De'il”; James Thomson, often described as the Poet of Pessimism, but whose ‘Thank God for You” proved that he did not always deserve the title; and Thomas Russell, whose ideas were far in advance of his claim to be an Auld Licht, and who wrote the outstanding “Could I Have Known.” John Buchan, now Lord Tweedmuir, also wielded his pen in the Doric, and the speaker read to the audience his “No’ Me!” a poem dealing with his intentions and desires when the Great War had ended. Mr. Hogg also dealt with the Hutchison brothers; James Brown; Lord Rosslyn, who wrote th'e beautiful “Bedtime”; Walter Wingate, the great-grand-son of Burns, and his father, David Wingate, whose children’s songs are among the happiest of their kind; John Ferguson, who also died very early aud whose sonnets published in a slim volume which went through many editions were some of the cleverest ever'written; Sandy Bisset; “John Arbory,” who wrote some of. the best verse in honour of Burns; Hately Waddell, who transcribed the Twenty-third Psalm into Scots; Lady Margtfret Sackville, author of “Romantic Ballads”; Dr. David Rorie; Jimmy Nicholson, at home either with English or Scots; D. M. Henderson; Dr. Walter Smith, the writer of “Judas Iscariot”; and R. J. Maclcnnan, for many years editor of the Glasgow “Evening News.” Of -particular interest to New Zealanders was “The Unwritten Poem,” by J. L. Kelly. The son of a village blacksmith, Kelly served on the “Airdrie Advertiser,” but in 1881 came to this country and was editor of papers in Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. He was a voluminous writer of verse, his poems on Maori legends being among the best yet written in English verse, and he also made some fine translations from German and French poems.. During the evening a presentation was made to the treasurer, Mr. 31. Gray Nasmith, and an enlarged photograph of the founders of the club, donated by Messrs. J. G. MacKenzie and A. Hogg, was unveiled. Songs were sung by Miss Shanks. Mrs. McWhinnie and Mr. P. McNair, elocutionary items were given by Mr. J. Baird, and bagpipe selections by PipeMajor MacCuJlum. Supper was served by women members of the committee.