MEMORY OF BURNS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 102, 24 January 1940, Page 5

MEMORY OF BURNS

Wellington Club’s Dinner

■ The annual Burns dinner of the Wellington Burns Club, held last night in Nimmo’a Hall, was celebrated in traditional style. The haggis was piped in by Piper J. McKenzie, and Burns s "Ode to a Haggis" was recited by Mr. R. 11. Nimmo, president of the society, who presided. ' . Among those present were the Rev. John Gibson Inkster, 8.A., D.D., of Knox Church, Toronto, Canada, and Mrs. Inkster. The president said that the Scottish societies of Wellington had recently decided to hold one big combined Burns dinner, but independence was a characteristic of the Scot till a crisis arrived, when the race stood together as one man. The centennial of New Zealand, which they were celebrating this year, was wrapped up with the achievements of the Scottish pioneers, of whom all were justifiably proud. The toast of “The Immortal Memory of Robert Burna” was proposed by Mr. A. McMurray Patterson, who said he had spent his early years in Dumfries and the Burns country. The effect of Burns’s writings, he said, still lived on and was working today. The Scottish poet had been a great hater of hypocrisy, and had not hesitated to tackle the Church, which in his time had descended lamentably to a band of heresy hunters. It was solely because of Burns's attacks that the Church was purged of hypocrisy. Burns welded the Scottish people into a nation, with faith in their future. His vision of a federation of the peoples of the world might yet come to pass. The toast of “Kindred Societies” was proposed by Dr. Inkster, and responded to by Mr. Hector Smith. During the evening the president, on behalf of the society, presented Mrs. Webb, honorary pianist to the society for many years, with a supper wagon and wished her every happiness in her married life. Mr. and Mrs. Webb returned thnnks.

The following songs were sung: “Scots Wha Hae” and “Hail, Caledona,” Mr. W. H. Church; “Bonnie Wee Thing” mid "Ye Banks and Braes,” Mrs. W. Duncan ; "The Lea Rig” and “Nirvana,” Mr. J. Cathcart: “John Anderson, My Jo,” mid “Rowan Tree.” Mrs. Pengelly; “Lassie. Would Ye Lo'e Me?” and “Cornin' Thro' the Rye,” Miss Stirling. A recitation was: given by Miss Jessie Hogg. The gathering concluded with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.”