A NIGHT WI’ BURNS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11011, 26 January 1926, Page 5

A NIGHT Wl’ BURNS

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS IN GISBORNE. < ~ ' ag The 25th. of January is commemjrated in. all portions of the globe where English-speaking people congregate for it is- the anniversary; of Scotland’s premier poet, Robert iurns, and. local Scotsmen celebrated ~wie occasion in a fitting manner last livening, when over .fifty enthusiasts Attended a dinner held in tho City ' Hall under the presidency of Mr. J. R. Kirk. Mr. W. Robb had the honor of heralding with the pipes the serving of the time-honored Scottish dish, the “Haggis.” The'pianist was Mr. T. Shone. The chairman said they were forturnate in having with them that evening the Rev. Wedderspoon, ALA., "of Invercargill, who had consented to come to Gisborne and speak to the toast of “The Immortal Memory.” Burns, as .they all knew, had been born under very* humble circumstances in a clay hut in Scotland, but lie had left behind him soims that would never die, so, surely;, they had <frounds to pay an affectionate tribute to his memory? Burns had never meant Democracy to mean license. “A man’s a man for a : that,” "was what he had preached. He had ’ been human and had taught the world that which was still badly needed to-day, the need to get back To all that was true and simple.' Burns’ true life had only started when he died, for it was then that ],N true spirit had stood revealed. • Rev A. C. Wedderspoon, Invercargill 1 proposed “The Immortal Memory of Burns.” He said that, as Robert Burns was born in Kyle, a division of Ayrshire, on January 25, 1759, they were met that night to celebrate the 167th anniversary of his birth. There was something marvellous in ibis Neglected by his contemporaries pis reward was immortality. He himself showed his consciousness of comin his rattling song, “'reeve was a lad was born in Kyle” “He’ll be a credit to us a’ We’ll a’ be proud o’ Robin”

This Scottish, peasant outshone every peer of the realm. Lord Rosebery had fittingly called him “The (Tory of Scotland” arid Emerson, taking a wider view, had nobly said, “His” works are the property and (lie solace of mankind.” His moral character was not perfect, but his songs were, and the man -whom they honored was the Burns of “Scots Wha Hae” and “Auld Lang Syne” and “Ae Fond Kiss’.’ There was objectionable matter in his works-,- but much that was admirable. He had been accused of excess, but on unsubstantial grounds. True, they had his personal confessions, but these were exaggerated by his constitutional melancholy ; they had the gossip of scandalmongers, which might be largely discounted. Trustworthy men of his own day, such as Dugald Stewart and Professor Walker, had subjected his life to the closest scrutiny, and were among his keenest defendscr. The charge of being an habitual drunkard and roue might be dismissed with the honored Scottish verdict of “not proven.” The private lives of Homer and Shakespeare were obscure. Of Shelley and Byron and Hums too much was known.. Burns’ life had often lreen called a tragedy. ,1 list as correctly it might be designated an enigma. There let the matter rest and apply to him the judgment he appeals for for others: — Then gently scan your brother man, Still gentler sister woman, Though they may gang a kenniiT wrang To step aside is human. What’s done we partly may compute Hut know not what’s resisted. To enter into minute details of their hero’s life was surely unnecessary. He would sketch it only in. briefest outline. A bibliography wcsvM be interminable, and he need not remind them of the best biographies. For an intimate knowledge of Burns’ outer and inner life there was nothing better than his own autobiography and letters. His father was a good man; devout and industrious, but unfortunate. If they might take “The Cottar’s Saturday Night” as a transcript of Burns’ home life, they had his father's character, and his own industrious and religious life finelv portrayed. And—

From scenes like these, old Scotia's grandeur springs, That makes her lov’d at home, rever’d abroad; Princes and lords are but the breath of kings,

And honest man’s the noblest work of God.

The boy, brought up in the chilly environment of grinding poverty, got little schooling, but eagerly read such books as were within his reach —theology, philosophy, geography, but especially a collection of songs, and the poems of his masters, Allan I’amsay and Adam Ferguson. He himself says, “Among the cheerless gloom of a hermit, the necessary moil of a galley slave, with the farm a ruinous bargain, at the age of .sixteen, I first committed the crime of rhyme, inspired by a bewitching creature, a bonnie, sonsie lass”, his partner in the harvest field. Thus love and poetry began. History did not record if this was his first love. She certainly was not his last. His heart was of tinder, and wherever he went, lie had a lass in every port, and, inspired by each, has left the linest collection of love songs in the wot&r--11 fs first published poem was a burlesque on a quarrel between two reverend _ Calvinists. Next came “Holy Willie’s Prayer”. These alarmed the Kirk session but let it be said that Burns was not irreligious. ’He was a deeply and sincerely religious man. But religious error, and narrowness founded upon it, religious camouflage, lie scorned with a dreadful contempt, and lashed with the most scathing satire. His attack was upon hypocrisy and -the ferocious theology of his day. Who to-day bed lieves in a cruel blood-thirsty God, ai material hrimestone Hell, and the hobgoblin* of religion which Bums satirised? Beiigion was under a deep debt to his influence.

Well, other poems appeared in rapid succession, creating a furore. The literati of Edinburgh went mad over the Ayrshire ploughman, and. in the metropolis, he had a short and glorious career—learning, beauty nobility worshipping at his shrine. Masonic fraternities, convivial clubs, all over tho country vied with one another for the honor of entertaining and idolising him. Ofttimes it was, where “drouthy neibours meet.” Burris bad “a good time” and suffered disastrously. But no reward came to him except an excisemans office. All his worldly enterprises failed.

The best laid schemes o’ mice and men

Gang aft aglev. Scotland worshipped—and starved him. Disappointed, disheartened, his robust constitution gave way, and at the early age of thirty-eight years his great spirit" gave up its lease of this earthly life. But Lockhart has well said: “Short and painful ns if'ere his years, he has left behind lat?3-a volume in which there is inspiration for every fancy, and music for every mood, which lives" in strength and vigor to soothe the sorrows of how many a lover, to enflame the patriotism of how many a soldier-, to fan the fires of-how marry a genius, to disperse the gloom, of solitude, appease the agonies of pam, encourage Virtue anti show victV u "hness.” - . The real, secret of Burns lasting power is, that he has " lven . voice. to all .the experiences- - ofcommon life, and" has expressed every human mood in verse. >

The speaker then rapidly sketched with- copious illustration verses, the poet’s works, giving the place of pride to his peerless lyrics. His narrative or descriptive poems, his incomparable liumor, ironic and goodnatured ; the revolution in religion, democracy, and womanhood; his pathos; liis ideals of homelife; his indignation at social injustices, and his love for nature, animate and inanimate, were all treated in an interesting manner. He then concluded: “Yes, we Scots are proud of Burns. He is Scotland’s glory. And now I have the honor of proposing his Immortal Memory”. Other toasts honored were as follows: “The King”, proposed by the chairman; “The Navy, Army and Defence Forces”, proposed by Mr A. J. Nicol and responded to by Mr D. MacFarlane; “Our Legislators’ proposed by Mr D. Douglas and responded to by Mr AY. D. Lysnar, M.P., “The Lassies” proposed by Mr A. Young; “The Chairman” proposed by Mr F. W. Riach and responded to by Mr J. R. Kirk; “The Press” proposed by Dr. Ross. During the evening, vocal and elocutionary items were contributed by the following: Messrs AY. MacClure, A. AVilliamson, A. J. Nicol, J. B. Kells, A. AVilliamson

The address on the Haggis was given by Mr T. Hogg.