DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 13

DUNEDIN BURNS CLUB.

ANNIVERSARY CONCERT, Thera was not a vacant seat in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening, when the Dunedin Burns Club held a national concert in commemoration of the anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the poet of Scotland. The concert was on excellent lines, and the services of several of the most noted musicians in Dunedin had been enlisted, notably Mrs Wilfrid Andrews and Mr Ernest MTvinlay. The chair was occupied by the president of the Burns Club, Mr T, Gilchrist, who mentioned the purpose for which they were assembled, and stated that a haggis had been prepared for the occasion by Mrs Maxwell, of Ravensbourne. The National Anthem having been sung, the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band, in a very much strengthened form, played a selection under its conductor, Pipe-major J. C, Smith, the Burns Club Choir following with “ There Was a Lad.” Mrs Wilfrid Andrews gave an admirable rendering of “ Ye Banks and Braes,” and was greeted with a storm of applause. She then sang “ Hail Caledonia ’’ in response to the recall. Mr W. Hilliker met with a similar compliment for his singing of “ Scots Wha Hae,” and by way of an encore gave “ Annie Laurie.” Mr J. B. Thomson w T as very amusing and entertaining in his recital of “ Tam o’Shanter,” and on reappearing, when the applause had ceased, recited “ A Man’s a Man for a’ That.” Mr Ernest M'Kinlay’s singing met with a most favourable reception. He first sang “ Robert Burns,” and had to add ” Bonnie Wee Thing,” and a Border ballad.

The Rev. R. Robertson, of Mosglel, in the course of a brief address, expressed his pleasure at being present to take part in celebrating the anniversary of their greatest’ poet, Robert Burns. Every Scotchman and Scotch lassie had read a vast amount about their Bobby Burns. Burns came of poor parents, but they must not run away with the idea that Burns was poverty-rtricken, because he was not. His first lessons were from a very able school master. What we read in his works showed that he was not uneducated. Burns studied and read books, and when he went further afield came into contact with a man named Rodgers, who taught him Latin and French and other subjects which were not easily learned. As a result he was well able to associate with the wisest men of his time. Burns was very independent—it was a characteristic of his, and was ingrained in all Scotchmen. He advised his hearers to encourage its growth, and carry it through -to the end. Burns's first poem was written to Nellie Kirkpatrick, who was named by him “ Handsome Nell.” At the age of 22 he wrote “ Peggy Morrison,” and when He was 23 his father died. At 26 he wrote “ Holy Wiellie’s Prayer.” He was not irreligious, but he was right up against hyprocrisy, which, unfortunately, was today the curse of true religion. What he saw filled him with disdain. Later he wrote “The Cottar’s Saturday Night,” and he (the speaker) never read it without being thrilled. Mr Robertson proceeded to refer to other works by Burns, and said that the man who could write “The Cottar's Saturday Night” kad soared into something that was of the highest order. Burns went further than Gray in the “ Elegy in a Country Church Yard.” Referring again to Burns’s independent nature, the speaker said that if he had been living to-day he might have been a “ Sir,” but he doubted if Burns would have accepted the title. In addition to his other characteristics, Burns was a philanthropist right to the very hilt. In April, 1796, Burns passed away. The taint of consumption was in his father and his mother’s mother, and he (Mr Robertson) was inclined to think that those things were not easily obliterated, and so passed their famous poet at the ago of J 7 years. In the latter portion of the programme Mrs Andrews and Mr M'Kinlay sang “ O wort thou in the Canid Blast ” Miss Yalda “My Love is like a Red Red Rose ” Misses Doreen Wheeler, Libbie Hayden, Edna Fincham, and Edna Agnew danced tho“ Reel o’ Tulloch,” Mrs Andrews sang “John Mr J. B. Thomson recited “ To a and Mr M'Kinlay sang “ Afton Water. Mr P. C. Cooper conducted, and Mrs Newey and other ladies played the accompaniments. The concert concluded with the singing of “ Anld Lang Syne.”