IS BURNS WORSHIP DECLINING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10960, 1 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

IS BURNS WORSHIP DECLINING

The following paragraph from the Edinburgh letter of the Otago x>aily Times will be read with interest by Burns worshippers : — The agitation on behalf of the fund for the restoration of this structure had become almost a farce, and it is therefore satisfactory to have to report that it is now at an Cfd. Collections on behalf of the fund were taken at the usual celebrations on Burns's anniversary, and these, added to the contributions painfully whipped up iefore, have practically completed the task. At a meeting of the "Works Committee of the Ayr Town Council it was reported that the sum of £9600 was m hand, while subscriptions from the colonies, and elsewhere had still to be received. It was thus certain that tho £10,000 required was; assured, and the convener of the committee, (Mr Osw-ild of Auchencruive) gavel his personal gua_ : antee' that the full arridurit would be iri hand by the end of March, . The committee accordingly agreed to recommend the council to ; have , the -work done, fit it to he carried out within two yearsThe difficulty experienced m raising this" moderate" sum has made many think that the influence of Burns m Scotland is niore a matter of talk than anything else The Weekly Scotsman has started a discussion on the question "Is ' Burns worship declining m Scotland?" The general opinion seems to be that it is, and that mainly because tho songs and other poom are no longer taught m the schools. Whatever may be the cause, it seems to be a fact that Burns worship, like worship of a higher kind, has declined greatly m Scotland. Scotsmen still profess attachment to Burns and the Bible, but they do not know these writings as their forbears did, and it is not surprising therefore that they are less influenced by either than used to be the case.