Burns Club Social

Southland Times, Issue 13503, 21 July 1896, Page 3

Burns Club Social

The monthly social of thia club, held in the Temperance Hall yesterday evening, was largely attended and was one of the most successful yet given. Mr Geo. Lumsden, the president, occupied the chair and explained that for various reasons the social had been delayed a fortnight, one consideration being that though not being on the exact date it would at least be, as it were, mixed up with an event which was agitating “Burns” people all over the world—tho celebration of the centenary of the poet’s death. In one sense he could not see how there could be any rejoicing over such an event as it was really a matter for sorrow, but there was another occurrence to take place in connection with tho celebration of the centenary, namely, the unveiling of the statue of “ Highland Mary ”at Dunoon. That would be a very interesting affair and there would be a great turnout on the occasion,, and although they were n»t able to participate in it they were still in thorough sympathy with the ceremony, as “ Highland Mary was associated with some of the most beautiful sentiments of their favourite poet. The relationship and association of Mary with Burns, and tho sentiments expressed by him in connection, with the grief that was entailed upon himself when she. died under such depressing circumstances justly entitled her to a prominent place in the memory of the admirers of the poet. Mr Lumsden then cal'ed upon Mr W. H. Clark to read a paper on the Jacobite episode in Scottish history as illustrated by her song writers. Mr Clark, in opening, explained that his address was meant rather as a relation of the incidents of which the accompanying songs and recitations were the outcome than an historical account of the Jacobite rebellions. The speaker, "however, delivered an exceedingly interesting address in which he outlined the principal features of the risings of 1715 and 1745, and depicted in an able manner tho circumstances of them. His description of Prince Charlie, his personal beauty, a disposition bravo and generous almost to a fault, and a sanguine and enthusiastic temperament—followed by a recital of his history from the time he landed with a few followerson the coast of Scotland,throughout a* ill-starred career, terminated by his escape and subsequent banishment to the court of France were vividly pourtrayed and in a very clever manner. Mr Clark caused his story at various points to lead naturally up to notable incidents forming the subjects of appropriate selections. These were placed in excellent hands and the programme submitted was ot a high order of merit. Miss Innes is always a warm favourite with an Invercargill audience and the stirring manner in which she renders Scottish patriotic melodies thoroughly justifies her claim to this esteem. Her singing of “ Bonnie Dundee” and “Cam ye by Athol ” were enthusiastically received. , Mrs Blue was in splendid voice and infused an undeniable charm into her singing of “ Bonnie hoose o’Airlie ” and “Wae’sme for Prince Charlie, ’ both songs being given with appropriate expression. The two ladies mentioned also took part in the duets “ The Standard on the Braes o’ Mar ” and “ A hundred Pipers.” Miss Murray gave “ Come o’er the stream Charlie” very pleasingly and her singing of “Flora Macdonald’s Lament” also elicited hearty applause. Mr Forrester created much amusement by his spirited rendering of “Johnnie Cope.” “Lochiol’s Warning” wasgiveninfine style by Messrs McKillop and Clark and the former gentleman recited with considerable dramatic ability “Prince Edward Charles at Versailles.” The programme concluded with the quartette “ Will ye no come back again” which was charmingly rendered by Mrs Blue, Miss Innes, Messrs D. Blue and Wm. Smith. The chairman, after moving votes of thanks which were heartily accorded to Mr Clark for his interesting address and to the other ladies and gentlemen for their kind assistance, said he thought the most fitting conclusion to such an enjoyable gathering was a verse of “God save the Queen. " They were Jacobites—-at least he had always been a hit of a Jacobite himself—but they could take some satisfaction from the reflection that our Queen herself had a fair share of Scottish blood in her veins. The National Anthem was then sung and the proceedings brought to a close. Shortly after the floor was cleared and dancing was engaged in by the younger people Mr and Mrs Blue supplying the music.

The following verses were forwarded to the committee of the Burns Club with the view of their being read at the meeting as a fitting memento on the occasion of the centennial recurrence of the day of the Poet’s death—2lst July, 1796. They only came to hand, however, on Saturday evening, and the programme, a very heavy one, having been fully arranged previously, it was deemed preferable not to protract the entertainment, but to simply refer to the receipt of the verses at the meeting and hand them to the press for publication— TO ROBERT BURNS. CENTENARY. Dear Robert Burns; Fair fa’ the sicht; Leal-hearted men and ladies bricht, Foregetherin’ here this July nicht, I Wi’ thochts o’ thee, An’ greetins tae thy royal hicht O’ poesio! Dear ploughman lad; sae sair bested, Sae hardly winnin’ daily bread, Shieldin’ thy loved anes frae.the dread O’ puirtith’s blast; An’ lay in’ low thy glorious head In want at last! Oh, Scotland's pride and Scotland’s shame; They feasted thee with empty fame, Then coldly saw neglect and blame Thy genius mask; And flung to thee a hated name, And hated task 1 Yet mveot an’ clear thy liltin’ rose Abune thy cares, abune thy woes; Nae sordid littleness tae gloze Thy musio knew; Even tao thy short day’s waefu’ close The sang was true 1 The love o’ ilka livin’ thing Flamed i’ thy heart an’ car’d thee sing; The flow’ret o’ the oauldrife spring Was dear tae thee ; A’ Nature dwelt in thee—did wing Thy minstrelsie! Thy poet-inspiration ran Abraid the wide creative plan, An'—spite o’ Fortune’s witherin’ ban, An’ cruel jeer— Proclaimed the Brotherhood o' Man Was drawin’ near. Puir Sootia trem’led i’ the grip O’ sauntley lees an’ censorship ; Ye raivelled oot tho “ hangman’s whip Within her borders, An' bade auld Nickie Bendie skip Till further orders I Still deepest reverence was thine, An’ lowliest worship at the shrine, O’ simple worth—in shade or shine — In cot or ha’ An’ o’ the Mystery Divine That cares for a’. An’ if Love made thee over-kind, An’ Beauty never met thee blind, Sae fond thy heart, sae rich thy mind. Each tender care, Iswi’ the world's great heart entwined For evermair 1 We haud thy Highland Mary dear, We ken thy Jean was aye sincere, Wo seepuir Jessie's hidden tear; When thou wast low, An’ bless her for tho lovin’ cheer She did bestow 1 Oh, Robbie I thou hast never died I 3hy spirit canna bo denied, Mair an’ mair dearly ’tis descried, An’ hallowed mair; A glory—meetin’ far an’ wide Baith praise an’ prayer 1 Praise for thy peerless gift of Bong, Praise for thy manhood true and strong, Praise for thy quenchless hate of wrong, And love of good ; Prayer for thy vision—century long— Max's Brotherhood I W. Sukßßirr Bain. Christchuroh. —