THE BURNS CLUB.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11665, 25 January 1902, Page 3

THE BURNS CLUB.

The South Canterbury Burns' Club celebrated the birthday of Burns by a concert in the Theatre Royal last evening—concertby way of variety from previously held. There was not a very large attendance; the seats were just about lull, the dress circle sparsely occupied. And most of the audience were from the land cf Burns. The stage scenery was arranged as a room and at the back was placed a large drawing of a statue of Burns. The""" concert company and the members of the Pipe Band appeared on the stage, and led the singing of a verse of "God save the King." The president, Mr S. Mcßride, then said a few words explanatory of the gathering, saying that the club preferred to celebrate the Burns anniversary this year by means of a concert, instead of a " social," as there had been so many festivities lately. He promised the members, liowever, that they would be given the of attending one or more socials —with " haggis during the year. The Dunedin Society were that evening celebrating the anniversary in precisely the same way, by a concert, and he read a fraternal telegram from Mr Brown, president of that society, as follows: " To ilka lad in Timaru braw lass an' sonsie dame, a heartie shako han' to a' wha', honour Burns' name. The concert was then opened by the Pipe Band, who played a couple of selections—- " \ man's a man for a' that,' and "Lord Paimure's march," very well indeed. The Band, bv the way, had played outside the Theatre while the audience was gathering, the concert as a whole was ratner tame. Each performer was applauded, but with few exceptions not very heartily. The honours of the evening rested with Miss J. Anderson, a young lady who sang '• Flow (rently sweet Afton" and ' Doon the Burn Davie," and was warmly encored for each. Mrs Scmmerville sang with jndiciou.-' recognition of its note of melancholy " Mv Nannie's Ami,' " and with suitable" feeling "The Land o' the Leal.'" Mrs Irwin was also successful in pleasing her hearers in her two songs "Cam ye by Atluil."' and " Loc'nnagar." Messrs W. Gilchrist, J. G. Gow, Dr Reid, Messrs Matheson, J. Holdgate, and Pipe-Ma or Mcßrtfe. contributed one or two songs each, biit all were rather quietly received, Mr Mcßride coming nearest to evoking enthusiasm with his "Scots wha Hae." The

cession, "Lass o' Gowrie" and, " Cock cthe North," and the whole company closed the concert with " Auld lang Syne," The accompaniments were played by Miss Gabites and Miss Egan, these young ladies having kindly consented to fill a gap that was made at the last moment by the absence of the accompanist who had rehearsed with the singers, and Mr T. D. Young, who on behalf of the. Society made a little speech of thanks, specially thanked the two young ladies for taking up the duty without any preparation. MR RAMSAY'S ADDRESS.

During the firfft part of the programme the president announced the principal part of the evening's entertainment, an address by Mr J. J. Ramsay, vice-president of the Dunedin Burns' Club. The subject of the address was, " What Burns has done for Patriotism," and nothing could" be more appropriate at this anniversary, seeing- how much patriotism was in the forefront of public feeling just now and of late. Mr Ramsay, who. was well received, on coming forward said he was both proud and pleased to be present to help the Timaru Burns' Club to celebrate, 20,000 miles from : the shores of Scotland, and in the second year of the 20th century, the anniversary of the poet of the 18th century, whose .songs had done so much to endear to them the old Scottish 'homes from which they or their fathers and mothers had mi- ' grated. As he had left Home at the early age of five, Scotland was to him but a name, and it was New Zealand that had first claim upon him for that patriotic feeling which, as the South African war had shown, burned so brightly in the breasts of young colonials. But it was Scottish blood that flowed through his veins and made him proud to be present at any time " wherever Scotsmen gather." He disclaimed any pretensions to oratory : all he professed to do was to speak as a young colonial imbued with a love for his Scottish motherland, with a little of that spirit that found vent in the patriotic songs of Burns. Proceeding to his task, Mr Ramsay said it was not very easy to find anything new t3 say of Burns, but perhaps one side of his character had not been so much descanted upon as others. This was his cosmopolitanism, by whicli he had done much to create a spirit of manly independence and foster a love of liberty all the world over. Burns was net a poet of Scotsmen only, for they found all English-speaking peoples pronouncing his praises. His key-note was humanity, without regard to nationality, and thus he appealed to all that was noblest and best in all races .who could read his works, whether in his own or any other land. An American, for instance. Dr Talmage, had said that Burns' songs of the rights of man found an echo in President Lincoln's proclamation cf the abolition of slavery in America. Burns was a plain man. plain-spoken, understcod by everybody ; an honest mirth-maker for all classes; and he breathed the spirit of goodwill for all men. Scotsmen the world over were noted for their independence, and if they were pressed for an explanation of it they found it in the words of Burns. For Burns, and for all after him who had imbibed his spirit, "the rank is but the guinea stamp ; the man's the man for a' that." Burns would have no cringing of the poor to the rich, and the lesson, had been widely learned by Scotsmen, and that teaching.had spread far beyond Caledonia. The eternal truth of the sentiments of personal independence and the equality and brotherhood of man touched a responsive chord in every breast, and this was the secret of the grip his works had gained over men of all nations. Mr Ramsay said he had often wondered what Burns would do for the scenery and the life of New Zealand. If he could appear here to-day he.would find high inspiration in the former, for poetic description ; and in the latter he would find our young men and maidens worthy descendants of their ancestors amongst whom he lived. But in our political catch-words, "tickets'" and party cries he would have found objects fof Jus biting satire, and would again have to sing" " A.man's a. man. for a' that," in support of the principle of individual liberty. Sconer or later the man would arise to preach that doctrine once again. It was preached now in a practical manner, by the way in which Scotsmen came to the front everywhere, and with their Burns Clubs and Caledonian Societies and Gaelic Societies, dominated society. This was because Scotsmen believed in individuality, and in each man doing the best that was in him to do. And this was precisely the tendency of Burns' poetry. He advocated no State "aid. but self-reliance, trust in one-self, expressed in the maxim, " A man's a man for a' that." But not selfishly, for a companion wish of his heart was that " man to man, the world o'er, shall brithers be, and a' that." At the close of his address, Mr Ramsay congratulated the Burns Club on the good turn-out at the anniversary celebration, and on having a good Burns Club at Timaru, and on behalf of his own Society, bade any member welcome to the meetings of the Dunedin Club, should they be in the citv when any meeting was being held. He also congratulated Timaru on turning out such a fine body of young Highlanders as he had just seen. (Applause.) He understood that they were all natives, and if old Scotland could turn out anything better he would like to see them. (Applause.) '