2. Properly organised Burns Clubs, St. Andrew's Societies, and kindred Associations may be admitted to the Federation by application in writing to the Hon. Secretary, enclosing copy of Constitution and Rules. 3. The Registration Fee is 21s, on receipt of which the Diploma of the Federation shall be issued, after being numbered and signed by the President and Hon. Secretary. 4. Members of every Burns Club or Kindred Association registered by the Federation shall be entitled to receive a pocket Diploma on payment of IS. (These payments are final--not annual.) 5. The Funds of the Federation shall be vested in the Executive Council for the purposes before-mentioned. 6. A meeting of the Executive Council shall be held annually during the Summer or Autumn months at such place as may be agreed upon by the Office Bearers, when reports on the year's transactions shall be submitted by the Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, and Office-bearers elected for the ensuing year. 7. A meeting of the Office-bearers shall take place some time before the Annual Meeting of the Executive Council to make the necessary arrangements for the same. 8. That each Federated Club shall subscribe 10s 6d per annum towards the fund for the publication of the Burns Chronicle. 9. Notice of any amendment or alteration of the Constitution or Rules of the Federation, to be considered at the Annual Meeting, must be sent in writing to the Hon, Secretary not later than the 31st March. BENEFITS. 1. Registered Clubs are supplied free with copies of newspapers containing accounts of meetings, demonstrations, &c., organised, conducted, or attended by the Executive Council of the Federation, and of the Annual Meeting of the Kilmarnock Burns Club. 2. Exchange of fraternal greetings on the anniversary of the Poet's natal day. 3. Members of Registered Clubs who have provided themselves with pocket diplomas, are entitled to attend meetings of all Clubs on the Roll of the Federation, they being subject to the rules of the Club visited, but having no voice in its management unless admitted a member according to local form. 4. Members are entitled to be supplied. through the Secretaries of their respective Clubs, with copies of all works published by the Federation, at a discount of 33 per cent. BOOKS PUBLISHED BY THE FEDERATION. BURNS'S HOLOGRAPH MANUSCRIPTS in the Kilmarnock Monument Museum, A few copies of the back vols. may still be had on application to the Hon. Secretary. Increased prices are charged when the vols. are out of print. MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BURNS FEDERATION. GOLDEN LION HOTEL, THE Annual Meeting of the Executive Council of the Burns Federation was held here to-day at 11.15 a.m. The following Delegates from Federated Clubs were present : No. o, Kilmarnock. -Ex-Provost M'Kay, J.P. (presiding); Capt. D. Sneddon, J.P.; D. M'Naught, J.P.; T. Amos, M.A.; D. Murray, M.A., B.Sc., and A. Mackay. No. 9, Glasgow Royalty.-James M'Culloch and James Hamilton. No. 21, Greenock.-A. Kerr Bruce, Hugh Ritchie, Murdo Galbraith, James Buchanan, Alex. Ramsay, W. B. Foster, T. P. M'Callum, and W. B. Ingram. No. 36, Glasgow Rosebery.-A. Pollock, George Armour, P. Smith, and Wm. Allan. No. 37, Dollar.--James Begg. No. 50, Stirling.-Councillor Ridley Sandeman, Mr Craig, and Alex. Love. No. 57, Thornliebank. —A. M'Callum, M. Jamieson, and Wm. Jamieson. No. 59, Gourock Jolly Beggars.—James Adam. No. 66, Crossgates.-Messrs Dall and Ness. No. 67, Glasgow Carlton.-James Ballantine and John Anderson. No. 68, Glasgow Sandyford.—Ex-Bailie Mayberry, J.P., and D. C. Wardrop. No. 83, Glasgow Co-operative-J. Jeffrey Hunter. No. 89, Sunderland.-W. II. Turner. No. 100, Hamilton Mossgiel.--T. Brown. No. 105, Rutherglen Cronies.-A. C. Alston and R. M‘Luckie. No. 113, Vale of Leven Glencairn.—A. Campbell and John M'Pherson. No. 115, Kippen and District.-Thomas Syme, Sam. Thomson, and Alex. Davidson. No. 116, Greenloaning-Messrs Sands and T. Stewart. No. 119, Bonhill-Thomas Cornock. No. 124, Edinburgh Ninety.—Adam M. Mackay. No. 126, Falkirk-R. H. Lochhead and H. B. Watson. No. 128, Cowdenheath Glencairn. -Thos. Ferguson. No. 132, Riccarton Kirkstyle.-Wm. Lumsden, John Alexander, and Thos. Brown. No. 134, Duntocher Heron.-J. M. Somerville. No. 136, Hamilton Royal Oak. -James Shepherd and Andrew Orr. Apologies for absence were intimated from Bailie M. Robertson, No. o; Dr Wm. Findlay, No. o, Kilmarnock ; James Webster; J. Thomson Findlay, V.P., Clydebank; Mr M'Killican, No. 1, London; Duncan Carswell, No. 2, Alexandria; J. Hunter Hamilton, No. 35, Dalry; D. B. Morris, V.P., No. 50, Stirling; R. H. Swindlehurst, No. 95, Bolton; Wm. Wilson, No. 121, Hamilton; and Fred. Johnston, No. 126, Falkirk. The Minutes of last General Meeting, and of the Committee Meetings held during the year, were read and approved of. Mr David Murray, M.A., B.Sc., expressed the great loss which the Federation had sustained by the death of Mr William Freeland. In the course of an eloquent and generous tribute to his memory, Mr Murray said that all who were interested in Scottish literature thoroughly believed that the dream of that able old poet and journalist would in years to come be realised in a way which would do honour, not only to the Burns Federation, but to the whole of their beloved country. In concluding his remarks, Mr Murray thought that they should put on record their deep regret at the loss of such a man as Mr Freeland, and he begged to formally move accordingly. The motion was unanimously approved, and it was agreed that an excerpt be sent to the deceased gentleman's family. Capt. Sneddon, in the absence of Mr Brockie, read the Treasurer's statement. During the past year seven new clubs had joined the Federation, and 85 federated members had been enrolled. Two clubs had subscribed one guinea, and forty-four had sent half-a-guinea to the Chronicle publishing fund. The total income for the year amounted to £51 6s 4d, and the total expenditure to £29 16s 3d. The funds on hand now amount to £180 3s 2d, showing an increase of £21 10s Id during the past year. The statement was unanimously adopted. The Chairman urged that the half-guinea subscription should be continued, and this was cordially agreed to by the Meeting. Mr M'Naught, Editor of lhe Burns Chronicle, reported that the whole issue had again been sold out. The sum voted by the Council had been productive of excellent results, and he had now articles offered to him instead of having to beg for them from his friends. He said that the Club Directory was still faulty owing to Secretaries neglecting to forward lists of officials at the proper time. In the course of a criticism on the contents of the Burns Chronicle, Mr Kerr Bruce, Greenock, said that he thought the publication would appeal more to Purns Clubs if more information were given about what Burns Clubs 4 were doing all over the world. He suggested that the space devoted to "Club Notes" should be extended and their scope widened. Mr Pollock, Glasgow Rosebery Club, repudiated the idea that the errors in the Directory were owing to Club Secretaries. Although the Secretary of his Club had sent a syllabus in good time, the names of the previous year's office-bearers had appeared for this year. Mr Turner, Sunderland, said that they were delighted with the Chronicle across the Border. The Secretary of the Sunderland Club had annually sent notes of their year's work, and these had always been printed. Mr Ballantine, Glasgow, suggested that a representative should be chosen for each of the large towns, whose duty it would be to keep the Editor up-to-date in Club matters. The discussion was also taken part in by Messrs Wardrop, Jeffrey Hunter, and M'Callum, each of whom sympathised with the compiler of the Directory in his difficulty to get information from Club Secretaries. In reply, Captain Sneddon said he was delighted to see such life in the Federation. Every year circulars were addressed to secretaries of each federated club asking for a list of their office-bearers and other information of interest regarding the club, and they would be surprised to learn how few replies were sent in. Club secretaries should not try to cover their laziness by sending a syllabus instead of filling up the printed circular. The errors or omissions in the Directory were owing solely to the indifference of club secretaries. They could not strike off the roll clubs which had not sent lists for years, as some suggested. The clubs were numbered consecutively, and once on the roll they remained there for ever. In conclusion, the Secretary strongly urged the delegates to see that the meeting for the election of office-bearers was held in time for the list of new office-bearers for the ensuing year being published early in December. The Chairman said that personally he would not like to see the Chronicle become a mutual admiration magazine for the recording of anniversary speeches at Burns Club meetings. The literary matter was the only thing that could keep the Chronicle alive. He hoped that its present high character would be maintained. In the course of an address on the progress of the Federation, Capt. Sneddon said that the office-bearers were much gratified with the support given to the Chronicle Fund. If every Club sent in a subscription he hoped the Federation might be able to supply a number of copies, say 10 or 12, free of charge to each Club. He considered Hallowe'en a good time to hold a club's annual business meeting. In regard to the Burns Lectureship, he said that many were driving that subject on too fast, and he had the same report to make this year as last regarding help from the Carnegie Trust. These gentle men said that the matter was not pressing, and at present they had their hands full. They, however, said that the scheme seemed to be one which might possibly come within the four corners of the Trust. What he would now advise was to get their own Clubs to say what they were prepared to subscribe to the scheme. He proposed that the Federation should give £100 as a send-off. Bridgeton and Kilmarnock Clubs have already promised large sums. Another and stronger circular calling for help in this matter should be sent to Club secretaries. The Chairman thought that when they learned what the Clubs were prepared to do they would be in a better position to appeal to the general public. This course was unanimously approved. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. Mr A. M'Callum moved the re-election of the President, Vice-Presidents, and other office-bearers. Mr Pollock seconded the motion. On the motion of Mr Pollock, Glasgow Rosebery Club, the following resolution was cordially agreed to :-" The Federation earnestly recommends all Clubs to organise annually children's competitions in singing and reciting the works of Burns and other Scottish Poets as the best means of preserving and encouraging the knowledge and study of the Scots Doric and Literature." Ex-Bailie Mayberry, J. P., proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the Chairman, and a similar compliment was paid to Capt. Sneddon, Mr M'Naught, and Mr Amos for their services to the Federation. The place and time for next year's Meeting was left in the hands of the Office-bearers of the Federation. LUNCHEON AND DRIVE. After the Business Meeting, the delegates, joined by a number of their lady friends, lunched in the large hall of the Golden Lion Hotel. Ex-Provost Mackay again presided. After an excellent repast, the loyal toasts, "Burns Federation" and "Stirling Burns Club," were proposed and enthusiastically honoured. The company then drove to the Borestone on the Field of Bannockburn, and, led by Mr M'Naught, sang with great fervour "Scots wha hae" and "God save the King." Driving back to Stirling, a visit was next paid to the Wallace Monument. As the day was beautifully clear, the magnificent panorama to be seen from the monument was viewed at its best, and everyone was delighted with the visit. Through the kindness of some of the members of the Stirling Burns Club and their lady friends, the company was entertained to tea before leaving the monument. For the excellence of the arrangements throughout the day, the greatest credit is due to Councillor Ridley Sandeman, secretary of the Stirling Club, and Mr Craig, vice-president of the Club, who assisted him in the work. THOMAS AMOS, Hon. Assist. Secretary. |