them all we appreciate their efforts.

May we all go forward into another year's work resolved to make it better and brighter than any that has gone before it, so that we may make our Club life an influence for good in this town.

M. NEILSON, Hon. Secretary.

ALBANY BURNS CLUB.

The 1919-20 session of this Club was an excellent one, and its monthly meetings were supported by a series of most interesting lectures on topics which appealed to everyone-that by the Rev. Dr Primrose, and another by John Main, M.A., being illustrated by lantern slides.

The Nineteenth Annual Competition in the Songs and Poems of Burns by the senior pupils of Provanside Secondary School was held on 13th December, 1919, and as usual the accommodation in the Gymnasium was somewhat overtaxed to meet the interest taken in this great local event. This competition was instituted by the Albany for the direct purpose of creating interest in our National Bard, and simultaneously continuing a knowledge in the Scottish dialect by teaching it to the young generation, especially as their parents now represent the last of those whose tongues carry the music of the sweet and expressive old vernacular. This ambition of the Albany Club has been warmly fostered by J. Marshall, Esq., M.A., the Headmaster, and his staff of kindred enthusiasts.

Six medals and twelve volumes of literature form the annual prizes in this contest, and these are gifted by members of the Albany, the donors for the last session being Mr John R. Prentice and Past President John A. Headrick.

The Honorary Secretary-Mr Robert Carmichael-with whose industry and successful management the Club has long been familiar, has now joined the directorate, and his successor, Mr D. C. Kennedy, appointed to the office. The new Secretary will thus be able to draw upon the advice and experience of Mr Carmichael.

The President, Dr William Cullen, and his co-directors, are fully alive to the rapidly rising standard of the Burns cult, and to the more extended appeal it commands from an ever-growing and wider circle of people everywhere. All the wide world over, the pioneer Scot in his travels has never failed to announce that it was Burns who unfastened the loops of the heart and let it pulsate freely; that it was Burns who took the shutters off the mind and let in the clear daylight; that it was Burns, in fact, who brought man face to face with the world he lived in, and shewea him that it was his

own.

1920.

SYLLABUS.

Oct. 6. Opening Remarks-William Cullen, Esq., M.D.

Nov. 3. The Medieval Minstrel and his Work "-Geo. Eyre

Dec.

1921.

Todd, Esq.

1. A Trip to the Hebrides" (with Lantern Illustrations) -J. Niven Murdoch, Esq.

Jan. 5. Burns and the History of his Time "- Rev. Wm. Brownlie, M.A.

Jan. 25.

Immortal Memory" (Annual Dinner, Grand Hotel, at 6.30 p.m.)-William Cullen, Esq., M.D.

Feb. 2. Musical Evening-Members and Friends.

Mar. 2. "Burns and Nature Study " (with Lantern Illustrations) -John Main, Esq., F.G.S., F.E.I.S.

The Club meets on the first Wednesday of each month (from October till March, inclusive), in the Burns House Club, Ltd., 27 India Street, Glasgow, at 7 o'clock p.m. Members have the privilege of introducing friends. Subscription for Session, 5s; Life Membership, £2 2s.

D. C. KENNEDY, Hon. Secretary.

TAM O' SHANTER BURNS CLUB, GLASGOW.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1919-1920.

The Annual Meeting was held on 26th October.

The session opened with the Annual Meeting, which later resolved itself into a Smoking Concert. At that meeting the alteration

of rules was discussed.

The Annual Dinner took place on 24th January, when Mr Graham Moffat, the celebrated dramatist, proposed the Immortal Memory," and the speech was well reported in the Press. A collection was taken at the dinner, amounting to £4, and this was given to the Treasurer on behalf of the Mauchline House Fund. The question of this Club having a School Competition was discussed at a meeting held on 5th March, and in view of the difficulty of finding a meeting place, the competition was unanimously postponed to next session. On 30th March a Literary and Musical Evening was held. Captain Campbell gave an address on "Lord Byron," and an excellent musical programme followed. On this occasion ladies were present for the first time.

The Annual Outing took place to Loch Lomond on 1st June. A motor boat took the company from Balloch to Ardlui. Lunch

was served at Tarbet, and high tea took place at Ardlui, and the outing was a great success.

The Club was duly represented at the Burns Federation Meeting at London in September, and the kindness shewn by the London Scots will never be forgotten.

The M'Lennan Cup Competition took place in August, and this Club entered three rinks.

The Club agreed to take shares in the newly-constructed Burns House, 27 India Street, and it has been arranged that future meetings shall take place there.

An attractive syllabus has been prepared, and it is hoped that the new session will prove a great success.

The membership stands thus:-Life Members, 58; Ordinary Members, 58; Honorary Members, 3-total, 119.

BURNS CLUBS ASSOCIATION, GLASGOW.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1919-1920.

The Annual Meeting was held in the Burns House, India Street, on 28th October, when a large attendance was presided over by Mr Charles R. Cowie. The Annual Report stated that the Association has now completed its thirteenth year, and had a very successful session.

The various functions of the Association have been carried on successfully, and many lecturers have been sent to Societies and assistance rendered in other forms.

As usual, the Statue in George Square was beautifully decorated, and individual wreaths were sent by the Rosebery, Carlton, Sandyford, and Tam o' Shanter Clubs and by this Association.

66

The Fourth Anniversary Sermon was preached on 25th January by the Reverend J. H. Dickie, of New Kilpatrick, whose subject was The Prayers of Burns." The Service was the most successful yet held. There was a crowded congregation-several hundreds of persons being turned away-and the collection on behalf of the Mauchline House amounted to £27 11s.

There are now 44 Clubs affiliated to the Association. Unfortunately a number of Clubs which remained dormant during the war have never been resuscitated, and unless that is done very soon their case seems to be hopeless.

A dinner in honour of Mr Gribbel took place in the Grand Hotel, on 27th July, when the famous Album was presented to him by Mr Duncan M'Naught, as a mark of appreciation of his disinterested conduct in connection with the Glenriddel MSS.

The Annual Outing of the Association took place to Mauchline on 18th September, and proved a very happy event.

The Directors regret to report the removal by death of Mrs Susan Stewart, which sad event took place at Mauchline Station on 6th November, 1919. Susan," as she was familiarly called by everybody, had from the opening of the Houses faithfully carried out the duties of janitor. She was an excellent old woman, and the news of her death was everywhere received with great regret. Her place has been satisfactorily filled by Mrs Park. Another death that falls to be reported is that of Mrs Brown, one of the beneficiaries. Her house has been filled by another beneficiary.

The Association was represented at the Burns Federation at London on 4th September. The meeting was a conspicuous success, and the kindness of our friends south of the Border will never be forgotten by those privileged to be present.

The most engrossing subject of the year was the search for permanent premises for the Association. In January the dwelling at 27 India Street was purchased, and a Limited Company formed to find the money to pay the purchase price and to alter and furnish the building. The formal opening of the Burns House took place on 22nd October. It now lies with the members to do all in their power to assist the project by every means in their power, so that the Burns House may become as a household word among Burnsians.

THE BURNS HOUSE, GLASGOW.

The Glasgow Association of Burns Clubs and Kindred Societies have for the past year been interested in finding permanent premises. They have hitherto met in the Royal Hotel, Glasgow, and their appreciation of the kindness of the proprietor, Mr Smith, was evidenced by a gift presented to him.

The

In January last a four-flatted building at 27 India Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow, formerly the home of Colonel Macfarlane, came into the market, and was purchased by Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter, solicitor, on behalf of the Association. The house required considerable alteration, and the operations were much impeded by the Glasgow joiners' strike, and also by a strike of electricians. architects in charge of the job were Messrs John Ballantine, 95 Bath Street, Glasgow, and Ninian M'Whannell, 11 Jane Street, Glasgow, and their arrangements happily resulted in the formal opening of the House on 22nd October. The area flat is occupied by a large billiard room, cloak room, lavatory, &c. floor contains reading room and dining room.

a lecture hall capable of holding 150 persons.

The ground

The first floor has There are also one

or two committee rooms.

The caretaker, on the upper flat, has a

house of three rooms and kitchen.

The contractors for the work have been :-Plumber work-Bailie R. S. Renfrew, 136 North Street, Glasgow; Mason work-James Bathgate, 482 Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow ; Plaster work-J. Struthers & Son, Pitt Street, Glasgow; Electric lighting J. F. Hiddleston, 126 Great Western Road, Glasgow; Painter workNeil Toze, 152 North Street, Glasgow.

The House is very handsomely furnished, the bulk of the furniture having been obtained from the Royal Polytechnic Limited, Glasgow.

The Club is owned by a limited company, composed of Burnsians, and the shares have been well taken up. The principal shareholders are Mr Charles Rennie Cowie, Sir Daniel Macaulay Stevenson, Bailie R. S. Renfrew, Mr Matthew Reid, and Mr Hugh M'Coll.

Already the House has been adopted as a home by a number of the leading Burns Clubs of Glasgow, and already quite a number of large meetings have been held. An appeal has been made, and is being made still, to Burnsians to contribute books, prints, and manuscripts to the library. This appeal has been heartily responded to, and among the donors are Mr Richard Edmiston, jr., Dr Quintin M'Lennan, Mr Hugh M'Coll, Mr Matthew Reid, and Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter. The Burns House is worthy of its name and object. It is meant to be a meeting-place for all good Burnsians in Glasgow, and it is hoped that it will have a long and successful

career.

The Office-bearers are as follows:

Honorary President-C. R. Cowie, 20 Blythswood Square, Glasgow; President-Hugh M'Coll, 278a St. Vincent Street, Glasgow ; Vice-presidents-Alex. Mackenzie, 210 Battlefield Road, Glasgow, and Matthew Reid, 82 Dundas Street, Glasgow.

Secretary and Treasurer.-James L. Gillespie, 89 Bath Street, Glasgow.

Committee.-J. Jeffrey Hunter, 89 Bath Street, Glasgow ; Thomas Killin, 2 Stewarton Drive, Cambuslang; Isaac Chalmers, 104 Crookston Street, Glasgow; George John M'Callum, 4 Athole Gardens, Newlands, Glasgow; Hugh Lyon, 35 Cornhill Street, Springburn, Glasgow; Thomas S. Turnbull, 310 Golfhill Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow; James Allan, 2 Broomhill Avenue, Partick, Glasgow; J. C. Ewing, 167 West Regent Street, Glasgow; J. M. Brown, 161 Pollok Street, Glasgow; J. D. Sloan, 151 Queen Street, Glasgow; R. M. Milholm, 7 Somerville Place, Glasgow; William Cockburn, N.B. Station, Bowling; A. G. Andrew, 13 Montgomerie Street, Ardrossan; John Macfarlane, 6 Gordon Terrace, Shettleston,