startling suddenness on Friday, the 4th June, 1920.

Deputations

of the members attended the funerals of the deceased brothers, and floral wreaths were sent on behalf of the members of the Club, also letters of condolence to the relatives of deceased.

Much of the year's success has been due to the untiring energy and enthusiasm of President Stirling and committee, who have always been ready to do all in their power to further the Club's interests, and who were very regular in their attendance at all meetings and committee meetings, which were very numerous. We are all looking forward to the coming session with confidence, as every member is taking a greater interest in the business, which augurs well for the future of the Club.

JAMES RELLIE, Secretary.

HAMILTON JUNIOR BURNS CLUB.

REPORT FOR SESSION, 1919-1920.

I have the pleasure and satisfaction to report another successful year in the activities of the Hamilton Junior Burns Club. The Annual Meeting was held on the evening of 28th September, when there was practically a full attendance of the members. Mr David Cross, President, occupied the chair. The reports submitted by the Secretary and Treasurer showed the brotherhood to be in a good working condition. To the great regret of the members, the Great Reaper, on 27th March, took from our circle Mr William Ferguson, Past President of the Club. Mr Ferguson was one of Nature's gentlemen-a large hearted, genial man. He was widely read in Burns literature, and his addresses from the chair were always models of diction and grace. He was a source of strength to the Club, and his popular, pawky personality is much missed. The sympathy of the members was fittingly conveyed to his widow and family in their loss.

During the summer months an interesting series of rambles were again carried through. The first of these took place to Cadzow Forest on Saturday, 29th May, when a large deputation from Ye Cronies Burns Club, Govan, joined us. Our Govan friends greatly enjoyed the outing, and were much impressed with the sylvan beauty of the High Parks. On the invitation of the Govan Burns Club a deputation visited that brotherhood, and had the privilege of being conducted through the Fairfield Shipbuilding Yard. The visit was one of much interest to the deputation, who were most hospitably entertained during the afternoon.

Messrs D. Cross, J. Brown, and W. Wilson, who were deputed by the members to represent the Club at the Annual Meeting of the

Burns Federation in London on 4th September, gave an interesting report of the proceedings. All spoke of the interest and pleasure which the meeting afforded them, and of the great kindness and hospitality extended to the delegates by the London Robert Burns Club. The London meeting of the Federation will remain memorable to all who had the privilege of taking part in the proceedings.

The Club meetings are held on the first Monday of each month, at 7.30 p.m., at 1 Union Street, Hamilton, when a warm welcome will be accorded to any member of a Federated Club.

W. WILSON, Secretary.

BIRMINGHAM BURNS CLUB.

ANNUAL REPORT-SESSION 1918-1919.

The session just closed has been one of great activity. Eight functions were promoted and carried through, and it is pleasing to report that all were of an extremely enjoyable nature.

1918.

Sept. 27. Inaugural Meeting-Grand Hotel.

Oct. 30. Burns Symposium.-Comprising four short papers by members, followed by songs. A collection taken realised

£13 for the Lady Mayoress' Fund (Prisoners of War, Warwickshire Regiment). Grand Hotel.

Nov. 22. Lecture: Sir Walter Scott "-By the President.

aid of War Service Fund. Grand Hotel.

In

Dec. 20. Ladies' Night. In aid of War Service Fund. Grand Hotel. 1919.

Jan. 24. Burns Anniversary Celebration. Grand Hotel.

Feb. 28. Whist Drive. In aid of Club Funds. Grand Hotel.

April 4. Smoking Concert. White Horse Hotel.

April 11. Lecture: "The Rebirth of the Serbian Nation "-Mrs Robertson, Scottish Women's Hospitals. Queen's Hotel.

During the year 42 ordinary, 3 life, and 12 associate members were elected, but owing to resignations, removals from town, and, I regret to say, the decease of five members, the membership roll now stands at 248 (30 associate members), the highest number in the history of the Club.

Thirteen ordinary members and four associate members were on service with the Colours during the past session.

Our sincere sympathy is extended to the relatives of those members who have passed away, and I am sure you will all read with regret that the Club is the poorer by the decease of Kenneth

Fullarton, Andrew Halley, Patrick J. B. Keiller, Dr M'Call, and Dr Sturrock.

The policy of the Club was again mainly directed to the aiding of War and Local Charities, and the proceeds of several of the functions held have enabled your committee to allocate £50 to the Scottish Women's Hospitals, and to contribute £105 to other Charities. To those members who worked to attain these objects we tender our sincere thanks.

It is hardly necessary for me to comment on all the meetings seriatim, but the Ladies' Night held on 20th December, 1918, can hardly be passed over without remark. As was confidently expected, this meeting, which took the form of a Whist Drive, was a great success socially, and what is equally important, financially.

The ladies worked with the greatest possible zeal and energy to attain a satisfactory result, and the Club cannot be too lavish in its thanks to them for their able assistance and skilful organisation which enabled them to hand over, as a result of the meeting, the sum of £96 11s 4d for our War Charities Fund.

The cessation of hostilities in the great European conflict having somewhat relieved the feeling of restraint caused by the war, your committee decided to hold the Burns Anniversary Celebration in the orthodox pre-war fashion, and a Burns Dinner was therefore held in the Grand Hotel on 24th January last, at which the Haggis was served with the usual musical honours.

One hundred and sixty-three ladies and gentlemen were present, the largest number a President has ever presided over at any previous Club function of a like nature.

Another function of a very pleasing nature was the meeting held in the Queen's Hotel, on 11th April, when Mrs Robertson, of the Scottish Women's Hospitals, in her lecture entitled, “The Rebirth of the Serbian Nation," gave a very interesting account of the Birmingham Section in the Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital, Sallanches, France, and told how the money raised by the Flag Day last year was expended in founding this section.

The meeting was an addition to the syllabus, prompted by the desire of the Scottish Women's Hospitals to give some form of recognition of the work done by the Club on their behalf, especially the founding of the City of Birmingham Section mentioned above. A collection taken at this meeting realised £6 for our War Service Fund.

The committee are indebted to Messrs J. Cumming and C. MacGrath for arranging a Snooker Handicap which realised £15 for our War Service Fund.

Through the courtesy of Mr R. Nelson, brother of the late Dr Nelson, of 78 Hagley Road, Birmingham, a framed steel engraving

depicting a meeting between the National Poet, Robert Burns, and Walter Scott (not then Sir Walter), in Sciennes House, Edinburgh, was very kindly presented to the Club and gratefully accepted. The donor has been suitably thanked.

In conclusion, I take this opportunity of thanking all my colleagues in the Club for their kind assistance to me during my year of office.

ANNUAL REPORT SESSION 1919-1920.

The session just closed has, I am pleased to say, been most successful. Altogether eight functions were held, viz. :—

1919.

Aug. 23. Picnic. Forest Hotel, Knowle and Dorridge.
Oct. 3. Inaugural Meeting. Queen's Hotel.

Oct. 24. Whist Drive. Masonic Rooms, Severn Street (in aid of
Club Funds).

Nov. 28. Ladies' Night. Whist Drive, Fletcher's Cafe, Corporation

1920.

Street.

Jan. 3. New Year's Party. Grand Hotel.

Grand Hotel.

Jan. 23. Burns Anniversary Celebration.
Mar. 5. Social Evening and Sale of Work. Masonic Rooms,
Severn Street.

Mar. 26. Smoking Concert. White Horse Hotel.

During the year 48 ordinary, 5 life, and 20 associate members were elected, and 3 ordinary members were transferred to life membership, but owing to resignations and removals from town the membership roll now stands at 287 (43 associate members and 43 life members)—the highest number in the history of the Club.

The policy of the Club was again directed to the aiding of charities, and in this instance donations were confined to local institutions (particulars of the donations made being found in the Hon. Treasurer's report enclosed).

Whilst it is not necessary for me to remark on all the functions held, several cannot be passed over without comment.

The Picnic was a revival of a pre-war custom, and although held late in the summer, was a distinct success. The weather being on its best behaviour, a large number of members and friends were present, and games and sports were indulged in. The proceedings terminated in an impromptu concert in the evening-the talent being mainly supplied by members of the Club.

Burns Anniversary Dinner, 23rd January.—This function was held on a larger scale than any in the history of the Club-167 ladies

and gentlemen sat down.

Several notable guests were present, and in addition to representatives from kindred societies, we had the pleasure of entertaining the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, P.C., High Commissioner for Australia; Brig. Gen. Ludlow, C.B.; Mr H. F. Harvey, Editor of the Birmingham Daily Mail, Mr G. A. Smith, President of the Birmingham Rotary Club; and Mr E. Sandford, the Lord Mayor's Secretary.

Out of courtesy to our principal guest, the President surrendered his prerogative by allowing the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher to propose the important toast of the evening, The Immortal Memory." Whist Drive, 28th November. The ladies were again kind enough to organise a special function, and this took the form of a Whist Drive, which realised £11, this sum being earmarked for our Charity Fund.

We are also indebted to the ladies for a special voluntary donation of £21 14s to the funds of the Club. This was raised by means of a series of private Whist Drives held by the ladies and friends throughout the winter months, and we are greatly indebted to them for all their efforts, especially to Mrs Jas. Campbell, as being the prime mover in this direction, and I take this opportunity on behalf of the Club, of thanking the ladies for the great interest and hard work performed in pursuance of the Club's interests.

March 5th. Social Evening and Sale of Work.-Once again our sincere thanks are due to the ladies for their enthusiastic assistance. This function was a distinct success, and resulted in a very substantial sum being added to the Club Funds.

Smoking Concert, 26th March.—It is admitted by all who were present that the talent supplied at this function was the finest of any smoker we ever had. It was very disappointing, however, to the promoters of this function to see such an exceedingly poor attendance of members, and I am desirous of bringing this to your notice as it is no encouragement to those who go to a lot of trouble in arranging these functions to find the support of the Club lacking, and I should be glad if members could see their way wherever possible in future to give their personal support by being present.

It is with regret I have to inform the members that our First President, Mr W. E. Ross, has been for some little time in indifferent health. At present he is away recuperating, and I am sure you will join with me in wishing him a speedy recovery to good health.

LECTURE:

"BURNS IN RELATION TO SCOTTISH MUSIC."

Dear Sir or Madam,-The Management Committee is providing an unique programme for Friday, 19th November, at the Queen's