daughter a beautiful wedding gift. For your kind thoughts and gift we are all grateful to you.

We congratulate Dunfermline and our brethren there on receiving, at the hands of one of our members, Sir Alexander Gibb, G.B.E., C.B., the great Burns Collection known as the Murison Collection, one of the finest collections of Burnsiana in the world. Sir Alexander Gibb, the honorary president of the Dunfermline Club, most generously purchased the collection and handed it over to Dunfermline. While congratulating Dunfermline, we wish to thank Sir Alexander Gibb for his great public spirit. Sir Alexander's action has most probably prevented the collection from being purchased for America, where so many valuable Burns books and collections have gone.

During the year we have lost the services as honorary treasurer, but fortunately not the membership or support, of our old friend and past president, Mr Wilkinson-Pimbury, who has rendered great service to us, and who for these services the members conferred on him life-membership and a beautifully bound copy of the Poet's works. Happily, Mr Wilkinson-Pimbury has been succeeded as hon. treasurer by an able accountant in Mr J. Spence Leslie.

We have recently congratulated Dr J. M. Bulloch, one of our members, on having had conferred upon him the degree of LL.D. by his Alma Mater, Aberdeen. Dr Bulloch has done much literary work for Scotland, and his hosts of friends inside and outside this Club are proud of the honour conferred upon him. Dr Bulloch has just undergone a serious operation, and we all wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

Among what may be considered as domestic events, I wish to refer to the recovery from his period of illness of our worthy hon. secretary, who has given such great service to the Club. Mr M'Farlane, at the Federation Meetings, at the Hollowe'en Dinner, at our great Birthday Festival, and at our Committee meetings, has been the life and soul of our Club, as he has been since he took up office. His illness cannot altogether be separated from the work that he has done for the Club; and often when he might have claimed exemption on account of illness, he has stuck to his work with the cheerfulness and joviality that make association with him so pleasant.

Among minor matters to be recorded are the facts that the Club assisted with the visit of the Orpheus Choir; and with the petition for securing a Civil List Pension for Mr Scott Skinner, the eminent Scottish composer and violinist.

During the year we have lost several of our brethren by death. Among these are :-Mr Peter Bonthron, a life member, a gentleman whose interest in the Poet's works was most intelligent, and who

attended our gatherings consistently.

Mr Robert C. Annand, who was elected to membership only in December, one of the leading manufacturers of printing machinery of the present time; Mr G. Simpson, an old and valued member of the Club; Mr A. D. Ferguson, Mr J. Campbell Walker, and Mr D. Scully, whose presence we shall greatly miss from our gatherings.

FUSION OF BURNS CLUBS IN LONDON.

The most important matter that our Club has had to consider during the past twelve months is the proposal to unite the two Burns Clubs in London. In 1917, I may recall, this Club made an effort to effect a union, but the time apparently was not ripe and the negotiations failed. In March last, as the result of informal conversations, the London Burns Club (Scots), made overtures to our committee. These were heartily welcomed by us, and the result may be-we hope it will be-that to-night the two clubs, having similar ideals, will be united under the title, "The Burns Club of London." With a united body of Burns lovers in London the good work on which we have all been engaged will go forward with increased zest.

IN CONCLUSION-THANKS.

In conclusion I would like to thank the Officials and Council for the enthusiastic support they have given me during the past year. I have already referred to the extraordinary hard work of Mr M'Farlane, and while emphasising his good work, I do not overlook the work of the members of the different committees who have given excellent service to the Club; and in particular I wish to refer to the support given to me by our Vice-President, Sir William Noble.

We have had a year of great interest, and I feel sure of great good to the Burns cult. We have reached an important point in the history of our Club; and should the fusion of the two Clubs actually follow the negotiations, much more can be done for the literary and charitable sides of our work. We shall go forward in the expectation of doing great things together.

My last words are words of gratitude to you all for the support you have given me in the chair. L. G. SLOAN, President.

ROSEBERY BURNS CLUB.

The past session's work, it is pleasing to note, has been markedly progressive. All the meetings have been largely attended, and it is evident from the number of ladies present that it was a wise move on the part of the Club to admit them as members.

Probably one of the most interesting meetings held was on 17th August, 1920, when Mrs Gribbel was duly elected our first Honorary Lady Member. A splendid evening's entertainment resulted, and will long remain a pleasant memory in the minds of all present.

The Syllabus was quite up to, if not better than, its predecessors, and to judge from the titles of the lectures, we had quite a Poetic Session," addresses being delivered on Tannahill, Cowper, and Burns," as well as on "The Poetry of Business."

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All the social functions were well partonised, and a large and appreciative gathering heard Prin. Chas. S. Dougall, M.A., of Dollar Academy, give the oration on the 25th January.

The Ladies' Night consisted of a Whist Drive on 23rd December, and a high tea on 31st March. At the latter function an Auction Sale was held whereby the Infirmaries benefited to the extent of over £30.

The School Competition at Bluevale Public School proved an unqualified success, and while the members of the Rosebery provided the incentive, we cannot allow the occasion to pass without recording our appreciation of Mr Lucas, the Headmaster of the School, and his well qualified staff, who took such pains with the children. As a result of the competition and the whole-hearted enthusiasm of the children, it is pleasing to record that a goodly sum was donated to the Bellahouston Hospital.

As all Burnsians know, the Rosebery, in co-operation with the Carlton Burns Club, had taken in hand the publication of Burns Works in Braille and Moon type, so that those of our brethren who had not their sight might be able to appreciate and enjoy our Bard's literary masterpieces. This grand work is now completed, and at the parting of the ways of the joint committee a balance of nearly £62 was donated to the Scottish Institution for the Blind, whose headquarters are in Edinburgh.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the Club is in a flourishing condition, and we anticipate continuing our forward march in the session now started. So far, everything augurs well for this hope being realised. JOHN M. ALEXANDER, Hon. Secy.

TAM O' SHANTER BURNS CLUB, GLASGOW.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1920-1921.

The Annual Report was submitted at the meeting on 25th October.

The Club has met three times during the session, the Committee seven times, and the Sub-committee four times.

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 25th January in the Trades House Restaurant, when Professor Rait proposed the "Immortal Memory” in a scholarly and masterly manner, and was enthusiastically applauded.

It has been arranged to have a School Competition in Govanhill School early next year, under the auspices of Mr Edward Patience.

Owing to the difficulties connected with the railway strike, there was no outing this year.

On 29th March a Literary and Musical Evening was held. President Hamilton gave an address on "Charles Dickens," and an excellent musical programme followed. Ladies were present at the function for the first time, and the experiment was considered successful and will be repeated.

The Club was duly represented at the Burns Federation Meeting at Dunfermline in September by Messrs Hamilton and Ballantyne. The M'Lennan Cup Competition took place in August, and the Club entered three rinks. The membership stands thus :-Life Members, 70; Ordinary Members, 52; Honorary Members, 6-total, 128. an increase of 9.

It was remitted to a Committee to consider the erection of a Memorial Tablet to Douglas Graham, the “ original" of Tam o' Shanter. Mr J. D. Sloan, ex-President of the Rosebery Club, and the Rev. James Muir, Parish Minister of Kirkoswald, are both interested in the subject.

The Annual Meeting was held on 25th October, when the Annual Report revealed a very satisfactory state of affairs. Arrangements were made for the Annual Dinner, when Mr Fred. A. M'Quisten, M.P., would give the "Immortal Memory." Arrangements were made for a School Competition in the Annette Street School. Mr J. Blair Smith, of the Record and Mail, addressed the meeting on the subject of the action of Licensing Authorities in restricting the hours of licensed houses.

A syllabus for the session was fixed as follows:

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Oct. 25. Scots Songs and School Competitions "-Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter.

Nov. 29. "Men Worth Knowing "-Ex-Bailie Shaw Maxwell, J.P. Feb. 28. "Burns and the Poets "-Mr Jas. D. Sloan.

Mar. 28. "Some Modern Scots Poets of the Vernacular "—Mr Ninian M‘Whannel.

April 25. Smoking Concert and Whist Drive.

June

1. Annual Outing.

J. J. H.

GLASGOW AND DISTRICT BURNS CLUBS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT, 1920-21.

The annual report was submitted at the meeting on 27th October.

The Association has now completed its 14th year.

All the meetings of the year were largely attended, and the various functions have been carried on successfully. 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, Sandyford, and Tam o' Shanter Clubs, and by this Association.

The 5th Anniversary Sermon was preached on 23rd January by the Rev. Dugald Clark, of the Parish Church, Springburn, whose subject was "The Religious Teaching of Burns." The service was one of the most successful yet held, and there was a crowded congregation. The collection on behalf of the Mauchline House amounted to £14 6s 3d.

The Westland Club, Whiteinch; the Shawlands Club, and Southern Merchants' Club have been admitted to membership, making the total membership 47.

On 13th November the re-interment of Highland Mary took place at Greenock, and was an impressive and memorable ceremony. The hospitality of the Greenock Burnsians will not be forgotten by those present.

A legacy of £50 was given to the Association from the estate of the late W. P. Lowrie, and this was handed over to the Burns House, Mauchline. Application has also been made for a legacy of similar amount bequeathed by a Helensburgh lady to the Haggis Club.

The Association was represented at the Burns Federation at Dunfermline on 4th September by Messrs Sutherland, Chalmers, and Cockburn. The meeting was a great success.

The

The Annual Outing of the Association took place to Mauchline on Saturday, 1st October, and proved a very happy event. Highland Mary Memorial at Failford was visited, the beneficiaries were seen, and the members and friends dined in Poosie Nancy's.

The Museum at Mauchline has received several gifts, and has, during the past summer, been visited by a large number of people from all parts of the world.