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Dumbartonshire and Argyllshire-12 Clubs: 1 Member.

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Mid and East Lothians and Borders-15 Clubs: 2 Members.

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North-Eastern England-9 Clubs: 1 Member.

224 Ashington.

270 Coquetdale.

158 Darlington. 163 Gateshead. 156 Newcastle.

195 Shiremoor.

89 Sunderland.

159 Walker-on-Tyne. 165 Wallsend-on-Tyne.

North-Western England-4 Clubs: 1 Member (provisionally).

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167 Birmingham.

120 Bristol.

281 Vickerstown.

71 Carlisle.

Midlands of England-7 Clubs: 1 Member.

296 Walsall.

131 Nottingham.

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THE BURNS FEDERATION.

List of places at which the Annual Conference of the Council has been held.

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MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE

OF THE

BURNS FEDERATION.

FREEMASONS' HALL, GEORGE STREET, EDINburgh, 12th September, 1925.

The Annual Conference of the Burns Federation was held here to-day at 10 a.m. The President, Sir Robert Bruce, LL.D., occupied the chair, and was supported by nearly the whole of the office-bearers of the Federation. Apologies for absence were intimated from Dr. J. M. Bulloch, Mr. Wm. Will, and Mr. James Thomson, London; Mr. Hugh M'Lean, Greenock; and Col. Walter Scott, New York. The Minutes of the previous Conference, held in Dumfries, were read and approved.

The Hon. Secretary submitted his annual report.

HON. SECRETARY'S ANNUAL REPORT.

Two years ago our Conference was held at Ayr, the birthplace of our National Bard; last year we met in Dumfries, where all that was mortal of the Poet is interred; to-day we meet in "Edina, Scotia's darling seat," the scene of his brief social triumph. To a Burnsian this is a remarkably interesting sequence of meeting places. Twenty-two years have passed since a Federation Conference was held in this city. On that occasion 70 delegates representing 30 Clubs were present. The presence to-day of nearly 400 delegates from 140 Clubs in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, the United States, Canada, and Australia, will give an indication of the vigorous growth of the Federation since 1903.

My first duty is to bring before your notice the recent death of Dr. M'Naught, who was for thirteen years our President, and for the long period of thirty-three years editor of the Burns Chronicle. He was one of the founders of the Federation, and for nearly forty years he continued to be a veritable bulwark of strength to the Burns movement.

As President he was well equipped for his position through his experience on various public bodies, his dignified eloquence,

and his minute and accurate knowledge of the life and works of the Poet. He was a man of great versatility, of clear vision, and of strong personality, and when he had planned a course of action his indomitable resolution carried out his undertakings to a successful issue. Much of the best of his work is contained in the Chronicle which he so long edited with acceptance and distinction, and his well-known book The Truth about Burns is to a great extent a summation of the forcefully written articles contributed by him during his editorship of our Annual. Through native worth he rose triumphant over the narrowing influence of a village school, and made for himself a name known and respected by all lovers of Burns at home and abroad. We who knew him so long and honoured him so sincerely mourn to-day the loss of a great-hearted friend.

The Federation has also lost one of its oldest office-bearers and staunchest supporters through the death of Mr. W. H. Turner, a native of Ayrshire long resident in Sunderland, who by his enthusiasm did so much for the Burns cause in the north-eastern counties of England. Those who were present at our Congress in Sunderland in 1907 will remember with gratitude his tireless efforts to make our first visit across the Border a success.

I cannot leave unnoticed the death of Miss Annie Burns Burns, only daughter by his second marriage of Lieut.-Col. James Glencairn Burns, fourth son of the Poet. This venerable lady, who was proud of her descent from our National Bard, had long lived at Cheltenham, and recently died there in her ninety-fifth year. A year ago, at your request, I conveyed to her the good wishes of the Burnsians assembled at our Congress in Dumfries, and received from her a gracious reply.

To the families of Dr. M'Naught and Mr. Turner, and the relatives of Miss Burns, we respectfully offer our sincere sympathy.

The past year has been one of progress and prosperity, and I have great pleasure in reporting that the following 21 Clubs have joined the Federation, viz.:-Kirkcudbright; Stockton, N.S. W., Australia; Vancouver Burns Fellowship; Bingry Jolly Beggars, Ladies; St. Mark's, Perth; Hurlford; Newark and District Caledonian Society; Glencraig "Bonnie Jean," Ladies; Buffalo, U.S.A.; Auchinleck Boswell St. James; New Cumnock Anglers, Glen Afton; Cockenzie Thorntree; Tarbolton; Peterhead; Buckhaven ; Dalkeith and District; Wallyford; Balerno; Leith; Thornhill and South Queensferry.

Five of these Clubs belong to the district tapped by our visit here to-day, and this speaks eloquently of our wisdom in not having one town permanently fixed as the meeting place for our Congress. I have also issued to our members close on 300 pocket diplomas, which are highly valued as a means of personal introduction, especially in America.

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