meant a lot of work-work to Committees, and work to headmasters and their staff, but if any of them had seen competitions such as were carried on at Sandyford and Kingston they would be ashamed that their Clubs had so long delayed in taking up this work. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Secretary read the names of the new Executive Committee, and announced that the Committee would hold its first meeting in Glasgow on 26th September next. REPRESENTATIVES ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. Mr. Robert Cowper, Bridgeton Burns Club, Glasgow, moved "That for the purpose of electing members to the Executive Committee, each Club has one vote for each 50 members on the roll, provided the members' present addresses are registered in the Club books." Mr. Adam Mackay seconded the motion. The President pointed out that the acceptance of the motion would upset the new Constitution. He suggested that the motion might be remitted to the Executive Committee for discussion; and the motion was then withdrawn. ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS. On the motion of Mr. Jeffrey Hunter, seconded by Mr. T. Killin, Sir Robert Bruce was unanimously re-elected President. Colonel John Gribbel, Philadelphia; Mr. William Will, London; Colonel Walter Scott, New York; and the Hon. James A. Craigie, New Zealand-Hon. Vice-Presidents-were elected Honorary Presidents; and all the Vice-Presidents were elected Hon. Vice-Presidents, with the exception of Messrs. J. Jeffrey Hunter and A. M'Callum, who were retained as acting VicePresidents. The Hon. Secretary, the Hon. Treasurer, the Auditors, and the Secretary of Children's Competitions, were re-elected; and the interim appointment of Mr. J. C. Ewing as editor of the Chronicle was confirmed. On the motion of the Chairman, it was agreed to grant an honorarium of twenty-five guineas to the Hon. Secretary. NEXT CONFERENCE. Messrs. M'Millan and Dunlop of Atlanta, U.S.A., gave a very hearty invitation to hold the next Conference in that city. The Rev. David Paton, Albany, U.S.A., on behalf of Troy Burns Club, also very cordially invited the Federation to Troy. The President thanked the American delegates for their highly appreciated invitations, but pointed out the practical difficulties in the way of acceptance. The scene of next Conference was remitted to be fixed by the Executive Committee. MEMORIAL OF ROBERT FERGUSSON. The Chairman read a telegram from the Hon. James A. Craigie, New Zealand, offering a subscription of £100 to start a fund for the erection of a monument in Edinburgh in memory of Robert Fergusson, the forerunner of Burns. He also submitted a letter on this matter which he had received from Dr. Pittendrigh Macgillivray, King's Sculptor for Scotland. This also remitted to the Executive Committee for consideration. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON. was On Friday Sir Joseph and Lady Dobbie entertained the Executive Committee of the Federation along with the Committee of Edinburgh B.C.A. to luncheon in the North British Hotel. Interesting speeches were delivered by the Chairman, Sir Robert Bruce, Mr. Bonney, U.S.A. Consul in Edinburgh, and Mr. Killin. Mr. West Kerr, Edinburgh, thanked the host and hostess for their generous hospitality. Immediately after the luncheon a beautiful wreath from the Federation was placed by Lady Bruce at the Burns Monument, Calton Hill. The party then visited the graves of Fergusson and Clarinda in the Canongate Churchyard, and also Canongate Kilwinning Masonic Lodge, and other places associated with the name of Burns. The Burns manuscripts kept in the University were also viewed by the company. CIVIC WELCOME. In the absence of the Lord Provost, the delegates and their lady friends received in the City Chambers a hearty welcome to Edinburgh from Bailie Coulson. On behalf of the Federation, the President thanked Bailie Coulson and his colleagues for the civic reception and also for the care with which they had preserved the valued relics of the Poet now housed in the Municipal Museum. The famous Glenriddel manuscripts of Burns were on view and excited great interest. Tea was afterwards served, and an excellent programme of Scottish music was presented. MUSICAL FESTIVAL. In the evening, the delegates and their ladies were the guests of the Edinburgh Burns Clubs Association at a festival in the Music Hall, when a splendid programme of Burns songs and recitations, varied by violin selections, was sustained by a talented company of artistes under the direction of Mr. J. C. Lumsden. Photo. by Ian Smith, Edinburgh MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION VISITED THE BURNS MONUMENT IN EDINBURGH ON THE OCCASION Thirty officers and 110 men from the American flotilla lying in the Forth were present as guests, and in proposing a vote of thanks for the wonderful entertainment given by the artistes, Sir Robert Bruce expressed the feelings of the great gathering when he said it was a peculiar pleasure to have present with them the gallant sailormen from the Great Republic in the West. He also thanked the Edinburgh Association for presenting a performance which would make this Conference memorable. The concert concluded with a verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Auld Lang Syne." LUNCHEON. At the conclusion of the Conference the delegates were entertained to luncheon in the Music Hall by the Edinburgh Burns Clubs Association-Sir Joseph Dobbie presiding over a gathering of ladies and gentlemen which numbered nearly 600. 66 After luncheon, the Chairman proposed the toast, of "The Burns Federation," to which Sir Robert Bruce made a happy reply. Mr. Jeffrey Hunter proposed the toast of "The City of Edinburgh," and Bailie Coulson replied. Dr. Joseph Hunter, Dumfries, proposed the toast of "The Edinburgh Burns Clubs Association," and Mr. West Kerr replied. The Health of Sir Joseph and Lady Dobbie" was proposed by Sir Robert Bruce, who referred to the special debt of gratitude the guests owed to their Chairman and Lady Dobbie. In his reply, Sir Joseph paid a tribute to the excellent work of the Honorary Secretaries, Mr. Thomas Robertson and Mr. R. J. Grant M'Laren. VISIT TO LINLITHGOW. In the afternoon the delegates were taken by motor to Holyrood Palace and the Castle. They then drove to Linlithgow, where they were the guests of West Lothian Burns Clubs Association, visiting the Forth Bridge on the way. In the Palace Yard of "The Windsor of Scotland," to which they had been escorted by an excellent local pipe-band, Lord Provost Hebson welcomed the delegates to the ancient burgh. He reminded them that on 25th August, 1787, Burns had visited the famous old Palace, and on the evening of that date had become an honorary member of the local masonic lodge. The Rev. Robert Coupar, minister of the beautiful and historic St. Michael's Church, also welcomed the visitors. In reply, Sir Robert Bruce said that the delegates had come on a pious pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of their National Bard. Mr. Jas. Kidd, M.P., proposed a vote of thanks to Sir Robert Bruce, and paid a tribute to the live interest he had infused into the Burns atmosphere since he became head of the Federation. Tea was served in the Palace grounds, and a programme composed principally of |