282: GLASGOW AND DISTRICT BURNS CLUBS' BOWLING ASSOCIATION. M'LENNAN CUP COMPETITION. The twenty-eighth annual match for this trophy was played on Tuesday, 3rd August. Scrutiny of the cards showed that a rink from Dumbarton Burns Club had won, with a majority of 35 shots, and secured the Cup and the first set of badges. The second set of badges was won by a rink from Queen Anne Club with a majority of 38. The Cup and the badges were presented to the winners at a social meeting held on 13th August in the Burns House Club. On the match day, while play was in progress, the Hon. President of the Association, Mr. James Bryce M'Lennan, in company with the President and the Secretary, visited a number of the greens. Mr. M'Lennan was afterwards presented with the Hon. President's badge, at a representative meeting held in the National Burns Club. DAVID MACKIN, President. 283: SINCLAIRTOWN BURNS CLUB. The endeavours of the Club have been directed towards maintaining the high-level mark of previous years. This has been successfully done. The Club's activities required numerous meetings, and these were well attended. There was a Social Meeting on 21st November, and the Ladies' Night on 9th December was again a happy event. The Annual Dinner was held on 23rd January, and "The Immortal Memory oration was particularly well done by Mr. John Greig. On 20th February Mr. John Hunter, F.R.C.O., gave an instructive talk on "How to sing a Scots Song." Mr. Donald Bell, M.A., read an enjoyable paper on Slang at the March meeting. The Annual Drive took place on 10th June to Blairgowrie. What a day! But it was enjoyed in spite of the rain. One of the Club's main endeavours has been towards School Children's Competitions. We have been able to do something in the past year, and we are glad of our small success. Our offer of prizes was turned down by the Headmasters and Staffs of the Primary Schools; but it was gladly accepted by Mr. D. Mackay, M.A., Headmaster of the Cen M tral School in the Third Ward. Two prizes were offered for Elocution in each of the three years of the School CurriThere was keen competition, and the whole thing was a decided success. Federation Certificates were presented to the winners. culum. Despite the opinion offered that the pupils in Primary Schools were not of a suitable age for such work, the Club tried to run an Open Competition. It proved a failure; only three entries were obtained. The Charity Concert, therefore, with the Children's Competitions as a basic feature, had to be abandoned. But we are going to keep knocking at the door in the hope that, if we do so with insistence, something will come of it. A Medal was again gifted to the Fifeshire Musical Festival for Elocution. October there was a At the General Meeting held in general turn over of leading officials. the President, retired after over six years of real honest work in the directing of the Club's affairs. The Club members would have been pleased to see him retain office, but he himself insisted on a change in the interests of the Club. His personality has undoubtedly contributed in no small measure to the Club's success, and his very genuine enthusiasm could not but reap its due reward in a stimulated interest in all the Club's activities and in Burns work particularly. He is succeeded by Councillor J. D. M'Cormick, in whose hands the Club's affairs should be perfectly safe. Mr. D. Grierson, who has looked after the finance of the Club with conspicuous success during the past six years, moves up to become Vice-President. Before retiring he gave a pleasing report which showed a balance in hand of almost £10. Membership grows and only limited quarters keep it at its present numbers. Enthusiasm is on the crest of the wave. We hope to keep it there. FRANK TAYLOR, 300: COVINGTON AND THANKERTON TINTOCK BURNS CLUB. SYLLABUS 1926-27. 1926-Oct. 12. Lecture-Recital: "Our Heritage of Scottish Song," by Gilbert Rae. Nov. 9. Literary and Musical Evening. 1926-Dec. 7. Lecture-Recital by A. C. M'Nair, M.A.; assisted by Biggar H.G. School Choir. 1927-Jan. 25. Anniversary Festival: "The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns," by Rev. Thomas B. Miller, B.D. Feb. 15. Children's Competition in Elocution and Singing. Adjudicator Mr. R. P. Thomson. To be followed by a Song Recital by Mr. Thomson. Mar. 8. Literary and Musical Evening. Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 12th April, or nearest date convenient. 307: EDINBURGH AYRSHIRE ASSOCIATION. There was again an increase in the membership during the past session, and all the monthly functions were well patronised, particularly the lecture on "Humour " by the Rev. D. C. Stewart, M.A., Currie. The lecturer has made that subject peculiarly his own, and he provided a very enlightening and entertaining evening. There was a record attendance at the Annual Dinner, when Mr. Charles S. Dougall, M.A., submitted the toast of "The Immortal Memory " in his usual scholarly manner. The other speakers included Sir Joseph Dobbie, Rev. W. M. R. Rusk, and Mr. W. L. Bonney. An attractive programme of songs and recitations was ably sustained by Misses Valentine Lind and Betty Forwell, and Messrs. J. M. Mackie, J. MacLeod, and Augustus Beddie. SYLLABUS 1926-27. 1926-Oct. 8. Whist Drive. Nov. 4. Lecture on "John Galt," by John Muir. 27. Children's Party. "The Immortal Memory," by 1927-Jan. 21. Burns Dinner: Thos. Killin, J.P. Feb. 18. Dance. JOHN MOVIE, 310 MAUCHLINE BURNS CLUB. SYLLABUS 1926-27. 1926-Sept. 23. General Meeting. Oct. 21. "The River Ayr in Mauchline Parish," by Rev. Nov. 18. "Burns, the Song Writer," by John McVie. Neil. 1927-Jan. 20. Symposium, by James MacIntyre. 25. Celebration of the Poet's Birthday. Feb. 17. "Half a Century of Scottish History," by Dougal Mar. 24. Annual Meeting. 1926-Oct. 314 SCOTTISH BURNS CLUB, EDINBURGH. SYLLABUS 1926-27. 8. "Some Disciples of Burns," by Wm. J. Hay. 1927-Jan. 14. "The Singularity of Burns," by R. W. Brown. 25. Anniversary Dinner. Feb. 11. Open Meeting-Musical Evening, assisted by Mar. 11. Annual General Meeting; and Lecture on J. Devon. 318: QUEENSBERRY BURNS CLUB. We have had a very successful session, and everything points to the same this year. We opened on 23rd March with "A Musical Evening," by Mr. C. Mair; 28th September, Dramatic Recital, with characters from Dickens, Shakespeare, &c.; 5th November, Hallowe'en Supper; 30th November, Ladies' Night; 21st December, Lecture, "The Promotion of the Brotherhood of Man," by Major C. Randolph Dudgeon; 25th January, 1927, Anniversary Anniversary Dinner: The Immortal Memory" to be proposed by Mr. James Lucas, M.A.; 22nd February, Lecture on "Scottish Song," by Mr. J. F. Hannay. A. D. PATTUllo, 325: VANCOUVER BURNS FELLOWSHIP. Last session was a busy one for the executive and the members of the Fellowship. The executive, particularly, had a strenuous time. Many members spoke at the anniversary celebrations in January, among those who rendered service in this connection being the President (Mr. Carrick), James Taylor, Alex. McRae, and John MacInnes. At home, the Fellowship had a busy week at this time, no less than three meetings being held-a monthly meeting, the annual banquet, and a special church service on Sunday evening. Work has been progressing steadily on the collection of funds for the erection of a statue to the Poet within the leafy confines of Stanley Park. While a concert and a musical festival, sponsored by the Fellowship, added materially to the fund, it has been found that the personal canvass is the surest and most reliable means yet found of collecting the necessary amount. Last month the Tag Day, granted by the local civic authorities, helped to swell the fund considerably. It is only about eighteen months since active work was started on the project, yet so promising does the horizon appear that, at a meeting of the executive on 1st November, it was decided to place the order for the statue, along with a cash deposit of half the cost. The executive are beginning to see daylight, but there is still much hard work and energy needed before we achieve our objective of seeing the statue erected. At the last British Columbia Music Festival, open to all within the province-in fact, to the outside world as well -the Fellowship donated two gold medals for Scottish folksongs. In the previous year the Fellowship were responsible for the inclusion of these classes in Scottish folksong in the syllabus of the Festival. For next year's Festival, again, two gold medals will be donated in the same classes. A glance at the syllabus for the session will show that we are broadening out a little, so that contemporary and other renowned Scottish writers may have a place in our thoughts. In the direction of brotherhood we are also broadening, having invited two kindred organisations, the Dickens Fellowship and the Shakespeare Society, to partake of our hos |