wishing the Club all prosperity. The sudden demise of Mr J. Mathew, who had just been elected, gave a great shock to his many friends.

NOT PLEASURE ONLY.

May I take this opportunity of pointing out that the Club's utility is not confined entirely to social pleasure. Members are always willing to be of help in the cause of charity.

LONDON NEXT YEAR.

All

We,

Members must bear in mind that the Conference of the Federation Delegates will take place in London next year. honour must be paid the Immortal Bard in the Metropolis. as the representative and only Federated Burns Club in London, must support the President and Committee, and entertain the representatives from all parts of the world in a manner worthy of our Club and our patron-prophet Bard.

FINALLY: THANKS.

Our success is, of course, due to our Hon. Secretary, our Stewards, M.C.'s, and last, though not least, our Hon. Pipers-Pipe-Major Reith, G. Shand, and J. Cowie; and I take this opportunity of tendering them my thanks for the uniform kindness I have received, and the hearty manner in which they have each and all carried out their various duties. I would also thank the members of the committee for the courtesy extended to my wife and self during the year, and especially for the patience with which you have endured the rambling rhapsody which I have been obliged to inflict on you this evening. It is part and parcel of what we are all striving for, viz., the success of the Robert Burns Club.

OPENING MEETING OF THE FORTY-SIXTH SEASON.

The committee have much pleasure in announcing that the new season will be inagurated by a Social Gathering, to be holden at Furnival Hall, on Thursday evening, the 2nd of October, 1913, assembling at 7.30 o'clock. Gentlemen in every-day clothes,

and Ladies Demi-Toilet."

A Short Lecture upon Scottish, Country, Highland, and Folklore Dancing will be given, and some reels and strathspeys will be included in the evening programme--our Honorary Pipers furnishing the music-and the Stewards will complete arrangements for the series of six following Scottish dances.

Admission free to members and to their friends (ladies and gentlemen personally introduced). Light refreshments may also

be obtained, at the usual tariff charges, in the public room of the Restaurant open till nine o'clock.

The chief object this year is to strengthen the Club Roll, and give the Delegates to the Federation Conference-on the third Saturday in September, 1914-the greatest reception they have ever had. From many definite promises proffered at Galashiels, the attendance from all parts of the world is likely to be a record one, and we want as many members as there are delegates.

JAMES THOMSON, Hon. Secretary,

and Federation Representative for the City of London.

To the Editor of the Burns Chronicle.”

DEAR SIR,

29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE DELEGATES TO THE

BURNS FEDERATION, SEPTEMBER, 1914.

The meeting for 1914 having been fixed to be held in London, on behalf of the President, Vice-president, and Committee, as well as of all the Members of No. 1 Club, I ask you to publish a hearty invitation for each and all the Federated Clubs and Associations to send a full complement of representatives to the Metropolis in September-for Friday, the 18th, and Saturday, the 19th insts. More especially do we ask you to do so in order that the many Clubs furth of the United Kingdom may have ample notice. Many Burnsians visit the auld country about that date, and, by knowing exactly when the Federation is to meet, can make arrangements to be in London at the right time.

All roads and sea routes lead to the Capital of the Empire Everyone wants to visit there, and, by thus having a great inducement to be there at this particular date, surely everyone of the 230 Clubs can manage to be represented at the Burns Meeting.

As the Chronicle is bought and read by many Burnsians who are not members of a Federated Club or Association, this invitation may stimulate them either to join or form a local Club and become affiliated to the Federation.

The advantage of a strong Federation was never more powerfully felt than at the present time, when the unholy and immoral “sale of the Glenriddel MSS. is in question, and those Clubs who have not yet seen their way to join this excellent association may now be convinced that the Federation is proving the best possible means of keeping hold of the rising generations, stimulating the admirers of the immortal Bard to common action, and encouraging the young to study and understand the Poet's teaching.

With further regard to the Conference of September next, if

the Secretaries of the United Kingdom Clubs will give as early intimation as possible-not later than the end of April-we shall try to arrange with the Railway Companies for special fares or the extension of week-end tickets from various centres, so that a full Friday and Saturday programme may be enjoyed.

There is nothing more delightful than meeting with Burnsians at the Federation gatherings. Formality of personal introduction is unnecessary, and many lasting friendships have been "southert " on these occasions.

The suggestion that the delegates should have a buttonhole badge is a good one, especially for London, and the idea is having consideration.

If any Club has suggestions to offer for the London Meeting, the London Club will endeavour to give them effect, provided they are approved by the Executive. But the chief thing is for every Club to send up delegates—“ the mair the merrier.”—Yours faithfully, JAMES THOMSON, Hon. Secy.

SUNDERLAND BURNS CLUB

REPORT.

In presenting the sixteenth Annual Report of our Club we have the usual hackneyed and somewhat stereotyped phase of the question to face-Have we prospered ? Are we justifying our existence ? We can answer this quite frankly; we have held our ground, indeed we have added to our numbers, and all this means progress. The most important matter during the year has been the raising of a Memorial to the Founders of the Federation in the shape of a Chain of Office for the President.

In this, as in all other matters of the Federation we have taken an honourable part. Long may we continue to take an active part in any scheme having for its object a dignifying and ennobling purpose. True, it may only be trappings, but there is an eternal fitness in all things, and we feel the President of the Federation ought to be fittingly adorned for his important office.

ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annual General Meeting of last year was well attended, the members manifesting a keen interest in the working of the Club. The various reports submitted were well received. The principal item of business was a proposal to make a grant from the

Funds to the Children's Hospital, but after very careful consideration the matter was held over. The election of Officers for the ensuing year filled up a very interesting meeting.

DINNER.

The Anniversary Dinner was held on Saturday, January 25th, 1913, when an excellent attendance of members and friends met to celebrate the 154th Anniversary of the Poet's birth. Our esteemed Hon. President, Ald. W. Burns, J.P., presided over the gathering with his genial smile and kindly presence.

We were honoured in having as our guest, J. P. Dickson, Esq., the genial Editor of the Kilmarnock Standard, to propose the Toast of the Immortal Memory."

66

We would place on record the Club's indebtedness to our Treasurer, Mr A. W. Semple, for his great kindness in entertaining Mr Dickson while in Sunderland, a kindness which was much enjoyed and appreciated.

CONCERT.

There is perhaps no function we promote which has caused us so much consideration and concern as our Annual Scottish Concert. During the past four years we have been suffering financial losses. The reason may be found in the very large increase of places of entertainment, chiefly of the Picture Hall variety, during that time, making it very difficult for any Concert Company to succeed. After due and careful consideration we decided to abandon the usual professional company from Scotland and proceed with a concert of local ladies and gentlemen.

The concert took place in the Thompson Memorial Hall, on Wednesday, February 5th, 1913. Mr A. W. Semple was entrusted

with the musical arrangements and the following took part :

Miss Marion Semple.

Mr Robert Wilson.

Mr W. H. Donaldson.

Miss N. C. Locke.

Mr George Murray.

Miss Hannah Bell.

Mr W. H. Turner.

Mr A. W. Semple

Misses M. and A. Young
Miss Mary McKenzie.

THE "CHRONICLE."

The Annual Burns Chronicle still continues to maintain its high standard of excellence. It is pleasing to note that we have an increase in our number of readers, the total number of copies issued finding a very ready sale, which has not happened with us on any former occasion.

That the Chronicle has been able to exist for twenty-one years, and each year give to the world something fresh and interesting,

is in a large measure due to the untiring efforts of its veteran Editor, D. M'Naught, J.P.

MEMBERSHIP.

We started the year with sixty-one active members, during the year five new members have been added. We have lost one by removal, two by resignation, one has crossed over to the great majority, while one has been removed from the roll of membership, leaving us with sixty-one members at the close of the year.

SYLLABUS 1912-13.

1912.

Oct.

9. President's Address-Mr W. P. Eastwood.

Oct. 23. To and from Vancouver ". -Mr D. M'Cue.

Nov. 27. Visit from Wallsend Burns Club.

Dec. 11. Recital (Dramatic and Humorous)-Mr W. M. Donaldson. 1913.

Jan. 8. "Robert Louis Stevenson

Mr G. Mackay.

Jan. 22. "Robert Burns and the North "-Councillor G. W. Bain. Jan. 25. Anniversary Dinner (Palatine Hotel).

Feb. 12. "Burns and the Doctors "-Dr A. Stevenson.

Feb. 19. Visit to Wallsend Burns Club.

Feb. 26. "Circular Tour in Scotland

Blackstock.

(Illustrated)-Mr W. H.

Mar. 12. Musical Evening. Speaker Mr A. W. Semple.

Mar. 26. Shakespeare: His Life and Work " Mr W. A. Culshaw. Apr. 9. Business Meeting.

May 14. Annual Meeting.

Sept. 10. Business Meeting.

Election of Officers.

We have to acknowledge the kindness of Andrew Carnegie, LL.D., for a copy of his speech, printed in pamphlet form, delivered at the unveiling of the Burns Statue at Montrose on August 7th, 1912.

IN MEMORIAM.

When a notable character is removed by the hand of death from a community after a long life of public service, it is as if some ancient and venerable landmark has been blotted from our view. Such a blank in our Club life has been caused by the passing over to "the great majority" of our esteemed and honoured member, the late Dr James Waterston, J.P. Born in the City of Edinburgh on March 1st, 1827, he was educated at the Academy, and passing through the University he commenced his professional career as a medical man on an expedition to the Arctic regions. His connection with the town of Sunderland extends over the long period of over