CLUB NOTES. [COMMUNICATED.] THE LONDON ROBERT BURNS CLUB. FUSION WITH LONDON BURNS CLUB. As this will be the principal business at the Adjourned Annual Meeting, it has been suggested that a complete story of the negotiations should be placed before the Members, who are asked to make every possible effort to attend the meeting on Monday next, 4th June, at 6 p.m. The idea of fusion between the London Robert Burns Club and the London Burns Club was mentioned by Mr Will in connection with the Birthday Celebration by the great Scottish Gathering to Colonial Soldiers at Queen's Hall, as he felt it would be a good opportunity of enlisting sympathy and establishing friendly relations with the other Club. The idea was heartily approved by the Committee and Mr Will was empowered to use his influence to bring about at least consideration of the matter. He got in touch with a past Chairman of the London Burns Club who is a personal friend, and after a conversation wrote a letter, of which the following are extracts : : 27th November, 1916.-" For two associations, existing in a manner in opposition, professing fidelity to the memory of the man who wrote of the time when Man to man, the warld o'er, shall brithers be for a' that,' is an anachronism if it be nothing worse. I feel sure that there must be men on your Committee who agree with me that it is wrong to perpetuate the absurdity of two separate Burns Clubs in London. If so, let us get together and see where there are difficulties and have them removed. There can be no principle involved; if there were, then Heaven help the man who would endeavour to bring warring Scotsmen together. I believe there is nothing worse in this matter than a little of our native stubbornness, which should yield to gentle treatment. The time is ripe for reconciliation. We are in the midst of a war which is breaking down convention and levelling men of all classes in society, and which is making men realise more than ever the absolute truth of the Poet's dictum : A man's a man for a' that.' Our boys, fighting for a great cause, are forcing us to forget the small trifles that separate us and reminding us of the many objects which we must have in common which must be advantaged by our amal gamation. As I explained to you, I shall be President of our Club next year, all being well, and by me standing aside and allowing your nominee to take the chair of the united clubs, we have an opportunity of coming together that may not present itself again soon. Into the Great Scottish Rally at the Queen's Hall on 25th January next we can put our united efforts. The object is a good one—the recognition of our Colonial soldiers of Scottish extraction who have come to the Mother Country at this crisis in our history and who will carry to their distant homes a feeling of brotherhood, and a knowledge that the Robert Burns Club does stand for something more than an annual feast or two. I hope your deliberations will meet with every success, and perhaps you will tell your Committee that I have the authority of my Committee for asking your Club to consider the matter." A second letter, dated 4th December, 1916, regretted the fact that the London Burns Club could not agree to fusion: 66 'Personally I am against two Burns Clubs in London. There is no excuse for them, and had I been voting on the subject I should certainly have opposed two Federated Clubs in London until it was shown that there was some fundamental reason for the existence of the two, and until it was found impossible to reconcile the conflicting interests. I am firmly convinced that there is no difference between our Clubs that prevents fusion; I am as firmly convinced that the existence of our two Clubs is an outrage on the name and memory of Robert Burns.” This was followed by a luncheon to which were invited from the London Burns Club, Messrs Fraser, Cormack, Guthrie, and Hamilton; and from the London Robert Burns Club, the President, Vice-President, Mr Neil Turner, and the Hon. Secretary. A very happy meeting followed, and the London Burns Club members were quite anxious to help the Concert, but mentioned that the question of nationality of membership was a stumbling-block to fusion which could not be got over. There the matter ended, Mr Will reporting progress to the Committee. The next step was the receipt of the following letter from Mr Harry Lauder : The Bonnington Hotel, W.C., To the Members of the London Robert Burns Club. GENTLEMEN, history. 10th May, 1917. We are now passing through the darkest period of the world's of the world the noblest and best of our race, The great cementing process is in full operation. Our Colonies have returned to the bosom of their mither, whose cheeks are dripping with tears of gratitude. The family circle of the British Empire is now complete and its aim is one. I am writing this to still further the cementing of our race. Here in London, the heart of our Empire, we must bear example that The time has arrived to certify that the sentiment of Burns is in our hearts and not our minds alone. Therefore let me suggest there should be only one Burns Club in London. divided; scatter doubts and sunder difficulties. Let us not be Let the gospel of Scotia's Bard be the creed of those who meet to practise what he preached 66 Fraternity, Fellowship, and Faith.” While the broken, bleeding hearts in our land are crying out for a shake of the hand and a smile from the face that has paid the great price, may we knit closer together for the glory of our Country and the comfort of our fellow-man. This is the humble sentiment of, Yours sincerely, (Signed) HARRY LAUDER. This was considered by the Committee at their meeting on Wednesday, 16th May, and they had no difficulty in coming to the following conclusions : (1) To thank Mr Lauder. (2) To appoint a Committee of six to meet six of the London Burns Club. (3) To ask Mr Lauder to preside. This Committee met on Tuesday, 22nd May, at the Holborn Restaurant, and Mr Lauder took the chair. Mr Lauder outlined the scheme of amalgamation, and in his opening remarks placed the discussion on a very high plane by pointing out that Burns did not write exclusively for Scotsmen, but was a heritage of the whole world, and wrote for humanity. He earnestly pleaded for complete fusion and amalgamation, and a strong and united effort on the part of a united Burns Club in London to further the gospel which the Poet had preached so eloquently. Mr Garioch Whyte followed, and in a few well-chosen remarks gave a warm welcome to the other Club. Mr Will followed, and made a statement of what the Committee was prepared to recommend our Club to agree to :— 1. The Burns Club President to be President for the first year of the united club; 2. The President-elect of the London Robert Burns Club to be Vice-President of the united club. 3. Treasurer of each Club to be Joint Treasurers. Secretary of each Club to be Joint Secretaries. 4. Committee of equal numbers of each Club to decide rules, &c., the Chairman to have no casting vote, but 5. Mr Harry Lauder to be independent arbiter in case of dispute. Mr Lauder then asked if the London Robert Burns Club were unanimous in favour of fusion, and on being answered in the affirmative, asked the London Burns Club to state their objections. They were: 1. Nationality; their rules admitting only Scotsmen, or men of Scottish descent; 2. The Subscription, 5s against our guinea; 3. The disposition of the Benevolent Fund; 4. The admission of Ladies as Members. Our Committee were quite agreeable to meet the other Club on all these points except nationality, and after general discussion round the table, the following resolution was proposed by Mr M'Farlane, seconded by Mr Hamilton, Hon. Secretary of the London Burns Club and carried unanimously :-" That it is the opinion of the Meeting that the two Clubs should amalgamate, and that a Committee be appointed to discuss details." Mr Lauder, who has taken an extraordinary interest in this matter, expressed himself as highly gratified with the result. The Rev. G. Adam took the chair on Mr Lauder's departure, and continued the discussion on the same high level as Mr Lauder had opened it, urging the universality of the Poet's message, and the necessity of all his followers being equally broadminded. P. N. M'FARLANE, Hon. Secretary, SUNDERLAND BURNS CLUB. ANNUAL REPORT. For the third time in our history we are called upon to issue our Annual Report with the war still raging. On every side we see our foes sullenly giving way, and it needs no prophetic eye to see in the near future the triumphant success of our gallant sailors and soldiers. Deep down in every heart is the fond hope that ere another Annual Report arrives the thundering of the guns shall have ceased and that peace, which we all desire, shall have been proclaimed. Under the Defence of the Realm Act and Orders by the Food Controller many of our liberties have been temporarily sacrificed, yet we have been able to keep our work well maintained. ANNUAL MEETING. The Annual General Meeting of last year was well attended. The reports submitted were well received, and the officers for the ensuing year elected. ANNIVERSARY DINNER. The Anniversary Dinner was held on Thursday, 25th January, 1917. It was of special significance as it celebrated the coming of age of the Club. A large company assembled to celebrate the 158th Anniversary of the Poet's birth and the 21st birthday of the Club. Mr W. H. Turner (Hon. President), occupied the chair, and was supported by a distinguished company of gentlemen. guest of the evening was Dr Hugh Robertson, Harrogate. the course of an excellent speech he dealt with the Poet's sympathy, his genius, his love of country and his satire. His great powers of satire would have written in brass the description of the Huns, which would have remained for all time." 66 The In A pleasing feature of the gathering was the presence of a number of the Military Representatives, including a number of wounded soldiers from the various Hospitals. The Club Pipers again added lustre to the gathering by their smart appearance and creditable performance. "CHRONICLE." We are pleased to report an increase in the number of readers of this excellent work, which comes to us full of useful and interesting matter. It is pleasing to note that it has been issued in its usual size, as fears were expressed that, owing to the restrictions on paper, it might be curtailed. The Editor is to be congratulated on his efforts in the present and past numbers of the Chronicle. May he be long spared to direct the issue is the fervent wish of every Burnsonian. 66 The present number contains an excellent article on Burns's Songs and their Music," which is worthy of being read by every member of the Burns Club; in this connection there appears the correspondence which took place in the Sunderland Daily Echo in 1914 on "Auld Lang Syne." This gives it, so far as we are concerned, a local interest, and shows that though Scotsmen are “far frae hame," the love of Country and her songs are carefully guarded. THE PIPE BAND. The work of the Pipe Band has been continued during the year under the able guidance of Pipe-Major Graham, who has devoted |