It is not known now where the original of the Cromek letter is, and only its production would disprove that suspicion. Burns signs himself Your great admirer and most obedient humble servant,' and his bookbills provide evidence that he did further assist the promoter in the important matter of subscribers; one of the bills, indeed, includes a charge for no fewer than six copies of one of the volumes of The Bee. Also included in the sale are a remarkable series of 29 autograph letters by Byron, as well as the holograph of his famous poem, "On the Death of Sir Peter Parker ; some Burns items from the collection of the late Mr George Webster; and a variety of literary and historical spoil. -Glasgow Herald, 19th May, 1917. CHAMBERS'S EARLY EDITION OF THE SONGS By favour of Mr A. J. Craig, Corstorphine, we are enabled to submit the following information on this most interesting Chambers publication A. J. Craig, Esq. Edinburgh, 24th February, 1914. DEAR SIR,-I am obliged for your letter, and return letter from my grand-uncle, William Chambers. I have two copies of the First Edition of Illustrations of the Author of Waverley, 1822, and also the original MS. I have never yet seen a copy of the Songs of Burns, which William Chambers printed at the same time, and there is no known copy in existence. Some years ago in an article which I wrote for Chambers's Journal I gave the history of this edition of Burns from various dates and notes in my possession.Very truly yours, C. E. S. CHAMBERS. 7th November, 1917. DEAR SIR,-Mr Chambers has asked me to reply to your request for the date of his article on Robert Chambers's visit to the land of Burns, which suggested his edition of the Works of the Poet. The article is entitled "From My Grandfather's Note-Book," and appears in Chambers's Journal for 1901, page 193. This describes how Robert Chambers gathered material for his edition of Burns. There is a reference in the Memoir of William and Robert Chambers, page 160, to the production of a small-sized edition of the Songs of Burns, by Wm. Chambers.-Faithfully yours. R. COCHRANE. BURNS AND MASONRY. "The Lodge St. David, Tarbolton, the number of which was 174, was struck off the roll of Grand Lodge in 1843, and most likely has ceased to exist." So wrote William Hunter, in his pamphlet, Burns as a Mason, published in 1858, a reprint of which appeared in the Chronicle of 1917. 66 It is my privilege in the year 1917 to say that Lodge St. David came to life again in the year 1877, when it began "working" in Mauchline, and where the original Charter has been sincethe Lodge being called St. David," Tarbolton," Mauchline, No. 133, and world-wide known as Burns's Mother Lodge." In these forty years no fewer than 159 "good men and true have been introduced into " light" under its charter. Not many just four per annum- -but, considering the population of the district and the strictness of the Brethren in Mauchline, very satisfactory. It may be interesting to admirers of the Poet to know that the old minute book bearing the notice of his being initiated, passed, and raised, is in Tarbolton, and may be seen in the Burns Tavern of that place. And it may also be of interest to say that the first R.W.M. of the Lodge in Mauchline was Major James Wallace Dunlop Adair. He was the grandson of Charlotte Hamilton, the heroine of "The Banks of the Devon." She was stepsister to Gavin Hamilton, and became the wife of Dr Adair, who accompanied the Poet in one of his Highland tours. Major Adair, it may be further noted, was the husband of Nora Hamilton, who was a granddaughter of Gavin, his father being Dr Dugald Stewart Hamilton, one of the doctors of the town. Thus the double interest. 9th October, 1917. J. TAYLOR GIBB, ROLL OF HONOUR. IN FRANCE. Cover the wound in his forehead pale, Carry him slowly, carry him low, And carefully choose your going; Narrow the trenches, and deep the snow, And the snipers watch your showing! No costly cerements to wrap him round- A small, rude cross, a number, a name, A soldier who fought for Britain's fame Back to the trenches, over the snow, The following names have been sent to the Secretary to be added to the List of Members and Members' Sons who have given their lives for their King and Country: - 175 Meikle Earnock Original ... †Pte. Andrew Hamilton, 6th Scottish Rifles. Jas. Collins, Seaforth Highlanders, a member of No. 199, has won the Military Medal with a bar, and also the D.C.M., for bravery on the field. MOTTO " A MAN'S A MAN FOR A' THAT." The Burns Federation. INSTITUTED 1885. Hon. Presidents--The Right Hon. The EARL OF ROSEBERY, K.G., K.T. ANDREW CARNEGIE, LL.D., Skibo Castle. Hon. Vice-Presidents--WM. WALLACE, LL.D., University Avenue, Professor LAWSON, D.D., The University, St. Andrews. OFFICE-BEARERS. President-DUNCAN M'NAUGHT, J.P., Benrig, Kilmaurs. Vice-Presidents J. JEFFREY HUNTER, 89 Bath Street, Glasgow. JOSEPH MARTIN, J.P., 163 West George Street, Glasgow. W. H. TURNER, 9 The Oaks, Sunderland. JOHN CARMICHAEL, 49 Park Road, Glasgow. P. PATERSON, 23 Bruce Street, Dunfermline. Ex-Bailie MUNRO, J.P., Howard Park Drive, Kilmarnock. PHILIP SULLEY, F.S.A., Elgin. HUGH M'COLL, 278 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow. DAVID MAIN, Lowther Street, Carlisle. HENRY S. MURRAY, J.P., Glenmayne, Galashiels. J. C. EWING, Baillie's Institution, West Regent Street, Glasgow. Hon. Secretary-THOS. AMOS, M.A., 19 Glebe Road, Kilmarnock. Editor" Burns Chronicle "-D. M'NAUGHT, J.P., Benrig, Kilmaurs. Auditors Major D. YUILLE, Burns Avenue, Kilmarnock, and Capt. ADAM MACKAY, The Crescent, Prestwick. Local Representatives London-P. N. M'FARLANE, Tallis House, Tallis Street, London, North of England-W. H. TURNER, Sunderland. Glasgow and District-J. JEFFREY HUNTER, 89 Bath Street, Hon. Secretary of Children's Competitions-ALEX. POLLOCK, 52 West Nile Street, Clasgow (to whom all communications should be addressed). CONSTITUTION. 1. The Federation shall consist of Hon. Presidents, Hon. Vice-Presidents, Executive Council, and members of each affiliated Club. 2. The Executive Council shall consist of a President, VicePresidents, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Editor of the Burns Chronicle, and two Auditors-all of whom shall be elected annually, and be eligible for re-election; also of the President, Vice-President, and Secretary, or any other three members of, and nominated by, each affiliated Club, and other gentlemen of eminence as Burnsians nominated by the Executive Council. 3. All Past Presidents of the Federation shall ex officio be members of the Executive Council. 4. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Office-bearers of the Federation, who shall meet quarterly, or when called by the Hon. Secretary, for the transaction of the business of the Federation. 5. Federated Clubs outwith the United Kingdom may be represented by proxy at the meetings of the Federation. OBJECTS OF THE FEDERATION. 1. To strengthen and consolidate by universal affiliation the bond of fellowship existing amongst the members of Burns Clubs and kindred Societies. 2. To superintend the publication of Works relating to Burns. 3. To acquire a fund for the purchase and preservation of Holograph Manuscripts and other Relics connected with the life of the Poet, and for other purposes of a like nature, as the Executive Council may determine. 4. To repair, renew, and where advisable mark with suitable inscriptions any buildings, tombstones, etc., interesting from their association with Burns. 5. To encourage and arrange School Competitions in order to stimulate the teaching of Scottish History and Literature. RULES. 1. The Headquarters of the Federation shall be in Kilmarnock, the town in which the Federation was inaugurated and carried to a |