Mar. 7. Glasgow Poets "-Mr Seton Smith.

April 4. Social Meeting-Proceeds in Aid of Red Cross Society (Scottish Branch).

April 25. Business Meeting.

ALEX. POLLOCK.

ALBANY BURNS CLUB.

The Directors have to apologise to the members of this Club and others interested that, owing to business engagements of the then Secretary (Mr Deane), there was no Report for the session ending October, 1914.

The Anniversary Dinner of the Club for that year was held on 23rd January, in the Grand Hotel, Charing Cross. The Immortal Memory was proposed by the Hon. Sir James Sivewright, K.C.M.G., LL.D., and he was accompanied to the platform by Dr Cullen, the President, the Very Rev. Dr M'Adam Muir, Professor Glaister, Rev. Wm. Brownlie, M.A., Bailies Graham and Nicol, ex-Bailie Paxton, and others. There were over 100 members and friends present. Greeting cards were, as usual, exchanged with Clubs in the United Kingdom and Colonies. The great feature of the evening was the splendid address from Sir James, without the aid of notes of any description.

Owing to the European War no meetings of the Club were held during the session 1914-15, and the Annual Dinner was also postponed.

The yearly singing and reciting competition from the Works of Burns by the children of Provanside Higher-Grade School was held in December last, under the auspices of this Club. The large hall of the Club was filled to overflowing by the parents and friends of the scholars and members of the Club. The medals, the gift of Dr Cullen, were gracefully presented to the winners by Mrs Cullen. The prize volumes were gifted by members of the Club. The Directors regret that the hall was not sufficiently commodious to admit all those desirous of being present.

The Directors have again to thank Mr Marshall, the headmaster of the school, and also Mr Lucas and the teachers, for the great trouble and time they devote in working up the children to the high standard of excellence shewn.

The Annual Outing of the Club was this year confined to the Directors, and took place on Saturday, 19th June, to Ayr. The headquarters for the day was the Dalblair Hotel, where the company dined on their arrival. Visits were paid to the Cottage and the Monument, and thereafter the members were kindly shewn through the Cambusdoon gardens and house by Mr Murdoch, the factor,

who was one of the company.

The members had the privilege of being allowed to handle the walking stick which belonged to Burns, now in the possession of the Baird family. The company were photographed on the estate by Mr Annand, one of the members. The company had tea in the Monument Gardens, and finished up a most enjoyable day.

At a Special Meeting of the Club it was resolved that, owing to the war, no stated meetings of the Club be held next session, unless called by the President as occasion may warrant.

The Directors have to record that their President, Dr Cullen, has accepted a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps, and will shortly proceed to the Dardanelles, and they hope for his speedy, safe, and victorious return.

The affairs of the Club, financially and otherwise, are in a good sound position.

The new Treasurer of the Club is Mr Sam. B. Lithgow. A Secretary in place of Mr Deane has not yet been appointed.

ROBT. CARMICHAEL, Vice-President.

GLASGOW AND DISTRICT BURNS CLUBS
ASSOCIATION.

SESSION-1914-15.

The Association has now completed its eighth year, and has this session added three Clubs to its list. At the Annual Meeting in 1914 it was discussed whether or not all social and literary activities should be suspended during the war, and the matter was left to the decision of each individual Club; but, on the whole, the majority of Clubs have not been active, and only a few held the Annual Dinner. It was suggested that in the circumstances there should be a Joint Dinner, but in view of the difficulties involved, it was resolved to recommend members of Clubs who were not having a dinner to join Clubs for the evening who were.

At a meeting of Delegates, held on 19th October, Mr Pollock suggested that a Joint Concert be got up about the time of the Anniversary, for the benefit of the War Funds, and that Lord Rosebery be asked to preside. His Lordship was communicated with, and replied that he was absolutely unable to attend, so the function was therefore indefinitely postponed. The work of the decoration of the Burns Statue in George Square, Glasgow, was carried out by the Association, assisted by the Carlton, Sandyford, Tam o' Shanter, and Rosebery Clubs. Flowers and plants were

received from Lord Rosebery, Sir James Sivewright, and the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society, the last of whom greatly assisted in the decoration of the statue.

The most important work yet accomplished by the Association has been the purchase of the Burns House at Mauchline, and a special report appears in this issue.

This year's Annual Meeting was held in the Bath Hotel, Clasgow, on 5th November, when there was a large attendance of representatives from various Clubs.

J. JEFFREY HUNTER,

89 Bath Street, Clasgow.

TAM O'SHANTER BURNS CLUB.

This Club is now in its thirty-fifth year. The session opened with a lecture by Mr Thos. Lugton, on " Glasgow in the Eighteenth Century." The Chairman on this evening also entertained the members to supper, and his kindness was enthusiastically acknowledged by the members. A collection was taken, and £4 4s was sent to the Red Cross Society. The Annual Dinner was held on 23rd January, and was well attended. Councillor M'Nab proposed the "Immortal Memory in an eloquent speech. There was an excellent musical programme, in which the Welsh Royal Choir took part.

66

Copies of Mr Thos. Killin's Holy Willie's Prayer were sold, and realised £1 6s 10d. All contributions from the sale of this poem are devoted to the War Funds. A Roll of Honour of members of the Club was handed to the members at the dinner. This was the gift of Messrs Bryson & Co., printers. The list included Capt. Gandy, Capt. Laing, Lieut. Jas. Kerr, Sergeants Wm. Allan, Joseph Bell, and A. Sandilands. It is sad to record that Capt. Gandy has been killed in action in the Dardanelles, and that Capt. A. R. Laing has been wounded. Capt. Gandy was for many years a member of Committee, and his loss to the Club will be much felt. His mother received the news of her only son's death when receiving the guests at her daughter's wedding.

"Tattie

The closing meeting of the session took the form of a and Herrin' Supper, after which a paper was read by Mr James Lucas, M.A., on the "Merchants and Trades House of Glasgow."

The M'Lennan Cup Bowling Competition took place on 3rd August, and the cup was won for the second time in succession by this Club. This is a record.

The Club regret to announce the deaths of Mr D. M. Threshie,

writer, and Mr Edward Wilson, both for many years Directors of the Club, Mr Threshie being a Past President.

The Annual Meeting of the Club took place in the Trades House Restaurant on 9th November. It was agreed that the Annual Dinner be held on 25th January.

J. JEFFREY HUNTER.

THORNLIEBANK BURNS CLUB.

REPORT-1914-1915.

Since the Annual General Meeting of December, 1914, at which a resolution was adopted to suspend all functions until the termination of the European War, only one meeting of the Club has been held.

d

THOMAS HADDOW, Secretary,
Theralie ank Burns Club.

The financial condition of the Club is still satisfactory, and the membership now stands at 100, 20 per cent. of whom are at present serving in His Majesty's Forces on land and sea.

As in 1915, no syllabus has been arranged for 1916, but immediately on the termination of the war it is intended to go on with the usual Club functions.

It is with regret that I have to report the death of a respected member in the person of Mr James Clark, who was a member of the Club since its inception twenty-five years ago. He took a warm interest in all the functions of the Club, particularly with the School Children's Competitions, and his cheery presence will be sadly missed at the winter festivals and the Annual Outing.

THOMAS HADDOW, Hon. Secy.

DUMFRIES BURNS CLUB.

I enclose herewith Report relative to my Club for year 1915-16. At the Annual Meeting of the Club on 5th inst., I was instructed to write and suggest that the Committee of the Federation might consider whether they would not endeavour to get the Federated Clubs to join in the purchase of a Motor Ambulance for presentation to the War Office, or the Red Cross Society, to be called the "Robert Burns" Ambulance. Of course it is just possible that the idea may already have been considered by your Committee, but if not you might bring it before them. It is no use a provincial Club like ours, with no wealthy members, attempting such an undertaking at our own hands, but surely the various Clubs in the Federation should have no difficulty in raising a very worthy machine.

I think this

is the preferable way of getting the Clubs each to subscribe so much, as the individual members of every Club have no doubt all subscribed already to so many funds in connection with the war that an appeal to individuals would not be likely to meet with the same response. I may say for my own Club that they would will. ingly give a subscription to such an object. I shall be pleased to hear what you think of the suggestion.

I might mention that when reading over your Report to the Annual Meeting I noticed that you stated only two Clubs had held their School Competitions this year. Our Club inaugurated a School Competition in 1913-14 at my own suggestion. It was a great success, and was repeated in 1914-15 with even better success as regards the quality of the work. I am just busy getting the scheme for study for 1915-16 prepared for issue to the school teachers. I may mention that my Club awarded prizes value for £4 10s 6d this summer. Perhaps the report might yet be corrected before printing. Yours very truly,

JOHN M'BURNIE, Hon. Secy.

SCOTTISH BURNS CLUB.

The meetings were again held in "An Old Oak Tea Room," 142a St. Vincent Street, where a very interesting winter's programme was carried out.

During the session eight meetings were held in all. The Ladies' Night usually proves popular with the visitors, and the two evenings set aside during the past session were much enjoyed.

The celebration of "The Immortal Memory took place in Douglas Hotel, 193 Bath Street, on 25th January, the proposer of the chief toast being W. M. R. Pringle, Esq., M.A., LL.B., M.P.