Riddell, but within the limits of his time he would like to be allowed to refer to one item of that debt.

The Scots are not an emotional race; and yet the efficient matter-of-fact Secretary of their Club, when inviting him there to-day, added that the Club had erected these new premises as they desired that the Memorial should be built "to testify to the undying love we all have for our National Bard." It could not have been put better or with more sincerity, but of no one other than Robert Burns would such a phrase have rung true. Burns came and preached to the Common People, and the Common People received him gladly. In no heart did the love of country ever burn with a warmer glow than in the heart of Robert Burns, and, speaking as a leader of the Vernacular Movement in Scotland, he claimed that the mighty influence of Burns's poems and songs did much to re-create their national life when it was sinking beyond reprieve. In re-creating the patriotic sentiment and spirit of our country Robert Burns earned for ever the gratitude of his countrymen. That was part of Scotland's debt to Burns. He was glad to think that a small payment to account was now being paid, by redeeming the memory of Burns from the aspersions and slanders of ill-informed, if not malicious, critics. This duty had been rendered easy by the splendid efforts of a Border man, Sir James Crichton-Browne, who had marshalled evidence of an overwhelming nature which proved up to the hilt that rheumatism was the undoing of Burns. It attacked him in early years, was aggravated by the hard labour he did, damaged his heart, embittered his life, and cut short his career.

By erecting this Memorial to Burns the men of Hawick have shown that they glory in his greatness, believing it is not for them to judge of his shortcomings content to know that, with increasing brilliancy as time rolls on, there "brightly beams abune them a', The Star o' Robbie Burns."

OBITUARY.

MR. PHILIP SULLEY,

MR. HUGH M'COLL,

MR. ALEXANDER M'KENZIE,

Hon. Vice-Presidents of the Burns Federation.

The Burns Federation has lately suffered grievous losses from among its office-bearers, as well as from the membership of its constituent clubs. Within a period of less than two years (1925-27) it has had to mourn the loss of its Immediate Past-President, one of its two VicePresidents, and two of its Hon. Vice-Presidents. To the list of those whose passing has been recorded in the pages of the Burns Chronicle there fall to be added in this issue the names of other three Hon. Vice-Presidents of the Federation, who followed each other to the grave within the brief space of four months, after having rendered long and useful service to the cult.

Mr. Philip Sulley died at Edinburgh on 2nd July, 1928, in his 69th year. He was a native of Nottingham, but spent practically the whole of his professional lifeas a Civil Servant-in Scotland. The centenary of the death of Burns occurring while Mr. Sulley was stationed at Dumfries, he threw himself whole-heartedly into the preparations for a national celebration of that event, acted as Hon. Secretary to the local Committee, and compiled a useful volume treating of Robert Burns and Dumfries, 1796-1896. He was also greatly interested in the various schemes carried out by the Federation, whose annual meetings he attended regularly and of which he was elected a Vice-President in 1910, becoming an Hon. Vice-President on its reconstitution three years ago. To the Burns Chronicle he made several contributions, and