REVIEWS.

A NICHT WI' BURNS, IN ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCHYARD, DUMFRIES. THIS is a queer booklet, written under the nom de plume Loreburnian," and sold at the modest price of twopence, by Messrs Menzies, Ltd., Holmes & Co., Ltd., and Wm. Love, booksellers, Glasgow. The author entertains very extreme views on the liquor question, which find expression in a vehement and wholesale denunciation of Burns Clubs for associating the name of Burns with drink and drunkenness." He wrote an article on the subject, and offered it to the Scotsman, the editor of which journal very politely declined it, but said he would stand a letter on the subject if the writer would be good enough to express himself in that form. The letter was also declined, an illustration, our author says, "of the fickleness of the editorial mind." But it did not matter much, seeing he has printed it himself as part of the

twopenceworth. Follows a song on "The Cult of the Crystal Chalice," from which we extract a sample stanza :—

"The Book o' Rab wi' unction states

That man to man should be a brither,

And aye the best, the surest pruif,

Is gettin' fou wi' ane anither."

We cannot deny, for Burns has said it, that "Tam lo'ed him like a very brither," for the simple and solitary reason that “ they had been fou for weeks thegither "; but the clubs are not exclusively composed of Tams and Souters; as a matter of fact, some of them are run on strict T.T. lines without any bar to admission to the benefits of the Federation.

The Psalmist said in his haste that all men are liars, and our author has similarly erred in assuming that all unpledged men, Burnsian and otherwise, are drunkards. Still, it is undeniable that there are some drunkards and quite as many liars still to the fore. At the end of the song comes the "Nicht wi' Burns "--a packet of moighty foine wroiting," in which Burns's wraith is introduced in the guise of a T.T. orator. Pearls fall from his lips, and here is one of them, descriptive of an anniversary meeting :

“The glutton-faced sensualists shouting and jerking the words with sibilant incoherence through lips thick with glutinous alcoholic slime, and exhaling from the rumbling gutters in their muckle wames a smell as foul and sickening as the stink of a rotten hedgehog."

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This is strong-stronger than haggis with nothing to wash it down. Towards the end of his vision," Loreburnian " tells us that he saw a sentence in flaming letters (traced by wireless, we suppose) on the vault of heaven, from which issued "millions of magnetic currents, and concentrated themselves into one point in the centre of my forehead."

That explains it-we mean the queerness of the booklet. Visions of that supernatural kind are not the monopoly of teetotalers, though, strange to say, they usually have a similar cerulean background. Loreburnian" would do well to eschew the pen till the magnetic currents" have subsided.

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ROBERT BURNS AS A FREEMASON.

THIS beautiful brochure, a most desirable acquisition for any Burns collection, irrespective of the speciality of its subject, preserves in printed form a lecture delivered to the Edinburgh Right Worshipful Masters' and Past Masters' Association, on 13th October, 1916, by Mr Wm, Lawson, P.M., Lodge St. David, Edinburgh, No. 36, and forms a most appropriate addendum to the article dealing with the same subject, reprinted in the Chronicle of last year. Of all accounts of Burns's connection with Masonry (and they are many), this is the most comprehensive, concise, and reliable which has appeared. Its value is enhanced by some dozen and a half photogravures executed in the highest style of the art. everywhere should secure a copy.

The Brethren

BURNS AND THE MERRY MASONS.

THIS is a small pamphlet in rhyme (Dundee: F. M. Sparks; price 3d), by Mr W. Harvey, in which Tam o' Shanter is re-incarnated and introduced to the light by a core of merry Masons with all the mysterious rites of the craft, supplemented by a few extras improvised for the occasion. The "mirth and fun are fast and furious " all through the composition, which is in Mr Harvey's most humorous vein.

BURNS AND THE WAR: HIS MESSAGE TO THE NATION. THIS, in pamphlet form, is the sermon delivered before the Glasgow and District Burns Association, in St. George's Parish Church, Glasgow, on 28th January, 1917, by the Rev. Donald Macmillan, D.D.,

Minister of Kelvinhaugh Parish Church.

The proceeds of the sale are devoted by the Association to the funds of the Burns Homes It is an excellent address, upon it by the Press at The reverend author is an enthusiastic

at Mauchline, the price per copy being 3d. and deserved the high encomiums passed the date of its delivery.

Burnsian and broad-minded clergyman. We heartily commend the pamphlet to every member of a Burns Club.

CATALOGUE OF THE BURNS MUSEUM, COTTAGE HOMES,
MAUCHLINE.

THIS catalogue of the objects of Burns interest which the committee of the Cottage Homes has brought together is prefaced by a valuable history of the formation of the Memorial, by Mr Thomas Killin, Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, who has been one of the leading spirits of the Memorial from its inception onwards. During that time his enthusiasm has never flagged, and we trust his carefully compiled catalogue will be the means of drawing many more Burnsians to the Mauchline shrine for which he has done so much.

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 :

There

"Personally I am against two Burns Clubs in London. 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
The great struggle has gathered together from all parts

of the world the noblest and best of our race,

"That man to man, the Empire o'er,

Shall brothers be for a' that."