1993 the Digital Conversion of This Burns Chronicle Was Sponsored By
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Robert BurnsLimited World Federation Limited www.rbwf.org.uk August 1993 The digital conversion of this Burns Chronicle was sponsored by Lodge Greenock Kilwinning NoXII Burns Club The digital conversion service was provided by DDSR Document Scanning by permission of the Robert Burns World Federation Limited to whom all Copyright title belongs. www.DDSR.com BURNS CHRONICLE INCORPORATING "THE BURNSIAN" Official Publication of The Burns Federation VOLUME 3 (NEW SERIES) AUGUST 1993 NUMBER 1 PRICE: £1.70 'that greatest of benevolent institutions established in honour of Robert Burns'. - Glasgow Herald. The National Burns Memorial Homes, Mauchline, Ayrshire Created for Deserving Old People - as the most fitting Memorial to Robert Burns EIGHTEEN of these comfortable houses, built at Mauchline, in the heart of the Burns Country, are occupied by deserving old folks, carefully selected from all quarters. Many of the Cottagers left tied houses on retirement with nowhere else to stay. There are no irksome restrictions. They have their own key, their own furniture if they so desire, come and go as they please, and have their own friends calling on them as they wish. The whole aim and object of the scheme is to allow the Cottagers to continue the enjoyment of the quiet comfort of their 'ain fireside' in ideal surroundings. The amenities of the Homes are constantly being improved and added to, and for this purpose MONEY IS ALWAYS REQUIRED WILL YOU PLEASE HELP by sending a donation to : A. J. Campbell, Secretary, Mitchells Roberton George House, 36 North Hanover Street, Glasgow G1 2AD Tel. 041-552-3422 - BURNS CHRONICLE INCORPORATING "THE BURNSIAN" Contents President Charles Kennedy .................. Page 3 Alexander Mclachlan 1818-1896 (The Robert Bums of Canada) .................. 4 The Robert Bums Inn ................................... 13 Burns was a Failure ...................................... 15 Reopening Ceremony at Mauchline Bums House .............................................. 17 Upon That Night ........................................... 22 The Building of the Wauchope Cairn ......... 26 The Opinion Page ......................................... 30 Grange Academy Triumph .......................... 31 Presentation to James Glass, MA ................ 32 Obituaries ...................................................... 34 Book Review .................................................. 35 Editor: PETERJ. WESlWOOD 28 Stranka Avenue, Paisley, PA2 9DW Tel: 041-887-4777 Editorial Consultant: Professor RAYMOND GRANT University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. Advertising: JAMES GIBSON Craigowan Cottage, 28 Brewlands Road, Symington, Ayrshire. Tel: 0563-830312 The Bums Federation does not accept any responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed in the Bums Chronicle or The Burnsian. Contributors are responsible for articles signed by them; the Editorisresponsible for articles initialed or signed by him, as well as for those unsigned. Articles, photographs, items for review and ail correspondence should be addressed and forwarded to the Editor at the above address. Articles offered should be in typescript with double spacing and on the one side of the sheet. A stamped addressed envelope should be forwarded for return of articles and photographs. © BURNS FEDERATION 1 CHARLES KENNEDY PRESIDENT of the BURNS FEDERATION 1992-1993 Charles Kennedy was born in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and worked for 22 years as a coal-miner prior to qualifying as a Primary Schoolteacher_ It was Charles, most of all, within the membership ofBowhi11 People's Bums Club, who persuaded members to attend Annual Conferences of the Bums Federation, where many have found that fraternal joy in meeting fellow Burnsians and learned more about the Federation's objectives towards commemorating Robert Bums in the National and International ideals he envisaged. Charles has been the Fife District Representative to the Bums Federation for 11 years, and proved himself to be a loyal and enthusiastic supporter of its principles and most of its causes, amongst which many will knowofhisadvocacy, which led to the publishing of The Complete Works ofRobert Burns, which was compiled by James Mackay on behalf ofthe Federation, and the Activity Resources Learning Pack for Schools, Colleges and Clubs. His unremitting devotion and service towards the Schools Competitions organised through the Bums Federation is appreciated by those involved, but what may not be so well known is his exhortations locally towards participation not only in the Federation Competition but also those organised by himself on behalf ofthe Bowhill People's Bums Club, of which he has been a memberfor approximately 44 years having served some ofthat time as secretary_ Charles has many other interests. He is a life-member and fully certificated teacher of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, which has led to his taking dance teams and groups to several European Cultural Festivals, including a month-long tour of the former USSR. He has taught Scottish Country Dancing many times in the USA,Japan, Canada and Europe. With such width of human contact he came to organise Cultural visit exchanges from European countries, including a 70-member orchestra from Czechoslovakia to visit various venues throughout Scotland. Charles has exploited his District Representative status to achieve locally and in contiguous areas inter-club meetings whereby friendships and mutual knowledge of R~bert Bums and his works have been enhanced to an extent greater than most ever envisaged possible, all recognising a debt to him as the catalyst. One of the many congratulatory messages received during his presidency was a personal visit to his home from that grand old man of Scottish Dance Band Music -Jimmy Shand whom Charles had first met some 40 years previously. NOVEMBER ISSUE The November issue of the Burns Chronicle will include articles by James Mackay, MA "Ellisland Today", David McClure "James Armour - A Pretty Considerable Mason" and "Bums's Influence on Canadian Writers" by Elizabeth Waterston, University of Guelph. The recent Calgary Conference will again be featured pictorially in the "Burnsian" together with an announcement about the recently launched whisky sensation -"Alloway Legend". Rememberthe magazine is only available by subscription - price in the United Kingdom £8 for four issues inclusive of post. Full details available from the Federation Office, Kilmarnock. BI -CENTENARY FUND - STAMP APPEAL Burnsians at home and particularly overseas can help swell the Federation's Bi-Centenary Fund by collecting used foreign postage stamps. The used stamps will eventually be sold to collectors with the proceeds going towards the Fund. The stamps should be sent to myself at the following address - 28 Stranka Avenue, Paisley. PA2 9DW, Scotland. All contributions will be acknowledged in this magazine. The following have so far sent stamps for the Fund:- Mrs. Outi Pickering, Finland. Charles Wilson, South Africa. Urs Kalberer of the Swiss Bums Society. May Dickie, Australia, The Robert Bums Club of Milwaukee, USA, Marion Allan, Australia, Jessie Gray, Australia. John Maclean, USA, Peter Rodger, Fife. EDITOR 3 2 Alexander Mclachlan (1818-1896) The Robert Burns of Canada W. Watson Buchanan and Walter F. Kean A national literature is an essential element in the formation ofnational character. It is not merely the record ofa country's mental progress: it is the expression of intellectual life, the bond of national unity and the guide of national energy. ' Reverend Edward Hartley Dewart (1) In his introductory essay to the first anthology of Canadian poets in 1864, the Reverend Edward Dewart (1) considered Alexander Mclachlan as one who deserved special recognition and a place of honour among the 'pioneer bards ofBritish Canada who have laid the foundations of our poetic literature in the face of many discouragements'. Indeed, Dewart considered' It no empty laudation to call him "the Bums of Canada". In racy humour, in natural pathos and in graphic portraiture of character, he will compare favourably with the great peasant bard. In moral grandeur and beauty he strikes higher notes than ever echoes from the harp of Bums'. One would notgo as far as the latter statementofthe Reverend Dewart, which was also the view of William Campbell (2) at the tum of the century, but nevertheless it seems reasonable to examine the poetic worth of this Scottish-born bard, who is virtually unknown in his native land and perhaps underrated today in his adopted country. Biographical Sketch Alexander Sutherland, a native of Sutherland shire Alexander Mclachlan was born in Johnstone, and a Cameronian covenanter. There is no record the Brig 0 Johnstone, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, of whether the poet's mother spoke Gaelic, but if in 1818. His father, Charles Mclachlan, was an not, then her father almost certainly did. This intelligent, well-informed mechanic, possessed of grandfather became the head of his daughter's considerable literary ability, who participated in household when her husband, Charles, left for the temperance and Chartist agitations of his time Canada. (3), as did his son Alexander as described ... Alexander had great love and admiration for humourously in his poem The Glasgow chap's his stern old grandfather, despite his bigotry and story; or confessions over a bottle (4). Charles intolerance as indicated in the poem, My Mclachlan emigrated to Canada in the 1830s and Grandfather and his Bible. It was probably his was among the early pioneers