The Kilmarnock Burns Monument.

they were never sung before . Ifc is one of the best proofs of the greatness and originality of his genins that ho borrowed his inspiration from what he saw around . No matter how intrinsically worthless tho subject might be , ho at once invested it with undying interest . He has married to immortal verse the "Wee , modest , crimson-tipped flower , " the daisy , the " conran , timorous beastie , " tho monso , and

has mourned Tarn Samson as Cypris wept for her doad Adonis , as Thyrsis wailed for Daphius , or the nymphs their lost Lycidas . As classic poots have immortalised the festivals of ancient time , he in nndying strains has celebrated the rustic sports of Hallowe ' en ; and his description of tho qniet close of the labourer ' s week of toil under the cottage roof-tree is peerless in the annals of poetic literature .

Such wero his subjects , and the scenes wero worthy of the song , lo us standing here to-day his works possess a special interest . We are in the very district which was so dear to him . Tho " fair nature " he loved so woll is familiar to us . The hills and woods , the sweeping vales and foaming floods , the plains and fells , tho red-brown moors , tho bnrnie whimpliug through tho glen—wo know thom all . Tho

rising sun still glints with glorious light o ' er the Galston moors as it did on tho " simmer Sunday morn " of Mauchline ' s " Holy Fair ; " the moon yet glowers on the distant Cumnock hills , as she did near a hundred years ago , when tho poet sang of Death's complaint against John Hornbrook . Tho banks and braos of bonnie Doon aro as lovoly now as when they met tbe poet ' s eye , and tbo yellow woods aro

waving yet " o ' er Lugar ' s winding stream . " The well-fed Irvine and " auld hermit Ayr " no longer flow unsung , bnt like the yellow waves of Tiber , or the "honoured flood of Arethusa and smooth sliding Mincius , " are " crowued with vocal reeds . '' Nor is there anything in these simple scenes to take them of themselves out of the run of everyday life . Davie , the " ace of hearts , " the " odd , kind chiel about

Muirkirk , " winsome Willio , honest Tam o'Shanter , and Souter Johnuie , " his ancient , trusty , drouthy cronie , " were decent , honest Ayrshire men ; aud the fair ones , whoso varied charms he sang so often and so well , were simple , honest , bonnie Ayrshire lasses . Taken thus by themselves , there is nothing sensational in the subject , tho scenes , or the actoi' 3 in the poetry of Burns . But the spark of Nature ' s fire

which glowed so brightly in the bosom of tho poet has made thom renounced all over the wide world , and touched the heart of every age for all time . The influence of the poetry of Burns can be directly traced to three causes . Theso aro , first , his own natural gifts , common to him with the great minds of every age ; there was next the fact that he spoke of what all his fellow-men knew iu language which

they all understood ; and there was , lastly , the circumstance that this combination of lofty genius with the common objects of rural lifo was at that time and for this country original . To find any parallel to the case of Burns wo must go to a far distant land , and to an ago separated from the present by a long interval of time . Under the snnny sky of Syracuse , nearly three contnries before tho birth of

Christ , Theocritus and his school immortalised the rural lifo of his ago with all tho natural freshness and originality of truo genius . But Burns borrowed nothing from them—I do not suppose that ho know of tboir existence , and all that Burns has dono is entirely due to his own merit . It is impossible to separate the poetry of Burns from Burns tho poet . We are all familiar with the circumstances of his

career , from the first burst of his fame in bis " glorious youthful prime " to the last sad scenes— " tho tears all and the feats all of dim , declining age . " Born in a comparatively humble sphere of life , without any of the advantages which high education and refined culture could have given—gifted by Nature with tho most splendid genius , strong passions , and a morbidly sensitive pride—exposed on

every sido to temptation—at one time caressed by the world of learning and fashion ; at another neglected , misrepresented , forgotten , almost in bodily want—ifc is not surprising that the lash of his bittor satire sometimes fell whero it was not deserved , that ho wrote things which had better been left unwritten , and that he did things unworthy of his nobler natnre . No ono was more sensible of all this

than tho poet himself . Wo cannot excuse what must bo condemned , but we may pity and forget . There is too much in his career which ought to be a warning rather than an example . Bnt with all this the influence of the poetry of Burns is much more for good than for evil . For one who has been made worse by reading his works tens of thousands have been made better ; and as has been often said of another great

name m literature , if everythiug to which the most captious critic could object wero obliterated from hi 3 works , much would remain which would only perish with the language in which ifc is written . I have now , in tho name of tho Provincial Grand Lodge , and of the numerous body of Masons from other parts of Scotland , to thank yon for the kind welcome which you have given to us , and for asking us

to take a part in this ceremony . It is tho privilege and the pleasure of the Masonic body to take part in laying foundation and memorial stones of public bnildings which are designed for good ends ; but I venture to think that on no occasion did they come forward more heartily or with greater pleasuro than to-day , because ho whose memory you aro commemorating was not only an honour to his

country and an honour to Ayrshire , but we honour him in tho Masonic Craft as a brother of our own . f have also to thank you for tho handsome present you have given me , and I can only say I shall honour and treasure it as one of the most pleasing memorials that I havo . I may just take this opportunity of stating that the mallet which it was my privilege to use to-day was the very one which the poet himself ,

when presiding over the Sons of Light in the Lodge of Tarbolton , used upwards of twenty times . Provost Sturrock , on behalf of the town of Kilmarnock and the snbsbribers to tho monument , thanked the R . W . Depute Provincial Grand Master and the other members of tho mystic tie for coming in such numbers to lay the memorial stone of the monument .

Probably no man had so impressed his countrymen as Robert Burns . He need hardly even except the great magician of the north . If , however , any proof were needed that the genius of Burns was still appreciated by his countrymen , he would only point to that great gathering and to the demonstration . Purists tbero were , and pnrists there ¦ would ever be , who would detract from the reputation of the poet and

The Kilmarnock Burns Monument.

defame his name . He did not envy these men . Burns wa 3 great on account of his genius ; and the most of those present ho thought wonld agreo with him in sinking any little difference of opinion as to tho frailties that beset him . All mankiud had their frailties , and he needed not at this time of day to apologise for those of Burns . When this nionumont was originated twelvo months ago in the town of

Kilmarnock an appeal was made to the gentlemen round about , aud a hearty response was made . Though it might bo invidious to mention names , he could not but allude to tho handsome subscription of Colonel Alexander , M . i' . for South Ayrshire . Tho Provost concluded by expressing the hopo that tho monument would bo worthy of the name and famo of Burns , and that it would bo a shrine to which

many would gladly pay a visit . The National Anthem was then played by the band , and the proceedings terminated . Tho procession then formed in reverse order , and marched back to tho town , tho route chosen on this occasion being by tho Cemetery

road , Willio Mair ' s Brae , High-street , Union-street , and Portland , street to the Cross , whore they dismissed . In tho evening a public dinner was held in tho Georgo Hotel , when Provost Sturrock occupied tho chair , and Mr . Turnbnll discharged the duties of croupier .

Red Cross Of Constantine.

RED CROSS OF CONSTANTINE .

THE annual meeting of the Grand Imperial Council of Scotland of the Red Cross of Constantino was held on Thursday the 12 th inst , in Freemasons Hall , Edinburgh—the most III . Grand Sovereign Colonel Francis Burdett on the throne . The following members of the Grand Council were also present : —The Hon . Lord Invernrie , Most Eminent Grand Viceroy ; Illnstrious Sir Knights James Crichton , G . Treasurer ; R . S . Brovvu , G . Recorder ; J . B . Mercer , G . H .

Almoner ; W . Edwards , G . Architect ; and tho following members of the Grand Senate : —V . Em . Sir Knights Nicola Biinola , George Dickson , M . D ., Colonel Robeson ( United States Consul ) , F . L . Law , and C . Ferin . Office bearers were appointed to fill the vacancies for the ensningyear . The Rev . Mr . Wnnnop Haddington was admitted a member of the Order , and appointed to the office of Grand High

Prelate in the Council . Tho following were elected members of the Senate : —Tho Hon . F . J . Moncreiff , J . Melville , George Barrie , L . W . Fox , R . T . Sbiells , and J . II . Balfour , W . S . A report from the Execntivo Committee was read and approved , which showed very satis , factory progress of the Order in Scotland . Tho other business was routine . Afc the close of the meeting a number of the brethren dined

in the Windsor Hotel . A number of Freemasons were also present , comprising Bros . R . F . Shaw-Stewarfc , S . G . D ., D . Mnrray Lyon , G . S . ; and other Officers of tho Grand Lodge of Scotland ; Brother Lindsay Mackersy , Reg . Gen . of the Order of tho Tomplo ; and Brother Dr . Walter Scott Carmichael , Past Master of Lodge St . David , & c . Apologies for abseuco wero intimated from General Bruce , the

newly-appointed Commander of tho Forces in Scotland ; Captain Charles Hunter , Wales ; Bros . John G ' rombio , Aberdeen ; Alex . Kelt , Dundee , M . P . Sovereign of the Inverurie Conclave ; J . S . M'llwraifcb , M . P . Sovereign of the Ayr Conclave , & c . There were about forty present—Colonel Burdotb in the chair , and Lord Invernrie acting as croupier . Aftor an excellent dinner , served by Bro . Thiem , the Most

Illustrious Grand Sovereign proposed the toasts of " The Queen and tho Christian Orders , " " The Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family , " and " The Navy , Army , and Reserve Forces , " Captain R . F . Shaw-Stewart replying for tho Army , and Bro . Lieut . Lnmsden for the Reserve Forces . Lord Invernrie next proposed " The Most Illnstrions Grand Sovereign , " remarking that he was afc

the head of the Order in England , where it numbered far more than iu this country , and that much of the success of the Order in Scotland was owing to tho manner in which he occupied his high position . The toast was very heartil y drunk , and Colonel Bnrdetfc in tho course of his reply expressed his gratification afc receiving from another country nn invitation to preside over this Order . Bro . Christie then proposed

"The Most Eminent Grand Viceroy , the Right Hon . Lord Inverurie , and the Members of tho Grand Council , " in doing which he attributed much of the success of the Order sinco it was introduced to this country , by Bro . Mercer , to tho zeal and energy of Lord Inverurie . Thoso who took the degree were delighted with it , and he was sure that if they put their shoulder to the wheel Lord Inverurie would

lead them to success , as the Earl Marischals , ancestors of Lord Invernrie , used to lead their followers of old to victory . ( Applause . ) Lord Inverurie in the course of his reply expressed his hope that all their members would cultivato what Lord Aberdeen , once Premier , used to call" a cordial good understanding . " ( Applause . ) The Rev . Mr . Wannop replied in suitable terms for the members of the Grand

Council , and spoke in high terms of what he had seen of tho Order . Lord Invorurie then proposed " The Religions and Military Order of the Temple for Scotland , " which was acknowledged by Bro . Mackersy ; and Bro . Crichton next proposed " The Grand Lodge of Scotland , " for which Lord Inverurie replied . " Tho Illustrious Intendants-General of the Order " was next given b y Lord Invernrie , who coupled with the

toast the name of Bro . R . S . Brown , and spoke in high terms of his exertions in that capacity and as Grand Recorder . In tho courso of his reply the Recorder held np for imitation the action of Lord Invernrie in establishing in Dundee the Conclave which bears his name . Bro . Crichton then proposed "Tho Representatives of Sister Grand Councils , " for which Bro . Mercer replied . The Grand Recorder proposed

"The Sovereigns and Viceroys of Conclaves , " which Sir Kuighfc McFarland of No . 9 Conclave acknowledged . Bro . Shaw-Stewarfc replied for "The Visitors , " which was proposed by the Grand Viceroy ; and after the Sentinel ' s toast , the meeting conclnded . In the course of the proceedings some excellent songs were sung by several of the musical Knighta and Brethren who were present .