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one legal circuit called " The Drunken Circuit , " where neither judge nor advocates were sober during the whole of that circuit . Men were hung for sheep stealing though th ey might be starving . The whipping post was a common adjunct of punishment . The press gang was used to fill our navy . And at that time there was no Scottish literature . All was French or a reflection of French literature . The Atheism of Voltaire and Rousseau was reflected by David Hume and othei literary men . Into such an age Robert Burns was sent to teach men the dignity of labour , and of manhood , and the Royalty of Man . In "The Vision , " he says to all his countrymen .

And never murmur or repine , Strive in their humble sphere to shine , Preserve the dignity of man With soul erect , And trust the universal plan Will all protect . "

Burns had no classical education . * "Gi' me a spark of Nature's fire That's a' the learning I desire Through dirt or mire , At plench or cart My muse though homely in attire

May touch the heart . " He su ffered early from rheumatism and heart disease as a lad . But Great Nature gave this farmer ' s son such gifts of Genius , that though laden with infirmities , he stept on the scene of life , a real man , honest , truthful , sincere and independent , a lover of nature , of his country and his kind , touching the hearts of man as none had done before or since . A Heaven born poet . He was early possessed with the ambition to do something for Scotland ' s sake .

" Even then a wish to mind its power , A -wish that to my latest hour Shall strongly heave my breast ; That I for poor Old Scotland ' s sake Some useful plan or book would make , Or sing a song at least . "

At the age of 14 he wrote his first song in praise of " Handsome Nell . " Thus says he " Love and poetry began with me . " At the age of 19 he composed "The Winter ' s Dirge "—the death and dying words of Poor Mailie , his pet ewe and her elegy—the lirst specimen of that rare and fine humour of Robert Burns ; and also that exquisite song" It was once upon a Lammas night ,

When corn nggs are bonnie , Beneath the moon ' s unclouded light , 1 held awa' to Annie . " In his autobiography he expressed it that they were but the "blind gropings of the Cyclops round the cavern in Homer ' s ' Odyssy . ' " They were the first sparks of nature s fire that touched men ' s hearts . His father told his mother— " Whoever may live to see it , something extraordinary will come from that boy "—a prophesy well fulfilled . His

father was the prototype of the cotter in the "Cotter ' s Saturday Night "—the noblest poem genius ever dictated to domestic devotion . His father was a religious man ; he took a warm view of religion ; his son Robert held the same opinions . The Poet strongly believed in the great love of God towards man . He says a " mathematician without religion is a probable character , but an irreligious poet is a monster . " In a poem addressed to a young friend in later years he wrote thus" The Great Creator to revere ,

Must sure become the creature , But still the preaching cant forbear , And e ' en the rigid feature . Yet ne ' er with wits profane to range , Be complaisance extended ; An Atheist ' s laugh is poor exchange For Deity offended . "

Religion itself he never ridiculed , but hypocrisy and cant he satirized with scorching sarcasm . On Ihe 4 th of July , 17 S 1 , he was initiated in the St . David ' s Freemason Lodge at T * irDoIton , and afterwards joined the St . James ' s Lodge at Tarbolton , becoming Deputy Master and presiding at their monthly meetings . In the minutes of that lodge in 17 SG , he and his brother Gilbert first signed their names as Burns , instead of Burnes .

ln this lodge , while presiding , he met Professor Dugald Stewart ( who was a member of No . 2 Canongate Kilwinning ) , who afterwards befriended him in Edinboro ' . It was here that Bro . Gavin Hamilton suggested to Burns that he should collect and publish an edition of his poems . Burns took his advice and had them published in Kilmarnock , in 17 SG—there he became an honorary member of the St . John ' s Lodge , No . 22 , and in the same year wrote " The Sons of the Old Killie—"

" Within this dear Mansion may wayward contention , Or withered envy ne ' er enter ; May Secrecy round be the mystical bound And brotherly love be the centre . " It was to the brethren of the St . James ' s Lodge , Tarbolton , he addressed the words , "Adieu , a heart-warm fond adieu , Dear brothers of the mystic tie ,

Ye favoured—ye enlightened few , Companions of my social joy . " In January , 17 S 7 , at Edinburgh , in the No . 4 S , St . Andrew ' s Lodge of Freemasons , Robert Burns was toasted by the Grand Master , " Caledonia and Caledonia's Bard , Robert Burns , " to which the Poet replied . Then in February , 17 S 7 , he became a joining member of No . 2 Canongate Kilwinning Lodge , and afterwards was invested Poet Laureate of the lodge , while afterwards he was affiliated an honorary member of St . Abb ' s Lodge at Eymouth . After his father ' s death , he took the position of head of the

family , and continued to hold , as his father had done , family worship at Mossgial , afterwards at Ellisland , and also at Dumfries . Besides , at Mossgial he taught his sisters and younger brother their education as he afterwards did that of his own children at Dumfries . In St . Michael ' s Church , Dumfries , there is a tablet placed upon a pillar showing the pew that Burns and his family occupied . It was in Dumfries that he composed some of his finest works , such as "Tain O' Shantcr , " the most humorous of his poems—it is dramatic , graphic , weird , and witch-like , alternating between the awful , ludicrous , and sublime . No one has approached so near Shakespeare as Bums has done in this pcem . Here , also , he composed " Scots wha hae" and that patriotic

song" Does haughty Gaul invasion threat , Then let the loons beware , sir , " and " The De'ils awa' with the Exciseman , " and " Mary in Heaven , " besides sending weekly songs to Mr . Thomson and Mr . Johnson of an imperishable nature , beyond all price , yet refusing to accept payment . It is said that the last song he composed was that given to Jessie Lewars , who waited upon the poet when he lay upon his death bed . It begins" O wert thou in the cauld blast

On yonder lea , on yonder lea ; My plaidie to the angry airt I'd shelter thee , I'd shelter thee Or did misfortune ' s bitter storm

Around thee blau , around thee blau ; Thy bield should be my bosom To share it a' , to share it a ' . " " Or were I in the wildest waste , Sae bleak and bare , sac bleak and bare The desert were a paradise , If thou wtrt there , if thou wert there . Or were I monarch of the globe ,

Wi' thee to reign , wi thee to reign ; The brightest jewel in my crown Wad be my queen , wad be my quc . n . " Biethien , —I , as a medical man , who lias made mental diseases a long life study , can see no symptoms of mtntal degeneration and decay in the words ol that beautiful song .

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It was a great favourite of the great Mendelssohn , and is certainly not the composition of a sot , as Burns' enemies would depict him to be . On the 21 st of July , 179 G , he succumbed to heart disease and pneumonia , from a relapse of his old enemy , rheumatism . I shall not attempt to offer any estimate of Burns as a poet , such work having been done by skilled critics , who each have raised his fame among the poets of the world higherand higher as time rolled on , till now he is acknowledged to be the greatest lyric writer of all times . Above all poets , he is loved as the poet of the people

—no literary man is so popular . He sympathised with the people in their sorrows and rejoiced in their happiness . He was bone of their bone , and flesh of their flesh . As a lyric poet he commenced with Nature , as seen in " The Mountain Daisy " and " The Mouse . " " Wee sleekit cowrin' tim ' rous beastie Oh , what a panic's in thy breastie ! Thou need na start awa' sae hasty

Wee bickering brattle ! I would be Iaith to rin and chase thee Wi' murdering prattle !" But his strangest love is for his fellow men and women , especially for those in poverty and distress , as exemplified in that poem— " Manjwas made to mourn ; " and that song , that pa : an of humanity— "A man ' s a man for a' that . " Burns' connection with Freemasonry assisted him very much during his lifetime . In Tarbolton , he met , as I have already said , Professor Dugald Stuart , who assisted him by introducing him into

the Society of the Brethren of Edinborc , who largely subscribed to the Edinboro ' edition of Burns' Poems , and introduced him into the upper circles of Edinboro ' , meeting with the greatest wits and literary men of the time , where he proved himself to be the greatest British genius of the iSth century ; the greatest satirist of his time ; the the greatest lyric writer the world has ever seen ; and his since been installed in the hearts of his countrymen as the National Poet of Scotland , and by the world in general the Poet of Humanity . Let me ask you to be upstanding , and not in silence , but in joy , drink to the immortal memory of Robert Burns , our brother .

Bro . Thomas Grant proposed " The VVorshipful Master , " " The Past Masters , " "The Visitors , " "The Officers , " and the Tyler's toasts were proposed and responded to . Bros . Daniel McMaster , James Gemmell , Wm . Laurie , Thomas Grant , and C . Fredrick Ward contributed some capital songs , and Bro . D . F . Gellion , P . M ., recited "' Burns' address to a youthful friend . "

Savage Club Lodge , No . 2190 . The installation meeting of this distinguished Iodge was held at Freemasons' Hall , Great Queen-street , W . C , on the ist inst ., and attracted , as usual , a large gathering . The retiring W . M ., Bro . Harry Nicholls , although present , was suffering from severe indisposition—having almost entirely lost his voice—and was unable to perform the installation ceremony ; but his place was ably filled by Bro . W . J . Ebbetts , P . M ., P . G . Stwd . The W . M . elect was Bro . Harold Burke , P . G . Stwd . —a popular member of the Club and lodge .

The brethren present included Bros . H . Nicholls , VV . M . ; C . L . Carson , I . P . M . ; Harold Burke , S . VV . ; E . Barnett , J . VV . ; W . J . Field , Sec . ; C . Townley . S . D . W . L . Barrett , J . D . ; E . Peacock , D . of C ; VV . H . Denny , LG . ; W . j . Ebbetts , P . G . Stwd . ; J . Northcott , P . M . ; E . Rosenthal , P . M . ; E . Letchwoith , G . Sec ; R . Grey , P . G . W . ; J . II . Matthews , President Board of Benevolence ; and J . Lewis Thomas , Past Asst . G . Director of Ceremonies . The visitors present were Bros . C . F . Matier , P . G . Std . Br . ; F . VVest , P . G . D . ; T . Fenn , P . G . W .,- J . E . Bowen ,

P . A . G . D . C ; J . Gibbs , P . P . G . W . ; VV . A . Gibbs , 232 ,- J . Crook , 2127 ; J . B . Boyle , 132 S ; J . Griffin , 539 j S . J . Woodham Smith , 94 S ; S . Rideal , J . W . 727 j Parrington Salvage , 170 G ; J . Catling , P . M . 441 ; H . Neville , VV . M . 2127 ; I . Weaver , P . P . G . Org . ; F . ) . F . Jackson , P . P . G . Chap . Surrey ; W . Nicholl , VV . Lestocq , P . M . 1319 ; H . J . Deane , P . M . 2500 ; Otto Hehner , P . M . 23 S ; S . James , W . M . 192 S ; G . Griffiths , S . W . 174 ; Oliver A . Borthwick , 357 ; R . Leslie Fisher , 907 ; P . N . Furber , 907 ; J . Mulholland , 1434 ; T . N . Morris , LP . M .

177 ; H . Battams , 1777 ; A . J . Cove . P . M . 1351 ; Oscar Barrett , P . M . 2127 ; Reginald Groome , 1929 ; A . Turner , P . M . 1 S 94 ; C . F . Frood , 2513 ; C Mason , W . M . elect 142 ; } . bcott Battams , 15 S ; M . J . B . Andeson , 2546 ; W . Durnford , S . VV . 20 G 4 ; R . 0 . B . Lane , Q . C , P . M . 1506 ; W . W . Lee , P . P . G . D . Middx . ; and many others . Lodge was opened , and , after preliminary business had been disposed of , Bro , Harold Burke , P . G . Stwd ., was presented as W . M . elect , and was duly installed by ouettsivi 10 oiewaru ine tnen invested

uro . w . j . r . , r .., .. . louowing omcers were : Bros . Harry Nicholls , P . M . 2127 , I . P . M . ; Eugene Barnett , S . W . j C . Townley , J . VV . ; Raymond Tucker , P . M . 1 S 99 , Treas . j W . J . Fisher , P . M ., Sec . j W . L . Barrett , S . D . j W . II . Denny , J . D . ; E . E . Peacock , P . M . 192 S , LG . ; H . S . Patterson , Organist ; Walter Rowley , D . of C ; H . de Mosenthal , Bowdler Sharpe , LL . D ., P . M . 2430 , and Edward Michael , Stewards ; and G . J . Swan , Tyler . Letters of regret were announced from Bros . Frank Richardson , the Rev . J . S . Brownrigg , Loveland Loveland , Sir J . Monckton , E . Terry , Sir H . Irving , H . S . Wellcome , Holloway , and Col . Marshall .

Lodge was closed , and the banquet which followed was held at Freemasons ' Tavern . After dessert , the customary loyal and Masonic toasts were honoured . Bro . J . Northcott , P . M ., proposed " The Grand Officers , " and said that their lodge was very much indebted to the Grand Ofiicers , who directed and guided its footsteps

when young , and had since watched its progress through succeeding years . Although it cculd not now be considered a juvenile lodge , the members estimated the services of the Grand Officers evento a greater extent than when it was young . There were manydistinguished Grand Ofiicers present that evening whose services , like their names , were famous wherever Freemasonry was known .

Bro . R . Grey , P . G . W ., in response , said it was always a very pleasant task to return thanks for such an important toast , with which his name had been coupled . He had been called upon to respond , not by his position , because he was standing in thc presence of one who would have done it so much better and who was so much more worthy to receive their praise than he was—he need hardly say he referred to Bro . Fenn , known throughout the length and breadth of the Craft . It was , however , always the duty of the Grand Officers—as it was of every Mason—to respond to the call of the gavel . For

his own part , like every Mason , he had his feelings of sympathy and sorrow with their Pro Grand Master in his great trouble . They one and all hoped that time would alleviate that suffering and that in due course they would see the Pro Grand Master—who . c presence was so welcome—again performing his duties . The Grand Officers hoped to assist many times again at the birth ot lodges , but at the time the Savage Club Lod ^ c was launched the question of class lodges was somewhat problematical as to whether it would be a success , or would be a failure—whether class lodges would increase , and if they did increase , whether they would hold their own for years to come . He thought no

better illustration could be given than the present position of the Savage Club Lod | : e which was one of that class—one which from the first day up to the present , had maJ ¦* its mark both for its working and for its hospitality—a lodge in fact that was exemplary . The Grand Officers were only too pleased to be guests at their kind invitation . Some ef them went there almost as a matter of right , being honorary members , but they were only too proud to be associated with it , and the more often they were present the more often they saw Masonry being conducted , as it should be , loyally and thoroughly . In the name of the Grand Ollicers he thanked the lodge for the kind reception of the toast .

Bro . C . L . Carson , P . M ., who proposed"The Health of the W . M ., " said hewouiJ first claim their indulgence for two reasons . In the first place , he had recovered Iron ' a very serious illness—so serious that had it not been for the constant care of his good wife he should not be present that night . And for another good reason—he had to take upon his shoulders the duty of their dear old friend , the I . P . M ., Bro . Harry Nicholls . They were all deeply sorry to find him so ill that he had entirely lost his voice . Hi ' heart was with them , it his tongue was motionless . It was a difficult thing to follow a favourite like the I . P . M . —a universal favourite . If they remembered last year , the

I . P . M . made a line speech , in which comedy and pathos were prettily blended . Tbey remembered his manner in calling attention to the many hundred banquets which he had attended , and in which he pointed out the same old lines , the same waiters , the same bottles , the same silver , and the same pine apples . That was where the comedy came up . He ( Bro . Carson ) could not pretend to make a speech like the I . P . M ., and could only say what was true about a man—their VV . M . It was a great thing to be able to speak the truth about any man in these times . Ihey all knew the VV . M . ' s private career —a gcod fellow , a staunch and loyal friend , the grip of whose hand and the tones oi