George H. Burnham.

He has filled , and is now holding , many positions of trust aud responsibility , being a Director in the Roger Williams Saving Fund and Loan Association , and also Chairman of its Committee on Securities . He is clerk and member of the Board of Trustees of the Church of the Mediator in

Providence . Bro . Hun-ham was made a Mason in St . John ' s Lodge , Providence , S . * ptcn _ ber 18 <> 1 . He served as Secretary in lH 6 * 5-t >; as Master iu 1870-1 ; and was elected Treasurer

in lb 73 , serving in the last named olficce from that time until now . He became a Royal Arcb Mason iu 1865 , receiving the degree in Providence R . A . Chapter . He was elected Grand Secretary of the

Grand Chapter in 1868 , and held the office , by successive re-elections , for seven years . By special vote he was made a permanent member of that Grand Body . He was Knighted in St . John ' s Commandery , 4 th November

1867 , and elected Recorder of the Commandery in December of the same year . He served in this office two years . He was Commander of St . John ' s in 1876 . In the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island he was

called to many important positions , being advanced to the head of the Grand Body in October 1885 . His administration of aflairs , alike energetic and prudent , gave general satisfaction .

Thus we have sketched the Masonic career of Bro . Burnham as shown by some of the facts and figures available . We ought to add that he is a member of both the Cryptic and Scottish Rites , and has an intelligent appreciation of

Freemasonry as expressed in all its various departments . He is acquainted with the history of the Institution , and well versed in the ritual and ceremonial of the different degrees and orders . In the various Masonic offices he has

held he has shown the characteristics of promptness , zeal and ability , always endeavouring to make the work instructive according to its designed import . As a presiding officer in subordinate and Grand Bodies he has evinced a

quick and ready thought , and a skill in directing affairs , that have contributed not a little to the rapid and pleasant despatch of business . Both as a private member of the Fraternity and as an official he has made good proof of his

interest in i . reemasonery and his zeal for its advancement . He has always been ready to give and do in its behalf ; never more pleased than when some new and better expiession is made of its genius and power . Thus he was

specially interested in the building of Freemasons' Hall , Providence . He was one of the projectors of the movement ; one of the petitioners for the Charter , and the first meeting of the corporators was called by him . He has been a

director in the 1 . reeraasons Hall Gocupany from the time of its organization . And so it is he holds a place of deserved esteem in the community and the Masonic Brotherhood .

His brethren of the Mystic fie will join with his many friends outside the organization in hearty wishes that he may be spared for many years of honoured usefulness , and that light and blessing may attend him always .

Robert Burns As Poet Laureate Of Freemasonry.

ROBERT BURNS AS POET LAUREATE OF FREEMASONRY .

BY BRO . ROB MORRIS .

ON the 1 st March 1787 , jnst a century since , Eobert Burns , of Ayr . hire , " the poet . plowman " of Scotland , was crowned Poet Laureate of Freemasonry . This only national hononr he ever received was couferred nnder the auspices of Canon _ . are Kilwiunino * Lodge of Edinburgh , Scotland , aud in the ancient Hall still nsed by thnt venerable Lodge . The visitor to " Anil Reekie" will readily

find it . Turning into the little street called St . John , through the Canongate , he will see on his right four houses , the first of which waa the residence of Dr . Tobias Smollett , novelist and historian ; the second is the venerable Hall itself ; the third is a building occupied a century since by the banking concern of Douglas , Heron and Co ., the

fourth was the city residence of Grand Master Lord Eleho , whose gracious recognition of Burns daring the memorable winter of 1786-7 has incli-S- 'lubly linked his name with tbat of the poet . References will be made to Grand Master E ; cho ( or Francis Charteris , as he was called ) further on . On the opposite side of this little street lived

Lord Mouboduo , known in his own times for great talents as writer and statesman . His principal work , " The Origin and Progress of Language , " in four volume * -, wa . a classic in his day . He too was a Freemason and a last friend of Robert Brims . I think that no detailed acconnt of the Masonic Lanreation of

Burns has ever appeared in this country ; aud as the occasion itself was memorable aud the circumstances curious , I yield to an expressed wish of many friends to make up this Centennial paper , partly from facts derived from books , partly from those gathered in various parts of Scotland daring my visits there * As the successor to the title of

Robert Burns As Poet Laureate Of Freemasonry.

Masonic Poet Laureate , it wonld seem reasonable that I do this to honour one of such transcendent genius that his " shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose . " But few even of Burns' admirers realize how much his success was due to the interest taken in his affairs by his Masonic brethren .

As a preface to this paper some allusions must be made to the birth and training of the Bard . He was born in Kyle , Ayrshire , about a mile and a half south of the city of Ayr , 25 th January 1759 , and died at Dumfries 2 lst July 1796 , aged 37 years . The place of his birth , tbe last time I saw it , was used as a low sort of grog-shop

Robert was exceedingly well educated , considering the poverty of hia father , aud hia station in life . Prom early youth he was a devourer of books , and those , too , mainly of a substantial class . With a smattering of French he had considerable mathematics , a fair knowledge of music , and was , even at eleven years , esteemed a good

grammarian . At seventeen he attended dancing-school ; at nineteen , a school of applied mathematics ( surveying , drawing , & o . ) Practically , he waa a superior farmer . At sixteen he wrote songs . In brief , those who call him unhttered do greatly err , for even in this day of free schools and diffused knowledge but few of our boya

have such a general and thorough culture as had Robert Burns . In 1781 , at the age of twenty-two , he became a Freemason , in the Lodge of Tarbolton , and for five years was marked for his prompt attendance and the earnestness with which he performed every Masonio duty that devolved upon him . It has been well said that

he entered thia Fraternity with all the enthusiasm of his social and philanthropic nature . The antiquity of the Masonic Fraternity , its suggestive and beautiful emblems , and the high character enjoyed by many of his fellow-members , won his utmost respect . The Alasonio Tie introduced him into circles he might never have

reached . Dngald Stewart the metaphysician , Wallace the county sheriff , Ballantyne the banker , at Ayr , and other men of good social

standing , were regnlar attendants upon the Lodge at Tarbolton , and entered the inner circle of his friends . Many passages in the poems of Burns prove how deeply the peculiar instructions of Freemasonry had affected him . Here is one :

A ye whom social pleasnre charms , Whose hearts the tide of kindness warms , Wha hold your being on the terms , " Each aid the others , " Come to my bowl , come to my arms , My friends , my Brothers !

All the writings of this man prove how ardently attached he was to Freemasonry which , through its large membership , held out the irresistible hand of fellowship to him . His attendance upon his Lodge was very constant , as the minute books prove , and such was the grateful sense entertained of his services by the Craft , that from

27 th July 1781 to 1 st March 1786 he was usually placed , in the absence of Sher Ef Wallace , in charge of the Lodge as Deputy Master . At these meetings he learned tho basis-principle of Freemasonry—Equality . The thought embodied in his _ i _ a . oas pootn , " A man ' s a man for a' that , " was conceived in tbe Masonic Lodge . Professor

Wilson says of him , thafc few were excluded from the largeness of his heart . He could sympathise with all , provided that by the stroke of his keen-tempered steel he could elicit some spark of humanity from the flint of theirs . Where else save in the Masonic connection conld Burns havo learned these things ? His genius and humour , his

mirth and glee , his fun and frolic , his exhilarated imagination found their fitting exercise only in the social meetings of the Lodge , the refreshment after the serious matters composing the Masonic work were fitly done . But this paper is not to be a eulogium of Freemasonry , only in so

far as Freemasonry affected the life and fortunes of Roberts Burns . Up to the spring of 1786 , though some of his finest productions were in existence , yet all were unpublished . They were in manuscript only . Copies in his own handwriting are extant , showing how much of his time had been spent in gratifying the desire of his friends for

these autographs . Numbers of these were prevalent through Ayrshire and surrounding counties , but no publisher , so far as we know , had ever suggested their publication . That these immortal productions were rescued from oblivion is due to the far-seeing liberality of the Freemasons .

It is known that in the summer of 1786 Burns was in groat straits . His errors had placed him under the terrors of the law . He admits that he was skulking from tbe constable . He had actually engaged to leave the country for the "West Indies , and had he been able to command money for his passage , the calamity alluded to bad certainly

befallen him . But he was absolutely destitute . Ifc was then that the Masonic Brethren rallied to his relief . Sheriff Wallace and other influential iiasous undertook to guarantee the issue of a collection of his poems , thirty-eight in number . A printer at Kilmarnock ( Wilson ) was secured , aud in a little rude office , whose stock

of type was barely equal to a forme of eight pages , the first edition of 600 copies was worked off ; the Masons having pledged themselves to Wilson for 350 copies in advance . Twice a week the

poor fellow—poor in means , but rich in genius and hope—walked ten miles to read proofs at Wilson ' s office , and then back again the same day , often upon no better diet than oatmeal porridge or cold johnny-cake .

How timely was this publication is seen in his various poems of farewell . That addressed to his Lodge , at Tarbolton , will recur to every Masonic reader . Here is the first verse :

Adieu ! a heart-warm , fond adieu ! Dear Brothers of the Mystic Tie ! Ye favoured , ye enlightened few , Companions of my social joy ! Though I to foreign lands must hie ,

Pursuing fortune's slidd ry ba , With melting heart , and brimful eye , I'll mind you still , tho' far awa ' .