Robert Burns As Poet Laureate Of Freemasonry.

Out of the sale of ( . 00 books , Burns , by the zealous and influential assistance of his Masonic Brethren , paid the printer , piid somo few pressing debts and found himself in possession of a balance of nearly one hundred dollars . About half of this went to the purchase of a steerage ticket to Jamaica . He had sent his trunk to Greenock ,

from which port he was to ship , and was footing ifc to that city , turning his back for ever , as he supposed , upon Scotland , when he fell in with a clergyman of his acquaintance , who showed him a letter from Dr . Blacklock , of Edinburgh , a brother-poet of some eminence , in which it was suggested that "if Burns would visit the

metropolis a larger and more profitable edition of his book could be got out under fche auspices of the nobility and gentry of Scotland . " This was the turning point in his life . He recovered his baggage and measured , on foot , the seventy miles that sepeiMted Greenock

from Edinburgh . Arrived there he took a room with an old friend , in a retired part of the city , at the cost of about ten dollars a month . He had not funds for such a garb as befitted his entrance into good society , but an anonymous friend sent him fifty dollars . Then he began the

career and reached the honorarium to whioh this paper is directed . Burns arrived in Edinburgh 28 th November 1786 . Ou the 30 th he walked in the procession of Grand Lodge fco hear a Masonio Oration . 6 fch December he was a visitor afc a session of the Scottish Parliament . On the 7 th he made his first visit to a Masonio Lodge ,

the Canongate Kilwinning , and was introduced to Past Master Bro . Henry Erskine , one of the most brilliant men of the period . As a poet and a writer of elegant prose no man in Edinburgh stood higher . The potency of his wit , says a biographer , and his brilliancy of comic humour were prominent features in his character . In all

respects , save that of position , Erskine was the counterpart of Robert Burns . At tbe meeting of 7 th December there were present deputations from the Grand Lodge and from seven of the Lodges ol Edinburgh and vicinity . On the some occasion Burns was introduced to the Earl of Glencairn , who took so important a part afterwards in

advancing the interests of the poet . This gentleman was the 14 th Earl of that ancient family . He had been ordained as a clergyman . He was brother-in-law both of Grand Master Bucban and of Henry Erskine . Bro . Burns always reckoned the Earl of Glencairn as his best friend , and upon the death of the latter , 24 th September 1791 , he wrote an affecting monody , of which here is a stanza :

The bridegroom may forget the bride Was made his wedded wife yestreen ; The monarch may forget the crown That on his head an hour has been : — — — ___ . _ , — .

„__ , The mother may forget the child That smiles so sweetly on her knee ; But I'll remember thee , Glencairn , And a' that thou bast done for me !

On the 9 th December , the Lounger gave Burns a most eulogistic notice iu the form of an extended review of his poems ( fche Kilmarnock edition ) . Ou the 13 _ h December the Edinburgh Evening Gourant published a complimentary epistle to Barns , denominating him " prince of poets and [ plowmen . " On the 11 th ( so swit . ly did

the kindness of Masonic friends materialize ) the printer Creech announced a second and enlarged edition of Burns . The Earl of Glencairn had gone security to the printer and subscribed for forty copies . On the 12 th January 1787 Burns visited Lodge Mary ' s Chapel at

the official visitation of Grand Master Charteris ( Lord Elcho ) , where the city Lodges were present iu full pomp . Afc the banquet which followed , the Grand Waster complimented our poet with the toast " Caledonia ancl Caledonia ' s Bard , Bro . Burns . " Repeated acclamations followed . On the 15 th January Burns attended the Theatre

Royal to witness the " School for Scandal . " Ou the 1 st February he visited Canongate Kilwinning Lodge the second time , and was elected an Honorary Member , " as a great poetic writer . " The Master was Bro . Alexander Ferguson , a gentleman of superior attainments , to which friendship Barns often alluded both in

prose and verse . He died three months before the poet . Charles Moore was Deputy Master , a genleman whose society was much sought after for his agreable manners . Bro . John Miller was Junior Warden , an author who published , the same year , " Historical View of the English Government . "

Late in February it was announced that on the meeting of 1 st March a tribute would be paid to Brother Burns , and the subscription for his forthcoming volume promoted . The meeting opened at half paat six p . m . Two candidates were initiated and two raised at that meeting . The list of persons present , members and visitors , is nofc

preserved . It was the last meeting of the season . All the record says is to tho effect that at an early part of the evening the Worshi pfnl Master Ferguson conferred upon Robert Burns tbe title of

Poet-Laureate . Meantime the subscriptions for his new edition , also the printing , were considerably advanced , and the honour of the 1 st of March must have added greatly to his notoriety among the Craft far and near .

In his after writings ifc is seen thafc Burns took delight in the designation of Bard , and esteemed the honour of the Laureateship at the hi ghest .

To please you and praise you Ye ken your Laureate scorns , The prayer still you share still Of grateful Minstrel , Burns .

On fche 25 th June following , ho was present afc the annual election of Canongate Kilwinning , at which Loi'd Tov picheu was elected Master , a Brother who was initiated 7 th December previous , the very ni ght of Burns' first visit . He had been made Deputy Grand Master

tho same month ( December ) , and was now elected Master of Canongate Kilwinning . Burns was fully recognised at that meeting as Poet Laureate . On his return to Edinburgh , after a summer journey through Scotland , he attended fche meetings of his Lodge and waa

Robert Burns As Poet Laureate Of Freemasonry.

always re . o , nb . "d br his title . A full length sfc . ti . o of the Bard is now suspended _ b"V . tho place he occupied , of which I roU'ir . a vivid recollectrnt . —Keystone .

Installation Meetings, &C.

INSTALLATION MEETINGS , & c .

— : o : — NEW CONCORD LODGE . No . 813 .

THE installation mpetinsr of this Lidge wis held afc th . G . H . hnll Tavern , Greshuui- * -treet , on Thursday evening , 17 h in-t ., when there was a very lirge atrenda-ioi-. of ni ' . nib r *» and Vi-iti r- > , under the presidency of th * -. Wi-rshi p ful Master Rro . Churl---. W e -Pn . Amongst thos * . present weiM Bros . A . Perl S . W a . d VV . M -. .-of , F . Perl J . W .. Rev . C . J . Stevens Chaplain , J . C . Stillwell P . M . Trea-..,

R . R . Harper P . M . Secretary , J . E . Cnubb S . D ., C . H . Oekelford I . G . P . M . ' s T . Bartlett , H . J . Gabb , T . J . Cnsworth , W . Pierpoint , L . C . Haslip and A . J . Potter ; Bros . R . White , J . B . Smith , A . Levesque , E . Levesque , J . Downing , T . R . Richards , L . Brown , H . L . Allar rlvo * ., T . Cammack , J . Arnold , L . Wild . J . A . Cox , R . Gos . - _ . rou , F . M .

Wenborn , J . Band , T . Woods , H . Milsom , A . K . Tu-befield , Ty ler , & o . The Visitors included Bros . 0 . M . Gray P . M . 1920 P . G . O . Surrey , Joseph Driscoll P . M . 30 , B . Haynes I . P . M . 27 , C . H . Webb P . M . 174 , R . Pierpoint P . M . 177 , D . H . Jacobs P . M . 77 , G . H . St-phen- * P . M . 1623 , E . Kerr 24 New York , H . John P . M . 742 , E . H . Barrett 1519

C . Reichelman 177 , G . A . Weston 177 , Jis . Rnve 1559 , J . Simpson 1076 , J . F . Saunders 1507 , VV . Wel * f rd 1321 . H . Park n 1319 , H . W , Schartau 1549 , F . F . Clivo 1319 , W . Coates 1922 , and oti-ers . Lodge was opened in accordance wi'h ancient rites , nnd the minutes of r . ht . last me . ting having burn real and confirmed , the Auditors' r . pi > rfc ,

which showed the Lodge to be in a sound and nourishing eond . tion , was submitted and unanimously approved . Lodge was then advanced to the second degree , and two brethren were parsed , fche o-remony being worked in the mo-t admirable manner bv tha Wor . shipful Master , assisted by his Officers . Subsequently Bin . Augustus

Perl was presented as the W . M . elect , and a Board of Installed Masters having be » n constituted , the rite was solemnly and imj . ro--sively performed by the Immedi-ite Past Master , and the manner n which Bro . Weeden acquitted himself in this important part ; of the day's proceedings elii-ited the unqualified approbation of all present .

The newly . installed Master having been proclaimed and saluted with tho customary Masonio honours , invested his Officers for the ensuing year , as follow : —Bros . C . Weeden I . P . M ., F . Perl S W ., E . Chnbb J . W ., Rev . C . J . Stevens Chaplain , J . C . Stilwell P . M . Trea * ., R . R . Harper P . M . Secretn-y , C . 11 . Ockelford S . D ., J . R . C-. d .-il

J . D .. J . B . Smith I . G ., H . Millson Dr . of Cers ., J . B ailum W . S ., T . K . Richaids A < . i _ t ,. W . S ., ' A . K . Tuibefi--ld Tyler . Tn « . charges to the Master , W . rdeus and brethren were •¦ ost ably and impres-ively delivered , and after fche transaction of some routine bu-in . s ., Lodge was closed amidst the utmost harmony an I good feeling . The

brethren and visitors then ncijouri . ed to the throne-room , whe ** e an excellent banquet was provided , in the style for which Bros . Hitter and Clifford have long been proverbial , tho arraniienients being most satisfautoiily carried out under the superintendence of Bro . Marchant . The banquet was presided over in genial manner by the newly

installed Worship ful Master , who seemed to have made unusually liberal arrange i . ents for tho comfort and enjoyment of the bret hren . Thus during dinner a choice selection of music was rendered by members of Mr . Stanley ' s orchestral band , consisting of Mr . A . Stanley , Mr . F . Georgy , and Mr . A . L'l ' hier ( violins ) , Mr . A .

Cornish ( cello ) Mr . S . Stannard ( hass ) , Mr . F . Jenkins ( flute ) , Mr . J . Jackson ( p iccolo ) , Mr . J . Thursion ( clan ' onet'e ) , M »* . C . Townley and Mr . W . Smith ( cornets ) , Mr . T . Jones ( euphoiium ) , and Mr . W . Layton ( pianoforte ) . A unique and reuhercto menu nnd programme was placed before the guests , this artistic feature of tho

evening ' s entertainment having been capitally . xecuted by Messrs , Potter Brothers , of Kingsland . The Worshipful Master , in proposing the Queen and the Craft , said Freemasons as a bod y were the most loyal of Her Majesty ' s snbj * cts , and they wished her iu the 50 th year of her rule all health and happiness , " long to reign

over us . " The toast was received with musical honours , the National Anthem being sung by a glee party , under the direction of Bro . Herbert Schartau , with Bro . Carl Reichelmann , organist of the Domatic Lodge , at the piano . Speaking of the Prince of Wales , the W . M . referred fco the enormous strides Freemasonry had taken

sinco His Royal Highness ' s accession to tho office of Grand Master , ten years ago ; ancl said he could not conclude with a sentiment more in accordance with his own feelings than the quotation from Henry IV . that appeared on the toast list : — "Tbe immediate Heir of England •the hope and expectation of our time ; it is the Prince of

Wales . " A suitable tribute was ptii t to the Grand Officers , " who you all know are honourable men" ( Julius Caesar ) - after which the Immediate Past Master proposed the heilth of the W . M ., and in doing so observed that Bro . Perl would , during his term of office , show the brethren that he was thoroughly capable of discharging tho

important duties of the office , aud of rendering the ritual in a way that would be a credit to himself and satisfactory to the Lodge . They all held Bro . Perl in very high esteem and regard , and their W . M . reciprocated fully that sentiment by studying the best interests of all the brethren in the Lodge . With the heartiest good

wishes he hoped his successor would enjoy a happy and prosperous year of office . The toaat was received with acclamation , and the Worship fnl Master in responding thanked tho brethren for their cordial reception , and Bro . Wtoclou for the kindly expressions he had used towards himself . It was just six years ago tr . at very night

that he sat on the ri . -hfc of the then W . M . as an initiate , and he really must admit that ho felt exceedingly proud to find himself iu the position to whioh by their kindness ho had this day been exalted . That honour was due entirely to the kindly feelings of the brethren towards him . He had always endeavoured to do his best in any of