i i

ROBERT BuRNStKeScoTTiSH BARD.

POET LAUREA T LODGE No. Z.CANNONGATE KILWINNING.

A PHOTOGRAPHIC COPY

OF THE

FRAMED PRINT

OF THE

POET-LAUREATE OF LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING,

WHICH "MET WITH THE APPROBATION OF THE BRETHERN," 24.™ JUNE 1802,

AND HAS BEEN ON VIEW NEARLY A CENTURY IN THE LODGE ROOM,

ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, ST. JOHN STREET, EDINBURGH.

Date of publication, 2gth October 1798, which is engraved on the margin of the print, but covered by the frame.

Vide Part I., pp. u, 30, and 32. Part II., p. 20, etc.

ROBERT BURNS

POET-LAUREATE

OF

LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING

FACTS

Substantiating his Election and Inauguration

ON 1ST MARCH 1787

(Bleanefc from tbe %ofcae IRecorfcs ant) otber Hutbentic Sources

BY

HUGH C. PEACOCK

PAST DEPUTE MASTER LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING; SECRETARY TO THE LODGE 1872-73

AND MANY YEARS SUBSEQUENTLY ;

PAST PRINCIPAL H AND PAST SCRIBE E ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER CANONGATE KILWINNING

ETC., ETC.

AND ASSISTED BY

ALLAN M ACKENZ I E

HISTORIAN AND P.M. CAN. KIL., NO. 2, ETC.

PUBLISHED BY A UTHORITY OF THE LODGE

PRINTED BY CHRISTIE & SON, 10 NORTH ST. ANDREW STREET, EDINBURGH

MDCCCXCIV.

PR

PREFACE.

T HAVE been asked by some of the principal Office-bearers, past and present, of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, to write a few words by way of Preface to the statement of the evidence, compiled mainly by Brother Allan Mackenzie, as to the formerly undoubted, but recently controverted fact that Robert Burns held the Honorary Office of Poet Laureate of that Lodge. I have accordingly gone carefully through that evidence, which is so well arranged, so exhaustive, and I may add so conclusive, that it might well be left to speak for itself. " I propose, therefore, to confine my remarks to the most salient points in the evidence, and to the nature of the case sought to be made against the hitherto received tradition. And first, as to the positive evidence of the fact. Not, certainly, the oldest, but certainly the principal document in its support, is the Resolution passed on the 8th June 1815, and duly recorded in the Minutes of the Lodge, authorising a Subscription for a Mausoleum to Robert Burns, who is therein described as one " who had been Poet Laureate of the Lodge" This resolution was seconded by Charles More, who was a prominent official of the Royal Bank of Scotland, who had been Depute Master of the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, No. 2, both before and in the year 1787, (in which year Robert Burns joined the Lodge as an Honorary affiliated member, and is traditionally alleged to have been also appointed Poet Laureate of the Lodge), and who had continued in unbroken connection with the Lodge from that time to the signing of the Minute of 8th June 1815. Surely, if any man must have known whether this statement of the resolution was accurate or not, that

X.

man must have been the seconder, Brother Charles More. But it does not stop there. At the time when this resolution was passed, the Lodge included amongst its members about one hundred persons, who had been members before and during the events of 1787, many of whom had continued members down to 1815. A number of those must in the nature of things have been present at the Meeting at which the resolution was passed. Moreover, this re- solution was sent round with a subscription list to all the members, so that it must have come to the knowledge of those members who were not present. Amongst the one hundred members referred to were many who knew Robert Burns intimately, including Louis Cauvin, Burns's French Teacher ; Alexander Nasmyth, who painted his portrait ; Lord Balcarres, Dugald Stewart, Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster ; Sir Hay Campbell, President of the Court of Session ; Dr. Andrew Duncan; Sir Henry Jardine, R. W. Master, 1790; Sir Charles Hope of Granton, President of the Court of Session, who survived till 1851 ; and many others. A Committee was appointed to carry out the object of this resolution, and on the 2nd January 1817, George Simson, Esq., Past Master of the Lodge, who appears to have acted as the Secretary, wrote to George Burnet, Esq., Advocate, R. W. Master of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, as follows : — " I beg leave to report to you that having been furnished by your Secretary with the sum of Twenty Guineas voted by the Lodge as a contri- bution towards the erection of a Mausoleum to the memory of our late Poet Laureate, Burns, I, in obedience to the instructions of the Committee, remitted that sum to the Rev. Dr. Duncan, Dumfries." From this it is evident that after eighteen months' publicity amongst all those most likely, nay certain to know whether the statement which constituted the express ground and plea on which their subscriptions were solicited was true or false, not only had none denied it, but the Lodge itself had formally ratified and adopted it on a second occasion by voting twenty guineas to the fund on this very ground and title. A goodly number of these hundred members must have been still alive in 1835, when Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, was elected to succeed Robert Burns as Poet Laureate, and when at his initiation or on the occasion of his being made a Mason, he expressly acknowledged the compliment of being asked to succeed Robert Bums, and the Lodge toasted the memory of

XI.

Burns as " the last Poet Laureate of the Lodge" Nay, some of them, — e.g. Sir Charles Hope — were alive in 1845, when the Lodge resolved to commemorate the event by a Picture. All this is on record, nor is it contested that the tradition has been handed down continuously to the present time.

There is, however, one piece of documentary evidence older than any of the above entries, though not, of course, as old as the memory and knowledge of the persons above-mentioned, who were all members and contemporaries of Burns in 1787. This is the engraved portrait of Burns still hanging in the Lodge, and which appears to have been placed there in the beginning of this century, within a few years of his death. That portrait bears a contemporary Inscription, describing him as Poet Laureate of the Lodge. This carries the documentary evidence of the tradition back to the very beginning of the century; but the evidence does not stop there. It appears that Brother William Petrie, who was connected with several Lodges, and down to a date shortly before his death in 1845, was one of the Tylers of the Lodge, bore testimony to the fact of having been present at the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge No. 2. It is true that Brother William Officer rejects this direct and specific evidence, on the ground that as Petrie is not recorded in Grand Lodge Books as a member of No. 2, he cannot have been a member of No. 2. But in another place (see his letter of I2th January 1889) he himself demolishes his own argument by frankly admitting that " The registration of the members of the Lodge (No. 2) in the Register of Grand Lodge in the beginning of the present century was irregular." The same applies to the Minutes of No. 2 in the year 1787, and all the neighbouring years — as Brother Mackenzie has conclusively shewn.

Neither Brother Officer nor any other person has adduced a single fact to lead one to suppose that Brother Petrie was not a truthful person or that he had any motive to give false evidence. His evidence is in entire accordance with all the current of tradition and of authority above referred to ; and in the absence of any positive evidence to the contrary is worthy of confidence and respect.

One remark falls to be made with regard to the whole of the above

Xll.

evidence. It is of a positive character, and is such as reasonable men are in the habit of accepting as sufficient in the absence of any positive evidence to the contrary. Is there any positive evidence to the contrary? None whatever. Those who, in recent times, have attacked the long received tradition, and in particular, Brothers Officer and Murray Lyon, rely wholly, not on the presence of any, even the smallest contrary evidence, but only on the absence of certain records, which, if they existed, would give contemporary corroboration to the positive evidence adduced. That this is no exaggeration will be seen at a glance, if we consider the principal arguments put forward by them by way of "disproof" of the received tradition. These are: —

1. No contemporary entry of the appointment in the Minutes of No. 2.

2. Before such appointment the office must have been created ; and

this could not be done without the consent of Grand Lodge. There is no entry of the creation, or of such consent.

3. If created, it must be annual, and re-election must be annual :

whereas there is no entry of any further election till 1835, when (as they allege) the office was created.

4. Burns himself does not mention it.

5. The testimony adduced to prove it is not contemporaneous.

It is obvious that all this amounts to no more than pointing out what additional evidence would in their judgment place the tradition beyond all possible doubt. Not one of the five points, nor all of them together, is logically inconsistent with the truth of the positive evidence adduced.

But let us look more closely at the five points seriatim.

I. "No contemporary Minute of the appointment."

This is plainly their principal, one may say their only material point.

If such a Minute existed, where would be their case ? And yet, so far is such an entry from being necessary to satisfactory evidence of the transaction it professes to record, that in English Common Law such an entry is not admissible as any evidence at all of the transaction. The only use that could be made of it would be to refresh the memory of the person who had made the entry, as to his own recollection of the transaction which he recorded, and then only if he had been present at the transaction.

Xlll.

Brother Petrie's evidence, on the contrary, though given many years after, would have been admissible primary evidence of an eye-witness. No doubt, however, apart from legal rules of evidence, the absence of any entry is a suspicious circumstance, provided it appears that the books have been re- gularly and carefully kept. If it appears they have been irregularly and carelessly kept, such omission would carry no weight. Which, then, is the case here ? Brother Mackenzie has conclusively shewn by many instances that the Books of No. 2 were at this time most carelessly and irregularly kept. I refer for brevity to his statement, and will quote only one instance.

The Hon. Henry Erskine is entered as elected to the chair on 24th June 1780, but no previous Minute exists to show that he ever joined the Lodge. This is the exact converse of Burns' case, where his admission as Honorary member is recorded, but not his appointment as Poet-Laureate. It is worthy of note that the omission to record the act of making a man a Mason, or of admitting him member of a Lodge, is a much more serious omission than the omission to record a merely honorary appointment within the Lodge, which is in no way essential to the practical working of the Lodge, and might fall into desuetude without affecting that working. In point of fact, not only after Burns's death was this office left unfilled, but twice or thrice after 1835, when Brothers Officer and Murray Lyon admit it was in existence, the Lodge omitted to fill it up, though careful to fill up those offices which are essential to the practical working and constitutional completeness of the Lodge. These omissions are duly shewn in a table of appointments inserted in Brother Mackenzie's statement. May I here be permitted to suggest that the admirable and scrupulously exact manner in which Brother Murray Lyon keeps the Books of Grand Lodge, tends perhaps to make him too exacting in his demands upon the past.

2. " Before Burns could have been appointed, the office must have been created, and this required the consent of Grand Lodge, which has no record of such consent."

This is merely an erroneous and very pedantic objection. Where is the rule of Grand Lodge forbidding any Lodge to appoint an Honorary Poet Laureate without previous solemn creation of the office with the consent of Grand

XIV.

Lodge 1 Moreover, it proves a great deal too much, and is in fact contradicted by Brothers Officer and Murray Lyon themselves. They both assert that the office was created in 1835, and has existed since then to the present time. They deny that it existed before the appointment of Hogg. Was the appointment of Hogg preceded by any " creation of the office ? " Is there any record in Grand Lodge of any previous application to Grand Lodge for its consent to "create the office?" Or do our incredulous Brethren suggest that such application and consent was doubtless made and given, though the officials of Grand Lodge omitted to record it ? If they don't, they give up this objection as untenable. If they do, why are they so ready to believe an unrecorded transaction which has no tradition and no vestige of evidence to support it, whilst they find it so impossible to believe an unrecorded transaction which has both evidence and tradition in its favour? If they answer " no such consent was asked or granted, because both Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, and Grand Lodge supposed it had been obtained in 1787," this would still be fatal to the actual existence of the office ; moreover, they must admit that Grand Lodge assented to the truth of the tradition, and either thought its consent unnecessary, or that it had been given in 1787, though unrecorded, thus regarding the record as not essential nor conclusive. Moreover, Grand Lodge must have considered that such office did not cease to exist, though unfilled for more than 35 years, in other words, that it need not be filled up annually.

3. " If created, it must be annually vacated and filled, whereas no further election till 1835."

This is sufficiently answered by the remarks just made. No one took that view in 1835, nor since. The office had then been vacant at least since Burns's death. The refilling of it then by Hogg was public and notorious, and the power of the Lodge to refill it was unquestioned, and, I may add unquestionable. The Lodge has, since then, several times omitted to fill it, when vacant, and have afterwards filled it, as of right, and without question. The truth is, this objection also is both erroneous arid pedantic. It loses sight of the distinction between a mere honorary and non-essential office, and those which are essential to the proper constitution and working of a Lodge.

XV.

4. " Burns himself does not mention it."

This objection is so trivial that it seems hardly worth answering, but as it is much insisted on, I may point out that they have not the least right to say Burns never mentioned it. All they can say is that in the very limited number of letters of his which have been preserved and published, such mention does not happen to occur. What sort of argument is that ? They suggest that Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, was so distinguished a Lodge, it was impossible he should not have mentioned it at the time. Well, perhaps he did. How can they prove he did not ? But let me ask them this: In February 1787, they themselves admit that this distinguished Lodge did Burns the distinguished honour of electing him an honorary member. Where does Burns mention this fact ? And if Burns does not mention this honour, why should he mention the other? Perhaps, on second thoughts, they may suggest that the entry of February ist 1787 cannot be true, because, if true, Burns must have mentioned it ! That would at least make their argument consistent.

5. "The testimony adduced is not contemporaneous"

That depends upon what "contemporaneous" evidence means. If it means what it means in ordinary usage, in Courts of Law, or in historical evidence, then it is contemporaneous — i.e. it is evidence derived from the assertions, or the acts of contemporaries who were, in a position to know, or who claim to have such knowledge. Brother Charles More and Brother Petrie are both of this class, and so are all those who were continuously members of the Lodge during 1787, and thence to 1815,— nay, some of them to 1835, when Hogg was elected expressly as his successor, and even to 1845, when the picture commemorative of it was sanctioned. The meaning which our objecting brethren put on the word is singular. They say that Brother Petrie's testimony that he was present and saw the fact is not contemporary, because it (the testimony) was not given at the time of the occurrence itself! That the witness was there at the time is nothing ! The question is, did he give his evidence on the spot where and when the occurrence took place ! This sense of "contemporaneous testimony," is unique, and the laws of time and space and common sense are likely to keep it so.

XVI.

To sum up, there is a large body of evidence, direct and indirect, including the assertions, acts and conduct of those most likely to know and most entitled to speak and to be believed. There is a continuous, and, till recent times, unchallenged tradition resting on that evidence. On the other side there is no evidence to the contrary, but only an eager insistence upon the absence of certain additional evidence, mainly inadmissible in Law, even if it existed, and all of it such as not to present any logical contradiction of any part of the positive evidence in favour of the fact. It is not too much to say that nothing could ever be proved, if the absence of additional proof were admitted to countervail positive evidence of the fact.

R. W. MACLEOD FULLARTON, Q.C.

M.M., No. 2, P.J. W., No. 770, and Grand Bard, Grand Lodge of Scotland.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Copy of a Framed Print, bearing the Inscription, "Robert Burns, the Scottish Bard, Poet-Laureat, Lodge No. 2, Cannongate Kilwinning" which .has been on view in the Lodge-room nearly a century, ..... Frontispiece

Copy of Brother Stewart Watson's celebrated Painting entitled, " The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet- Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning" \st March 1787, . . . . . . Beginning of Part II,

Key to Inauguration Picture, ...... Facing copy

(Followed by Lines on Viewing the Picture).

CONTENTS.

PART I.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION, ........ v.

I. LETTER TO THE PAST SECRETARY OF LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING requesting Evidence in Substantiation of " the Statements " he made regarding Burns, 7th February 1873, to Brother David Murray Lyon which the latter NOW asserts are unfounded, i

II. REPLY, ......... 2

III. COMMENTARY on Grand Secretary's Assertions impugning "the State-

ments" contained in the Letter written by the Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, 7TH FEBRUARY 1873, .... 4

IV. FACTS WORTH KNOWING about the said LETTER, . . . .10 V. "THE STATEMENTS" SUBSTANTIATED, . . . . .12

VI. BROTHER D. MURRAY LYON'S FLUCTUATIONS OF OPINION with reference to Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, ........ 43

VII. ERRORS in "THE PRINTED COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE between " Brothers Allan Mackenzie, the Historian of No. 2, and William " Officer," which was submitted by Grand Secretary to Grand Com- mittee, 29th December 1892, ...... 46

PART II.

I. Extract from Proceedings of Grand Lodge, 2gth Dec. 1892 ~ V. r

II. Statement by Past-Master Allan Mackenzie, ;'™ '" . ' '. '. . 3

III. Review of the Minutes of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, from 24th June

1786, to i2th December 1788, . 4

IV. Verbatim Copy of said Minutes, . 12 V. First Reference in the Records, 24th June 1802, to "Robert Burns,

Poet Laureat of Lodge No. 2 Cannongate Kilwinning," . . 20

IV.

PAGE

VI. Selected Extracts from the Minutes and Relative Documents of the Lodge, from Feby. 9, 1815, to Nov. 19, 1845, containing twelve additional References to the fact that Robert Burns was " Poet Laureat," . . 30

VII. Copy of Correspondence between Brother J. Linning Woodman, C.S., and Brother Stewart Watson, Portrait Painter, — the distinguished Artist who painted the Inauguration Picture now in the Board Room of Grand Lodge — showing the great care with which Brother Watson procured "authenticated particulars" of a subject before painting it, . . 44

VIII. A Word for the late Brother Stewart Watson, .... 48

IX. Letter from Past-Master Wm. N. Fraser of Findrack and Tornaveen to

Past-Master Allan Mackenzie, . . . . . -53

X. Letter from Past-Master Thos. Drybrough to Past-Master Allan Mackenzie, 54

XL Extract from Minute of Committee Meeting and Copy of Correspondence between the Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning and Bro. D. Murray Lyon, Ayr, 1873, ...... 55

XII. The "APPOINTMENT" and "INAUGURATION" of Robert Burns, Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, quoted from Bro. D. Murray Lyon's " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i," 63

XIII. Presentation to Grand Lodge, 2nd February 1863, of Brother Stewart

Watson's celebrated Painting entitled, "The Inauguration of Robert Burns Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, . . .66

XIV. Minutes of two Meetings of Canongate Kilwinning Committee, held

respectively i5th and 27th December 1893, for the purpose of con- sidering the Evidence then produced regarding the Poet Laureateship of Robert Burns, ........ 67

NOTANDA, ......... 72

APPENDIX.

Chart showing the Office-Bearers of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, each year, from June 24, 1784, to June 24, 1867.

Supplement to Chart, showing Names of Members of Committee of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning each year, from June 24, 1784, to June 24, 1867.

ERRATA.

INTRODUCTION.

CELEBRATED PAINTING which depicts the Inauguration of

Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, Edinburgh, was presented to the Grand Lodge of Scotland thirty- one years ago, by the late much-respected Brother James Ballantine, Grand Bard, on behalf of the family of the late Brother SIR JAMES BURNES, M.D., LL.D., D.C.L., F.R.S.L., F.R.C.P.E., Knight of Hanover, etc., and Physician- General of the Bombay Army, who was related to the Poet.

Brother Sir James Burnes [otherwise designated the Chevalier Burnes] had long been a highly esteemed and active member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. He was the first Provincial Grand Master of Western India — appointed on occasion of the celebration of the first centenary of Grand Lodge, 3Oth November 1836 — and was ultimately appointed Grand Master of Scottish Freemasonry in India, which eminent position he held till nearly the end of his life. He died at Manchester on the ipth September 1862.

Shortly before his death the late Brother Sir James Burnes expressed a wish to personally present the Inauguration Picture to Grand Lodge. Unfor- tunately, he did not live to carry out that wish, but his family lost no time after his decease in giving effect to the generous donor's purpose regarding the Picture, arid, accordingly, presentation of it was made to Grand Lodge in due form at the Quarterly Communication, held 2nd February 1863.

The Inauguration Picture, received at that time by Grand Lodge, was at once placed on view in the Board-room, and there it has remained ever since. Appended to it then was, and still is, the following inscription : —

"THE INAUGURATION

OF

ROBERT BURNS

AS POET LAUREATE OF

THE LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING,

EDINBURGH, ist MARCH, 1787.

Presented by JAMES BURNES, K.H., F.R.S., &c. To the Grand Lodge of Scotland, 1862."

VI.

This valuable gift was then made to Grand Lodge in the full view of a numerous company, embracing many worthy, learned, and distinguished brethren, presided over by His Grace the Duke of Athole, K.T., &c., M.W. Grand Master ; and NOW, Brother David Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, asserts that no such inauguration ever took place* and submits, " in the interests of truth, •" as set against a fable, it is necessary that steps should be taken by Grand " Committee to have the inscription on the picture amended" !

He also submitted and appealed to the "Printed Copy of Correspondence " between " Brothers A. Mackenzie, the historian and Past Master of No. 2, and William Officer," Past Master of No. I, as "clearly" establishing his (Grand Secretary's) contention. Brother Lyori himself contributed two letters to that correspondence, in which he charges the Canongate Kilwinning Office-bearers of 1873 with having furnished him with "unfounded" statements, etc., and which letters, with those of the Past Master of No. I, as is now shown, contain much apocryphical writing.

It was pointed out to Grand Committee that no official information on the subject was vouchsafed to them, consequently Brother Mackenzie councilled delay, and undertook to produce whatever documentary evidence existed in the archives of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge on the subject of the Election and Inauguration. This was cordially acquiesced in, and the result will be seen in the following pages.

In the first place, it was deemed proper to ask Brother Hugh C. Peacock, the Canongate Kilwinning Secretary of 1873, to substantiate "the statements," which Grand Secretary now so emphatically stigmatises as " unfounded ; " and, in the second place, to publish certified copies of the Minutes and other authentic documents of the Burns and Hogg periods, so that every Brother can judge of the matter for himself.

Whatever the object of questioning the truth of the Inscription at this distant date may be, assuredly Grand Lodge, on learning full particulars, will impartially judge ; and it is earnestly hoped that this Inscription, hallowed by time — rendered doubly valuable for the interesting circumstances connected with the record of such an historical event, as well as for the eminent and worthy names and memories associated therewith — will be ordered to remain in its

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original state, so that no future historian, or any other writer, will think of mutilating such a precious heirloom to the Masonic Brotherhood as that Picture descriptive of "The Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet-Laureate of The " Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, Edinburgh, ist March 1787," which now hangs on view in the board-room of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

A. MACKENZIE,

P.M. Can. Kil., No. 2.

1894.

PART I.

I. LETTER

FROM

BROTHER ALLAN MACKENZIE,

Past Master of Lodge Canongate Kihvinning, and Member of the Special Com- mittee appointed by the Grand Committee to Consider and Report to Grand Lodge upon the whole question of the Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilw inning,

TO BROTHER HUGH C. PEACOCK,

Past Secretary, Past Substitute- Master, and Past Depute-Master, Lodge Canongate

Kilwinning.

17 ST. ANDREW SQUARE, EDINBURGH, zotk March 1893. H. C. PEACOCK, Esq.,

8 York Buildings.

DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,

Robt. Burns,

Poet Laureate of Can. KiL No. 2.

In Grand Lodge Proceedings you have no doubt observed that on Dec. last, Bro. D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, submitted a statement to Grand Committee, in the course of which he asserts that, in 1873, the office-bearers of Can. Kil. Lodge communicated through you, as Secretary, certain " alleged facts which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed" and that steps should be taken to have the inscription on the Inauguration Picture in the Board Room amended.

In my reply to this extraordinary assertion, I undertook to produce whatever documentary evidence exists in the Lodge on the subject ; and, in order to bring up a full and complete report on the whole question, I shall be obliged by your furnishing me with the evidence upon which you made " the statements " contained in your letter to Bro. D. Murray Lyon of 7th Feby. 1873, and which he complains of as being

" unfounded" — Yours faithfully and fraternally,

A. MACKENZIE,

P. M. Can. KiL, No. 2, and " Member of the Special Committee " appointed to Consider and Report " upon the Whole Question?

II. REPLY

FROM

BROTHER HUGH C PEACOCK

TO

PAST MASTER ALLAN MACKENZIE.

ARGYLE CRESCENT, PoRTOBELLO, i6th November 1893.

ALLAN MACKENZIE, Esq.,

Past Master Lodge Canongate Kilwinning,

Etc., etc. WORSHIPFUL AND DEAR SIR,

Thanks for your letter inviting my attention to Grand Lodge Proceedings of 29th December 1892, and requesting evidence from me in substantiation of "the statements " contained in my letter to Brother David Murray Lyon, dated so far back as 7th February 1873, which he now complains of as being "unfounded."

With respect to " the printed copy of the correspondence " between you and another member of the craft, which is referred to in said Proceedings of 2gth December 1892 as having been submitted to the meeting held that date, I may remark that it is not altogether new. Much of it was contained in cuttings from The freemason, which, about four years ago, you enclosed to me with an invitation to take part in the discussion. You will remember that I at once called upon you and returned the cuttings, declining to add one word to what had been said. My reasons were, that, as you had entered on the correspondence in The Freemason on your own responsibility, in defence of what you had said in the History of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning regarding Burns, quite inde- pendently of, and unknown to me or any of the other office-bearers, therefore, such correspondence — so far at least as I was concerned — should remain wholly your own. Further, I remarked, it was evident to me that no good result to the one side or the other could accrue from discussing in any such desultory manner, throughout several years, a subject of the kind in a public journal : — irregularly and at long intervals discussed — quite as irregularly read by the average reader — and the whole question never at any one period before him in a complete form, it seemed to me a sheer waste of time to follow up the discussion — in The Freemason.

Brother Lyon professed himself satisfied with the information communicated to him in my letter of 7th February 1873,* and gave effect to a portion of it in his History,

* Brother Lyon's reply, dated Feby. II, 1873, is reproduced in Part II., page 61.

which was published shortly afterwards— in the year 1873— and then I fully believed that the question raised by the correspondence was settled. I did not expect that NOW I would have occasion to defend anything said in that 1873 letter, after so many old brethren who helped me with it are dead, and that Grand Secretary, in his recently acquired anxiety "to have the inscription on the picture" (of the inauguration) "amended," would complain to Grand Lodge in those Proceedings of 2gth December 1892 (vide Part II., page i), that, so far back as twenty years ago, in that letter I had " laid a statement before him embodying alleged facts, which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed " — and, that in said Proceedings [still with respect to same letter] he " asserts that the statements made to him were unfounded."

Fortunately, I am in a position to prove my case, independently of those old members now dead ; and, agreeably with your request, I have much pleasure in now furnishing, by the matter which follows this reply, abundant evidence to establish beyond any reasonable doubt or cavil the essential facts set forth in my letter to which you refer.

It is my duty to add, that, with the very utmost respect and esteem for Bro. D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary ; for his attainments as a Masonic author — as shown forth in his excellent " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i " — and for his well-known great knowledge of Masonic matters generally, I nevertheless claim to have a more intimate knowledge than he of the many books and documents, and other valuable memorabilia belonging to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and of its very interesting history — apart from so much of it as has been published : — such knowledge of mine being derived mainly from a continuous active membership of twenty-one years, during much of which time I have served the Lodge as Secretary.

Therefore, while I very much regret having to express an opinion different from that of Grand Secretary regarding the question under notice, I feel it my bounden duty to the Lodge Committee of 1873, the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge of to-day, and the Craft in general, to distinctly deny, as I hereby do, Grand Secretary's belated assertions against " the statements made to him " in that letter of mine, written so very long ago as in the beginning of 1873, — those assertions being utterly unwarrantable.

Finally, I respectfully request that you will invite Grand Secretary to put his finger on any one statement in said letter of mine, essential to the question, which he claims to be unfounded — AND PROVE IT.

The evidence you ask for follows this letter. — I am, Worshipful and Dear Sir, yours truly and fraternally,

HUGH C. PEACOCK,

Past Secretary and Past Depute-Master, Can. Kil. Proxy Master, No. 476.

III. COMMENTARY

ON

GRAND SECRETARY'S Assertions impugning "the Statements" contained in the LETTER written by the SECRETARY of LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING, 7th February 1873.*

My letter, dated 7th February 1873, containing "the statements," of which -evidence is now requested from me, was written in the course of a correspondence which as Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwin ning, I had been instructed by the Committee of that Lodge to have with Brother David Murray Lyon, who was then resident in Ayr. I had been so instructed by reason of a report having reached Lodge Committee to the effect that, in the " History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) No. i, embracing an Account of the Rise and Progress of Freemasonry in Scotland," which Brother Lyon was at that time compiling, the commonly accepted association of Robert Burns to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning was discredited.

Before entering fully on such evidence, I feel privileged to make a few comments on the assertions so freely advanced by Grand Secretary to Grand Committee on 2 Qth December 1892 impugning the statements contained in my letter. f

Bro. Mackenzie calls my attention to the fact "that, on 29th December last, Bro. D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, submitted a statement to Grand Committee, in the course of which he asserts that in 1873 the Office-bearers of Can. Kil. Lodge communicated through you, as Secretary, certain ' alleged facts which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed,' and that steps should be taken to have the inscription on the Inauguration Picture in the Board-room amended."

In the "Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 2gth December 1892," Grand Secretary also asserted that, in the year 1873 [before my letter dated 7th February 1873 was written, and before his History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i, was printed] — he made "A MINUTE EXAMINATION OF CANONGATE KILWINNING'S RECORDS." In making such " minute examination " he would certainly, as an eminent historian, carefully examine the record dated ist February 1787, containing mention

* A copy of that letter will be found in Part II., page 57.

t The " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 29th December 1892," is given in Part II., page I.

of the affiliation of Robert Burns. Brother D. Murray Lyon would also, quite as care- fully, examine the record of ist March 1787 — the date which he knew was inscribed on the Inauguration Picture as being that on which the Inauguration ceremony was claimed to have taken place — but in the latter record he would find that the name of Robert Burns is not mentioned. Nevertheless, Brother Lyon, in his response acknow- ledging receipt of my letter concerning Burns' inauguration, made no reference whatever to such omission.*

Further, in the " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 2pth December 1892," Grand Secretary announced that, " in all statements and discussions in support of the story, the minute of the meeting at which the event is alleged to have happened has been kept out of sight. It is as follows " f — [and the quotation of minute followed accordingly].

Grand Secretary apparently forgets, in casting such an unworthy taunt at brethren whose opinions happen to differ from his on such a matter, that, if the minute of ist March 1787 had ever been " kept out of sight" in the sense implied, which I deny, he has himself for twenty years contributed to the doing so. Bro. Lyon certainly noted that special minute when he made " a minute examination of Canongate Kilwinning^s records" BEFORE publishing his History of No. i. Nevertheless, throughout all his reference to Canongate Kilwinning and Burns in his History, Bro. Lyon studiously refrained from quoting that minute which he so prominently exhibits NOW, as if it were quite a recent and important discovery in Burns' literature.

There is another aspect Of this part of the subject which Grand Secretary appears to have quite overlooked when making the inapplicable taunt about the minute of ist March 1787 having been "kept out of sight," but which must be perfectly obvious to any one perusing these pages, — to wit, that, if the minute of ist March 1787 had con- tained any account of the election and inauguration of Robert Burns, I had no need' whatever to write that letter of 7th February 1873, which consisted of several pages of duly verified statements and quotations from minutes, and argument well founded upon them, in evidence of such election and inauguration. Had these events been recorded when they occurred, I would only have needed to quote the one minute of ist March 1787 — a few lines; — [the minutes were brief in those days.] Bro. Lyon was quite well aware of all that Yet, in his comparatively recent change of front, he ostentatiously produced to Grand Lodge, 2gth December 1892, a copy of said minute of ist March 1787, as if that settled the question !

On same occasion [29th December 1892], Grand Secretary submitted to Grand Lodge " the printed copy of correspondence," asserting that it "clearly established" his contention. That little work concludes with a letter from himself, dated i8th August 1891, containing a copy of the minute of ist March 1787, which he states, in said

* Copy of that response will be found in Part II., page 61.

t The minute of ist March 1787 need not be reproduced here, because it appears twice elsewhere in these papers — to wit, firstly, in the " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 29th December 1892," Part II., pages I and 2; and, secondly, in its proper order and place, along with other minutes of the Burns period, in Part II., page 14.

letter, "has been studiously kept out of sight" He continues the subject with the following assertion : —

" The concluding sentence of the foregoing minute proves beyond question that no such event as the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate of Canongate Kilwinning took place at the meeting of ist March 1787."

Not so: such self-imposed task of attempting to prove a negative remains unaccomplished.

I comment more fully upon the minute of ist March 1787 in Part II., pages 7 and 8, where it appears in its proper place, along with its companion records of the years 1786-7-8.

The editor of "the printed correspondence," in letter VI. at page 44 of that work, with reference to the minute-book containing the record of ist March 1787, makes the bold assertion : " // is well and continuously kept"

In absolute proof of the very reverse of that assertion being true, I respectfully crave a careful perusal and scrutiny of the series of minutes comprised within the period June 1786 to December 1788. They are faithfully reproduced in Part II., pages 12 to 19. At a glance those minutes afford clear evidence of my statement, and by refer- ence to Part II., pages 4 to n, wherein those minutes are carefully reviewed, it will be seen in detail that the minute-book referred to has been very carelessly and irregularly kept.

Those Canongate Kilwinning records of the years 1786, 1787, and 1788 stand forth very observably in the old minute-book as a melancholy memorial of neglected duties on the part of the Lodge Secretary during the eventful period of the Scottish Bard's frequent sojourns in Edinburgh. And yet, Brother Mackenzie's correspondent in The Freemason had the boldness to assert that those minutes were "kept with care!" Indeed, more than that, he asserted that "the minutes of the Canongate Lodge, at the period in question, were kept by a practising solicitor," as if, per se, that were a guarantee for carefulness, and as if such announcement should awe us into acceptance of the minutes at his (the correspondent's) valuation ; also, that " they appear to have been kept with care and ample fulness of detail!!!" The correspondent had the temerity to continue his undue praising of the "practising solicitor" who acted as Canongate Kil- winning's Secretary in 1787, by saying in support of the extraordinary assertion in the words now quoted, " The very minute, assuming Burns a member of the Lodge, illustrates this fact, for it bears evidence of careful revision, being partially erased in at least two places"

The real fact of the matter is, that the " careful revision " — the erasement — has evidently not been done by the same bungling hand that laboriously composed the minute in its primitive phraseology ; but by some clever, neat-handed, supervising brother who had been ashamed of the Secretary's work. More upon this point will be found in Part II., page 5, also page 6, continued into page 7.

Apart from various other irregularities — which may or may not be less faulty — I need only mention at this stage of the evidence one instance, namely, that in the minute-book professedly containing Lodge records of the years 1787 and 1788, there are blank pages left for many minutes of meetings of the Lodge and of Committee that never have been recorded, and, by such extraordinary instances of neglect, there has been lost all

knowledge of events which occurred in the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning during eleven months of perhaps the most eventful and most interesting period of her history. Notwith- standing all that, Grand Secretary now, following up such unmerited bepraising of the 1787 Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning as has been quoted, produces copy of one of those precious minutes, dated ist March 1787 — just as precious and more imperfect than the minute of ist February 1787 — from such a grossly defective record-book, as a proof that the election and inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate DID NOT take place !

Quite on same grounds Grand Secretary might assert that Robert Burns DID NOT appear in the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, No. 48, on i2th January, 1787, when Grand Master Charteris gave the toast, "Caledonia and Caledonia's Bard — Robert Burns," because the Lodge Secretary omitted to engross a minute of that important meeting, and because even the minute entered of that date in the St. Andrew's Lodge minute-book on behalf of Grand Lodge [which is framed quite in the " stick to the form " manner com- mented on by Brother James Marshall in his "Winter with Robert Burns," page 67], contains no reference whatever to " Caledonia's Bard." There is proof of the event notwithstanding.

Quite on same grounds Grand Secretary might assert that the Lodge St. David, Edinburgh, No. 36, DID NOT elect Gavin Wilson to the office of Poet Laureate of that Lodge, simply because the Secretary had not recorded such event, and there is no statement in any of the minutes of that Lodge during all its history showing that Gavin Wilson had been Poet Laureate. Yet there is absolute proof that Brother Gavin Wilson was Poet Laureate of the Lodge St. David, Edinburgh.

Quite on same grounds Grand Secretary might assert that the Town Council of the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow DID NOT admit Burns as a Burgess and Guild Brother on i6th November, 1787, simply because the Town Clerk of that ancient Burgh omitted to record such important event in his minute of that date, and because Burns never mentioned the circumstance in any of his writings. Nevertheless, it was proved on 4th January, 1859, that the Poet had such honour conferred on him, and that he duly received his burgess ticket, which was produced on the latter date.

Reverting to my comments on the " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings 2gth " December 1892," I quote the following passage from that document : —

" As will be seen in the printed copy of the correspondence between Brothers Allan " Mackenzie, the Historian of No. 2, and William Officer, now submitted, Grand Secretary " asserts that the statements made to him were unfounded, and that it is clearly estab- " lished that the story of the Installation of Burns as Poet Laureate is a myth."

These are utterly gratuitous and unfounded assertions by Grand Secretary.

In the course of this evidence I shall expose many of the very gross errors con- tained throughout the fifty-three pages of adverse criticism of the Burns' Laureateship, occurring in " the printed copy of the correspondence," which Grand Secretary appears to consider a supreme authority on this question.

Brother Mackenzie's correspondent concludes all he had to say by the letter dated i5th October, 1889, in which he made the following extraordinary assertion

8

respecting one of the statements which had special reference to the testimony of Bro. William Petrie, contained in my letter to Brother D. Murray Lyon, dated yth February,

1873-

"Coming from such a source it was accepted without enquiry as correct, and 11 misled our eminent historian?*

I may here point out that the author of the History of the Lodge of Edinburgh [Mary's Chapel] does not appear to have discovered any occasionto change his belief in Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning from such belief as expressed in his History, until the correspondence regarding the Laureateship had been continued some time in the columns of The Freemason, — that is, until any date from November 1888 to January 1889.

That correspondence was begun shortly after the publication in 1888 of Brother Allan Mackenzie's History of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, — which contained a reproduction of my letter on the Laureateship, dated ^th February, 1873. It was begun by a letter appearing in The Freemason, dated i4th November, 1888 [pages 9 to 21 of " the printed correspondence "], calling in question what had been stated in my said letter as it had appeared in Brother Mackenzie's history relative to Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Ere long Brother D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, contributed to the discussion, in The Freemason, a letter, dated February i2th, 1889 \yide page 36 of "the printed corres- pondence"], in which he professed to discredit the fact of Burns having been Poet Laureate, and asserted that he, Grand Secretary, " made a serious mistake " in accepting the statements made in my letter to him of 7th February, 1873. Grand Secretary concluded his letter by ominously saying, " I shall take the first opportunity in my power of cor- recting the statement I then too readily adopted."

In proof of those statements of mine relative to his comparatively recent change of opinion, I quote portion of a letter from Brother D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, which appeared in the Scotsman newspaper towards the close of the year 1886. The letter was dated i4th December, 1886, and was printed under the headline — " Was the Ettrick Shepherd a Freemason?" Grand Secretary answered the question in a very erroneous manner. In the meantime I need only quote one part of his answer, which is so far correct ; — I shall give an account of the remaining part further on : —

" Hogg did become a Freemason, and his association with the Lodge Canongate " Kilwinning is at once peculiar and interesting. In treating of Burns' connection with " a distinguished Lodge in my History of Freemasonry in Scotland (1873), I wrote — " 'The Laureateship is again referred to in the minute of i6th January 1835, which " ' records the restoration in the person of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, of the " 'honorary office of Poet Laureate of the Lodge, which had been in abeyance since the " ' death of the immortal brother Robert Burns.' "

From this it is perfectly obvious that towards the close of the year 1886 Grand Secretary had a thorough belief in the fact that Burns had been Poet Laureate of Lodge

* Quoted from page 66 of " the printed correspondence."

Canongate Kilwinning, and there is no reason to doubt that he had continued "stead- fast in the faith " from the time of our correspondence in 1873, until certainly the date of said letter from him of i4th December, 1886, and very probably until he resolved to contribute his letter, dated i2th February, 1889, to the correspondence of The Freemason in support of the adverse views regarding the Laureateship contended for by the Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh [Mary's Chapel].

The story about the Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning having " MISLED OUR EMINENT HISTORIAN" was published last year in two varieties at widely different times, and from two very different sources.

The following reproductions exhibit a singular resemblance between them : —

As Narrated by THE AUTHOR of " PRE- FATORY NOTE " to " THE PRINTED COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE."

June 1892.

" About twenty years ago Brother David Murray Lyon, then a well-known and active masonic student, agreed to write a HISTORY OF THE LODGE OF EDIN- BURGH (MARY'S CHAPEL), No. T, which undertaking ultimately resulted in his admirable ' History of Free- masonry in Scotland. ' At that time the writer was Master of that Lodge, and rendered some help to Bro. Lyon in the production of his History, and, while examining the minute-books and other writings of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, found that the Office of Poet Laureate had no existence in the Lodge during the Poet's lifetime, nor until many years after his lamented death, and that the Lodge's minutes were absolutely silent on the subject.

" Bro. Murray Lyon having considered the matter, formed the opinion that Burns never was elected to, and never held the office of, Poet Laureate of the Lodge, and never was installed into such an office. His views becoming known to its Office-bearers, by their instructions the Secretary of the Lodge questioned the soundness of his opinion, and laid a statement before him embodying alleged facts, which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed. As will be seen in this correspondence,

he now states that the statements submitted to him were unfounded, and that it is clearly established that Burns never was elected or held the office of Poet Laureate of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and that his " installation " never took place."

As Narrated by GRAND SECRETARY in

the "EXTRACT FROM GRAND LODGE

PROCEEDINGS."

2gth December, 1892.

"The story of the inauguration was never chal- lenged until 1873, when the

present Grand Secretary, while preparing his ' History of Freemasonry in Scotland,'

and after a minute examination of Canongate Kil- winning's records,

formed the opinion that Burns never was elected to, and never held the Office of, Poet-Laureate of the Lodge, and never was installed into such an Office. His views having become known to its Office-bearers, by their instructions the Secretary of the Lodge questioned the soundness of his opinion, and laid a statement before him embodying alleged facts, which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed. As will be seen in the printed copy of the correspon- dence between Brothers Allan Mackenzie, the historian of No. 2, and William Officer, now submitted, Grand Secretary asserts that the statements made to him were unfounded, and that it is clearly established that

the story of the installation of

[NOTE. — The Editor of "the printed copy of the correspondence," which was submitted by Grand Secretary to Grand Committee, December 29th, 1892, prepared his readers for error by the extra- ordinary heading to his title-page,— to wit,—

" BURNS,

" POET-LAUREATE OF CANONGATE KILWINNING, "A MYTH."]

Burns,

as Poet Laureate.

is a myth.

IV.

FACTS WORTH KNOWING

About the LETTER Written to BROTHER D. MURRAY LYON by the SECRETARY OF LODGE CANON GATE KILWINNING, 7th February 1873.*

At the time that my correspondence with Brother David Murray Lyon was begun, I had not been half-a-year Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Nevertheless, I have every reason to be gratified by the fact that, within two weeks after receiving Bro. Lyon's brief reply to me, dated 24th Jany., 1873, containing the imperative injunction, "COMMUNICATE AT ONCE," I had so thoroughly mastered the subject as to write him, on 7th February 1873, that letter which was cordially approved of by the Lodge Committee, and has been approved of by every impartial reader since then, and which is allowed to contain — so far as it goes — [in the absence, through gross neglect by the Lodge Secretary of 1787, of any record of the inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate], a well-reasoned and conclusive chain of evidence in support of the time-honoured belief that such event took place on the ist March 1787. The opportunity of contributing more information by letter was denied me.

New as the matter was to me in the year 1873, I was careful not to be hurried into making any assertions on the subject without having obtained most satisfac- tory evidence regarding them ; hence it is, that in the whole argument throughout my letter, in its main lines, and wherein I make distinct and emphatic statements, that letter stands to this day — and will stand in all time coming — irrefutable.

That letter was well founded — mainly upon various records of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, also upon the earnest and assured personal statements made to me by prominent old members hereinafter named, who formed the Lodge Committee, concerning facts communicated to them by brethren who had shared in the Lodge events of 1787, and further [by recognition and approval of said committee], upon Brother James Marshall's narrative in " A Winter with Robert J3urns," the testimony contained in which valuable little work has not been in any degree affected by all the strong assertions and weak arguments advanced by Brother Mackenzie's disputant in The Freemason, and reproduced in " the printed copy of the correspondence " submitted by Grand Secretary, 2Qth December 1892.

Long as that letter of mine is, any reader may easily observe that the subject of it was not exhausted. It will be seen that I offered to communicate further, but Bro. Lyon did not give me the opportunity. In his response, dated nth Feb., 1873 (vide

* A copy of that letter will be found in Part II., page 57.

t Copy of the Correspondence occurs in Part II., pages 55 to 6l.

II

Part II., page 61), he said he recognised " the satisfactory nature of the evidence " which I had submitted, and would "have pleasure in giving effect to it " in his forthcoming work ; and, in answer to a request of mine [made with a view to further correspondence] for a copy or proof of what he intended saying as to Burns and the Lodge Canongate Kil- winning, he wrote — "The delay which has occurred on your part prevents my being able to submit a slip of my remarks, the printers being close up to that particular part of my MS." Of course that closed the correspondence. I had no wish to press my attentions upon Bro. Lyon with a word more on the subject.

Had not Brother David Murray Lyon in that very effective way cut short our 1873 correspondence, I would gladly have supplemented the testimony given in my letter with a few interesting items which I had in reserve for his information. Certainly, the very first reference I was prepared to give would have been to the engraving of Burns as it appeared then, and as it appears now on the east wall of the Lodge-room, having the date 2gth October 1798 upon it, with the prominent inscription on its old-fashioned glass mount, in large Roman characters : —

" ROBERT BURNS, THE SCOTTISH BARD,

"POET LAUREAT,

"LODGE No. 2, CANNONGATE

1 ' KIL WINNING. " *

In the year 1873 that manifestly antique engraving of our " Poet Laureat" was prized very highly by old members of the Lodge and by many interested new ones, although I, for one, was not then aware of the reference to it in the minute of 24th June 1802, which I afterwards discovered, and which I quote in Part II., page 20, of this evidence.

Although the matter is dealt with conclusively in that part of the evidence, it is well to mention in passing, that I took some trouble during 1873, in communicating with old members of that time, with the view to acquire all available information regarding the engraving above described, and the answer from each brother was, that the engraving had been exhibited in the Lodge room as long as he had been attending meetings of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Among those brethren whom I refer to as old members in 1873 were Past Master Dr Sam. Somerville of Ampherlaw, Past Master W. N. Fraser of Tornaveen, Past Master Thomas Drybrough, Past Depute-Master David Crawford, also Bro. Thos. Elder MacRitchie, whose recollections of the Lodge reached back to the year 1818, and others referred to elsewhere in these papers. During their early experiences of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, they had learnt from brethren whose membership in the Lodge, and whose recollections pertaining to it, extended to the latter years of last century, that that treasured engraving of Robert Burns as " Poet Laureat " of Canongate Kilwinning, had been in possession of the Lodge since those old days, and such fact is obviously proved by the verbal testimony communicated from brother to brother in the manner thus narrated, independently of the proof given in Pa.rt II., page 20.

* Vide Frontispiece.

V.

"THE STATEMENTS" SUBSTANTIATED

WHICH WERE CONTAINED

IN LETTER written to BROTHER D. MURRAY LYON, By the SECRETARY of LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING, ;th February 1873 ;"

AND WHICH

GRAND SECRETARY NOW asserts are " unfounded."

In the "Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 2Qth December 1892" \vide page i of Part II.], the following assertions have been made with reference to the letter which, as Secretary to Canongate Kilwinning, I wrote to Brother David Murray Lyon, 7th February 1873 : —

GRAND SECRETARY'S ASSERTIONS.

" The story of the inauguration was never challenged until 1873, when the present Grand Secretary, while preparing his ' History of Freemasonry in Scotland,' and after a minute examination of Canongate Kilwinning's records, formed the opinion that Burns never was elected to, and never held the office of, Poet Laureate of the Lodge, and never was installed into such an office. His views having become known to its office- bearers, by their instructions the Secretary of the Lodge questioned the soundness of his opinion, and laid a statement before him embodying alleged facts which he unfortunately accepted as true, and in his History modified the opinion which he had originally formed. As will be seen in the printed copy of the correspondence between Brothers Allan Mackenzie, the historian of No. 2, and William Officer, now submitted, Grand Secretary asserts that the statements made to him were unfounded, and that it is clearly established that the story of the Installation of Burns as Poet Laureate is a myth."

In illustration of the thorough accuracy of the statements made in my letter of 7th February 1873, and the erroneousness of Grand Secretary's tardy assertions against them, I will now indicate the chief statements contained in that letter, accompanied by references to the various productions in proof of same.

"THE STATEMENTS." i. In re BROTHER CHARLES MORE.

1769-1818.

One of the principal statements in my letter is with reference to Brother Charles More of the Royal Bank. It will be found in page 59 of Part II., lines 13 to 26.

Proofs of the truth of my statement can be seen in pages 12 to 35 of Part II., more particularly in pages 12 to 15, pages 22, 29, 31, 32, and 33, also in the Appendix, comprising the Chart of Office-bearers, and its Supplement showing Members of Committee.

* For copy of that letter vide Part II. page 57 : — Copy of Brother Lyon's reply to it occurs in Part II. page 61, showing that he recognised "the satisfactory nature of the evidence" which I had then submitted.

13

Brother Charles More was Depute Master of Canongate Kilwinning from June 1784 till June 1787. He was constant in his attendance at meetings of the Lodge during the Burns' period, and he signed, as Depute Master, every one of the minutes of that time to which any signature has been appended, as is proved by the minutes at pages 12 to 15 of Part II. ; he was constantly a member of the Lodge Committee from 1784 to 1817, as is proved by authenticated particulars contained in the Supplement to Chart in Appendix ; and he was closely associated with Brother William Campbell, Writer to the Signet, and other eminent men, while this century was young, as may be seen at pages 21, 22, and pages 25 to 29 of Part II.

He was the same Brother Charles More who, while still a Member of Committee in the year 1815, seconded a resolution relative to a subscription of twenty guineas towards a mausoleum to the memory of " the lamented Bard ROBERT BURNS," because- ROBERT BURNS " HAD BEEN POET LAUREAT TO THE LODGE."

Proof of the fact that Brother Charles More seconded such resolution will be seen in the minute of " Meeting of the General Committee of this Lodge," held upon the 8th June 1815, which is quoted in pages 31 and 32 of Part II.

Grand Secretary has not ventured to impugn directly the clear testimony of Brother Charles More which connects and binds indissolubly the Lodge events of 1815 — referring to the memory of Burns — with those of 1787, when the brethren had Burns present with them. Nevertheless, Grand Secretary does impugn by implication all such testimony in making his bald, unfounded assertions against "the statements" in my letter of 7th February 1873.

But, it is undeniable, that, unless Grand Secretary can prove that Brother Charles More — whom the brethren delighted to honour throughout so very many years — had ever uttered an untruth, or deceived any person, or conducted himself in any other manner dishonourably, unbecoming a gentleman and a mason, the testimony given by said Brother CHARLES MORE on 8th June 1815 above referred to MUST BE ACCEPTED AS TRUE."

Brother Charles More's testimony is of considerable value to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and Brother D. Murray Lyon evidently thought so too when he wrote me nth February 1873, acknowledging receipt of my letter, vide Part II., page 61. In that reply of his (which closed the correspondence), he thanked me for " the very full state- ment" I had made, but asserted that he would "not require to alters, single sentence of what" he "had previously written," and pointedly added, "the report to which you have twice alluded must certainly have been exaggerated." Nevertheless, on the publication of his History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i, I found that Brother D. Murray Lyon had embodied minor items of information verbatim et literatim within the text matter of his book which were supplied to him in my letter of 7th February 1873, while he carefully relegated the special information contained in said letter relative to Brother Charles More's important testimony [which had evidently escaped Brother Lyon's notice when making his " minute examination of Canongate Kilwinning's records "], to a laconic footnote in page 334 of his history.

Brother Charles More's testimony to Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of the Lodge, as above indicated, is conclusive.

14

2. In re BROTHER WILLIAM CAMPBELL. 1787-1801-1849.

Another of the chief statements in my letter of 7th February 1873 is with reference to "Brother William Campbell, Writer to her Majesty's Signet — that is, an Edinburgh solicitor" — as is carefully but very inaccurately defined in page 47 of "the printed correspondence," by the Editor of that compilation.

I need not recapitulate the statement here ; it will be found in the copy of my letter at page 60 of Part II., lines 4 to 22. Much of my evidence in support of it is given in Part II., page 21, pages 25 to 29, and pages 41 and 21, also in page 49.

Brother Mackenzie's Correspondent of The Freemason, in his undated letter repro- duced at page 48 of "the printed correspondence," says, regarding Brother William Campbell : — " We are told that he was a travelling companion of the Poet's in 1787, when he was in his eleventh year ! and that at Auchtertyre, in 1787, he 'spent two of the most happy days !' Is it credible that Burns associated himself with, and made a companion and friend of, a child, and took that child as a companion on the long journey, which, by the way, was made on horseback ? "

" But Brother Campbell's statement is contradicted by all the biographers of Burns, who state that he made this journey in company with Dr Adair only; and Brother Mackenzie himself, in his History (page 115), says the same thing. In Dr Adair's own account of it, he states — ' Burns and /left Edinburgh together in August 77^7.* We rode by Linlithgow and Carron to Stirling. We visited the ironworks at Carron, with which the Poet was forcibly struck,' and so on. Brother Campbell's name is never mentioned as having accompanied them, nor is his presence at Auchtertyre referred to. The statement that Brother Campbell ' spent two of the most happy days with him ' (Burns), shows an intimacy between the two which would have led to some notice having been taken of Campbell by the Poet and Dr Adair in their writings, had such existed ; and the expression is not such as would have been used by one who was but a child when the intercourse to which it refers occurred."

The author of that quotation " concludes his extraordinary flight of imagination thus : — " If, then, it be untrue that Brother Campbell travelled with the Poet, as the minute of the Lodge states, no reliance can be placed otherwise on his testimony."

What transparent sophistry is that of Brother Allan Mackenzie's Correspondent of

The Freemason, in view of the incontrovertible fact that Brother William Campbell never said

HOW, or WHERE, or WHEN, he travelled with Burns I Brother Campbell never said that he

TRAVELLED FROM EDINBURGH TO AUCHTERTYRE with Burns. He never spoke of any

journey ON HORSEBACK with Burns ! !

In corroboration of my words, I refer to the minute of meeting held i2th November 1845, page 42 of Part II., wherein it is reported that Brother William Campbell, in seconding the motion with reference to the Inauguration Picture, said of Robert Burns that he (Bro. Campbell) "had travelled in his company, and spent two of the most happy days with him at Auchtertyre Castle, the seat of Sir William Murray." That is all that is "recorded in the minutes of Canongate Kilwinning, or has been alleged by me, as to Brother William Campbell having travelled with Burns.

* Such journey of Burns and Dr Adair was not undertaken till October 1787.

15

Hence we find that the airy argument, and the illusory data upon which it was professedly founded — as quoted from page 48 of " the printed correspondence " — have originated solely from the fertile fancy of Brother Mackenzie's correspondent.

In the endeavour made by Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason to minimise the obviously valuable testimony of Brother William Campbell, much capital is sought to be made out of the circumstance of him having been in the year 1787 a boy, or, as is said by the correspondent, "a child," of only eleven years of age. He is referred to three times in the above brief quotation as " a child," of course, in order to impress the reader with a due sense of the extreme juvenility of the boy William Campbell, who was one of the company at Auchtertyre during the visit of Robert Burns.

There was about that time another mere boy, called WALTER SCOTT [who cannot be spoken of as a child, although he was then barely four years older than William Campbell]. He once met Robert Burns, and, after an interval of forty-three years, wrote thus of him : — *

"I was a lad of fifteen in 1786-7, when he came first to Edinburgh, but had sense and feeling enough to be much interested in his poetry, and would have given the world to know him ; but I had very little acquaintance with any literary people, and still less with the gentry of the west country — the two sets that he most frequented. Mr Thomas Grierson was at that time a clerk of my father's. He knew Burns, and promised to ask him to his lodgings to dinner, but had no opportunity to keep his word, otherwise I might have seen more of this distinguished man. As it was, I saw him one day at the late venerable Professor Fergusson's, where there were several gentlemen of literary reputation, among whom I remember the celebrated Mr Dugald Stewart. Of course, we youngsters sat silent, looked, and listened. The only thing I remember which was remarkable in Burns' manner, was the effect produced upon him by a print of Bunbury's representing a soldier lying dead on the snow, his dog sitting in misery on the one side, on the other, his widow, with a child in her arms. These lines were written beneath : —

" ' Cold on Canadian hills, or Minden's plains, Perhaps that parent wept her soldier slain ; Bent o'er her babe, her eye dissolved in dew, The big drops mingling with the milk he drew, Gave the sad presage of his future years, The child of misery baptized in tears. '

" Burns seemed much affected by the print, or rather, the ideas which it suggested to his mind. He actually shed tears. He asked whose the lines were, and it chanced that nobody but myself remembered that they occur in a half- forgotten poem of Lang- horne's, called by the unpromising title of ' The Justice of the Peace.' I whispered my information to a friend present, who mentioned it to Burns, who rewarded me with a look and a word, which, though of mere civility, I then received, and still recollect, with very great pleasure."

* What is now quoted was written for Lockhart's " Life of Sir Walter Scott."

i6

Part of the above extract appeared in " Life and Works of Robert Burns," by Mr Robert Chambers, second vol., page 57, along with additional matter: from the latter I quote as follows : —

" Sir Adam Ferguson favours me with some particulars of the visit of Burns to his father's house on this occasion. It was the custom of Dr Ferguson to have a conver- sazione at his house in the Sheens* once a week for his principal literary friends. Pro- fessor Stewart on this occasion offered to bring Burns, a proposal to which Dr Ferguson readily assented. The poet found himself amongst the most brilliant literary society which Edinburgh then afforded. Sir Adam thinks that Black, Hutton, and John Home were amongst those present. He had himself brought his young friend WALTER SCOTT, as yet unnoticed by his seniors. Burns seemed at first little inclined to mingle easily in the company ; he went about the room, looking at the pictures on the walls. The print described by Scott arrested his attention ; he read aloud the lines underneath, but before getting to the end of them his voice faltered and his big black eye filled with tears. A little after, he turned with much interest to the company, pointed to the picture, arid with some eagerness asked if any one could tell him who had written those affecting lines. The philosophers were silent ; no one knew : but after a decent interval, the pale lame boy near by said, in a negligent manner : ' They're written by one Lang- horne.' An explanation of the place where they occur followed, and Burns fixed a look of half serious interest on the youth, while he said : ' You'll be a man yet, sir.' Scott may be said to have derived literary ordination from Burns."

'• Somewhere about the very day on which the interview above referred to happened, Francis Jeffrey, then a lad of thirteen, was going up the High Street of Edinburgh, and staring diligently about him, was attracted by the appearance of a man whom he saw standing on the pavement. He was taking a good and attentive view of the object of his curiosity, when some one idling at a shop-door tapped him on the shoulder, and said, * Ay, laddie, ye may weel look at that man ! That's Robert Burns.'"f

Reverting to the Auchtertyre episode, it is worthy of note that Brother Mackenzie's correspondent, — in his vain efforts to make out Brother William Campbell to have been untruthful, — says in his letter of 1 2th January 1889 — copy of which is in "the printed copy of the correspondence," page 30 : —

" We are told that Brother William Campbell, ata meeting of the Lodge on the 1 2th November 18454 stated that he had ' had many opportunities of giving testimony in favour of the particulars referred to, that he had travelled in company with Hums, and spent two of the most happy days with him at Auchtertyre Castle.'"

" Whether Brother Campbell met Burns as here stated I have no means of knowing. Certainly, he did not travel with Burns to Auchtertyre, and Burns, in his letters written from that place and elsewhere, makes no mention of this Brother."

Brother Mackenzie's correspondent, according to the latter paragraph, professes that he had " no means of knowing whether Brother Campbell met Burns :" he ought not to forget that the " means of knowing " were contained in the paragraph which he had just

* Sciennes. t Ex. The Scottish Nation, Div. iii. p. 511. \ Vide Part II. pp. 42 and 60.

quoted, containing words from the minute of i2th November 1845, setting forth that Brother William Campbell " had travelled in company with Burns, and spent two of the most happy days with him at Auchtertyre Castle." The correspondent asserts that Campbell "did not travel with Burns to Auchtertyre." Brother Campbell never said he travelled with Burns to Auchtertyre. He may have done so nevertheless, but not necessarily from Edinburgh; and, as to the assertion that "Burns in his letters written from that place, and elsewhere, makes no mention of this Brother " — it goes for absolutely nothing, as is proved by the well-known fact that Robert Burns never mentioned in any of his letters, or other writings, the very memorable and noteworthy incident narrated in the quotations given at pages 15 and 16 ante, of his having met "the pale, lame BOY," WALTER SCOTT.

Relative to the bright times of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning comprised within the years 1801, 1802, and 1803, when Brother William Campbell was a prominent office-bearer, it is well to mention a few of the distinguished brethren frequenting the Lodge who were his associates. Among them all he was welcomed and honoured — proved by the fact that, on the first annual election, 24th June 1801, after he became a member he was elected Senior Warden, and, on 24th June 1802, he was further honoured by being again elected to that office.

I shall here only refer to the following brethren as his associates at that period : — *

HENRY BROUGHAM, Advocate, admitted to the Scottish Bar in the year 1800 ;

joined the Lodge a few months before William Campbell was initiated ;

practised several years in Edinburgh; removed to London, 1807; in

1808 became a barrister in London, and ultimately Lord High

Chancellor. Lord Brougham was the second member of Canongate

Kilwinning who attained such eminence. JAMES BROUGHAM, Writer, who had been initiated in 1797, a brother of

Henry Brougham. DR ALEXANDER ADAM, Rector of the High School; author of Roman

Antiquities," etc.; initiated 1771. DUGALD STEWART, Professor of Mathematics; initiated 1775, an intimate

friend of Burns. HONOURABLE HENRY ERSKINE, Advocate; R.W.M., 1780, who introduced

Robert Burns to the Lodge, and to the elite of Edinburgh Society. JAMES GREGORY, M.D., Professor of the Practice of Physic in the University

of Edinburgh.

JOHN LEYDEN, Poet and Orientalist. JOHN HORNER, junior, York Place; E.P.R., April 1802.

AND LEONARD HORNER, F.R.S., son of Mr John Homer, an Edinburgh merchant,

and brother to above-named John Horner, junior, was initiated in

Canongate Kilwinning while Brother William Campbell was still Senior

* For office-bearers and a few other brethren who were Brother Campbell's associates, vide Part II. pages 20 to 29.

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Warden. He was at this time an intimate and valued friend of Lord Brougham, as also of all the other brethren above named.

In Cockburn's " Life of Lord Jeffrey " much is said about his friend Leonard Homer, who is therein referred to as " the most enlightened and active of our citizens."

In evidence that Brother Leonard Homer's masonic sympathies were not confined solely to the Canongate Kilwinning, it will be deemed of interest to mention that the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho, No. 85, have a very handsome Bible in use at the present time, bearing the following inscription : —

To the Lodge

of

KIRKNEWTON AND RATHO,

As a testimony of the regard

Of their loving Brother

LEONARD HORNER, Elected an Honorary Member

Of their Lodge, 3oth September 1803.

As illustrating Leonard Homer's other associations with the above mentioned brethren and other eminent men at this time, it is mentioned in Cockburn's " Life of Jeffrey," that in 1803 a club was started, called "The Friday Club," of literary and social men. " The idea was Walter Scott's," and consisted of Sir Walter Scott, DUGALD STEWART, Sidney Smith, Francis Jeffrey, HENRY BROUGHAM, Francis Horner, M.P. for St. Ives, and his brother LEONARD HORNER.

In Laurie's "History of Freemasonry," page 193, it is recorded that, "At the Quarterly Communication on 4th February 1822, a letter was read from LEONARD HORNER, Esq., Secretary to the Edinburgh School of Arts, thanking the Grand Lodge for the very liberal manner in which they had granted the use of the Hall for the accommodation of that institution."

The work entitled " Cockburn's Memorials " contains statements with regard to the School of Arts, and to LEONARD HORNER having originated or opened that institution in the year 1821, thus — " If not the first, it was certainly the second establishment of the kind in Britain. The whole merit, both of its conception, and of its first three or four years' management, was due to Leonard Horner. His good sense, mildness, and purity made it a favourite with the reasonable of all parties and classes."

" Leonard Horner was Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the Geological Society, London, and for some time Warden of the London University."

Of his literary compositions, the work for which he has been most esteemed is entitled, " Memoirs and Correspondence of Francis Horner, M.P., edited by his brother Leonard Horner, Esq., F.R.S."

One day, in course of a walk that Lord Cockburn had with Leonard Horner on the Pentland Hills, between the two the idea was projected of the Edinburgh Academy. Thereafter they enlisted Sir Walter Scott, Henry Mackenzie, and others into the scheme, and within a few days the sum of ^10,000 was subscribed for it. The Academy was opened on ist October 1824.

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The School of Arts, in the year 1851, adopted the title of The Watt Institution and School of Arts, which ultimately developed into the Heriot-Watt College, situate in Chambers' Street. One of the pieces of statuary on the portico of that building is a memorial of George Heriot, the other commemorates LEONARD HORNER.

I have named only a few of the very distinguished men who were associates of Brother WILLIAM CAMPBELL during the eventful and brilliant period of the Lodge's history included in the first three or four years of this century. His companion office-bearers, who were all worthy brethren likewise, are chronicled in pages 28 and 29 of Part II., and still more fully in Appendix.

Brother William Campbell was second son of Sir James Campbell of Aberuchil,* Baronet, whom Robert Burns visited when on one of his Highland tours ; was born 1776; admitted a Writer to His Majesty's Signet, 1800; became a full member of Canongate Kilwinning, April i, 1801; had made such progress in masonry, that the brethren elected him Senior Warden on 24th June same year; re-elected, 1802. Married (i), 5th January 1804, Eliza, daughter of William Hunter, Esq., of Glen- ormiston ; and (2), 25th October 1820, Jane, second daughter of Hugh Cleghorn, Esq., of Stravithie, Fifeshire. He had an honourable career in his profession of almost half a century. He died 28th April 1849.

The foregoing paragraph will doubtless prove interesting and instructive. From it and the previous matter it is seen that Brother William Campbell occupied a prominent position amongst men of the highest honour and integrity, and was much esteemed by them; therefore, unless Grand Secretary can prove that this respected brother ever uttered an untruth, or ever misconducted himself, or behaved otherwise than as a gentleman and a mason, the testimony borne by Brother William Campbell, in 1845, to Robert Burns having been elected and inaugurated Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, MUST BE ACCEPTED AS TRUE.

3. In re BROTHER WILLIAM PETRIE. 1787-1845.

The statement made in my letter to Brother D. Murray Lyon in 1873, relative to Brother William Petrie, appears in copy of the letter, at page 60 of Part II. ; it is brief, and had better be quoted here : —

" I have had conversation on this matter" (the Laureateship) " with a distinguished member of the Canongate Kilwinning, who has been connected with it for more than five-and-thirty years, and who stands high in the craft " [this brother, as explained in a footnote, was Past Master Dr Samuel Somerville of Ampherlaw.] " He knew Brother William Petrie of our Lodge, who had been present at the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate, and has heard from his lips many very interesting reminiscences of the Poet, and of events which had occurred in the Lodge when there in company with him."

Past Master Samuel Somerville of Ampherlaw, M.D., who, in 1873 and onwards,

* Aberuchil, in Strathearn, Perthshire, is distant only a few miles west from Auchtertyre, where Burns stayed two days.

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communicated such information on repeated occasions to me regarding Brother William Petrie, was a highly esteemed and influential member of the craft. Not only had he a long-continued and loyal association with Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, through several of the chief offices to that of Right Worshipful Master, but, for years he was First Principal of the Canongate Kilwinning Royal Arch Chapter, for years held prominent offices in the Supreme R. A. Chapter, and took much interest in the Temple Priory of the Lothians, of which he was a distinguished member, as well as of other masonic Orders. He began his masonic career, October 14, 1840, in the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and very many brethren of this and other Lodges and Orders have to this day pleasant recollections of him. Past Master Somerville had been an intimate friend of Brother William Campbell, W.S., who had spent two days with Burns at Auchtertyre. Past Master Somerville was present at the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge meeting along with all the other chief office-bearers, on i2th November 1845, when Brother William Campbell seconded the motion for having the Inauguration Picture painted.

It was this worthy Past Master Somerville who communicated to me, in the year 1873, the information which I gave regarding William Petrie, in my letter of 7th February that year. No person at that time would have thought of doubting Dr Somerville's word. He is now dead ; and the bald, unsupported assertion, to the effect that the " statement " concerning Brother William Petrie is " unfounded," does not come at this late period with a very good grace.

I distinctly and emphatically re-affirm the statement made in my letter, dated 7th February 1873, regarding brother William Petrie, which was acknowledged, along with the other matter communicated, in the following words of Brother D. Murray Lyon's letter to me, dated nth February 1873 : — " I recognise the satisfactory nature of the evidence you have submitted, and shall have pleasure in giving effect to it in my forthcoming work."

Why did Brother D. Murray Lyon not object to Past Master Somerville's testi- mony while that worthy brother was alive ?

The testimony given on this subject by the late Past Master Samuel Somerville, which I reported to Brother D. Murray Lyon in 1873, and now re-affirm, was, in its main features, set forth very clearly by Brother James Marshall in his " Winter with Robert Burns." At page 91 of that valuable memorial of the Inauguration, we are informed that the compiler visited Brother William Petrie in November 1845, accom- panied by Brother Stewart Watson, the artist of the Inauguration Picture. Brother Watson remarked that "he" (Brother Petrie) " would remember Robert Burns? The name operated like electricity;" . . . "and he reiterated — Rabbie Burns! mind Rabbie ! I'll no forget him, puir fallow ! Eh, but he was the life o' the Lodge."

More details of this interesting interview will be found in Part II., page 50.

Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason made a great mistake in attempting to disparage, or in affecting to discredit, .the matter he found at page 121 of Brother Mackenzie's History of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, containing a special reference to Brother William Petrie, as it had appeared in my letter of 7th February 1873. The correspondent would have done wisely had he left the matter alone, but,

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in his letter dated i5th October 1889, as may be seen at page 65 of "the printed correspondence," he quotes the statement of Brother Samuel Somerville of Ampherlaw from my letter, and goes on to argue from it as follows : —

" This statement, if true, would be conclusive of the question, for it expressly states that Petrie witnessed the act of inauguration ! But, like every other statement made in support of this contention, it does not bear the test of investigation. The statement was originally made in 1873, in a letter to Brother David Murray Lyon, by Brother H. C. Peacock, who was then, and for several years subsequently, Secretary of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and custodian of its records. Coming from such a source, it was accepted without inquiry as correct, and MISLED OUR EMINENT HISTORIAN."

" Brother Peacock appears to have made the statement without the slightest inquiry, for Brother William Petrie was not, as he stated, a member of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 1787. He is neither recorded as such in the books of the Lodge nor in the register of its members in Grand Lodge."

At this point in the quotation from the letter of Brother Mackenzie's corres- pondent I must protest against such loose assertions. I never alleged that Brother William Petrie was a member of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 1787. The words of that portion of my letter can be seen at page 60 of Part II. I refer therein to " Brother William Petrie of our Lodge, who had been present at the Inauguration of " Burns as Poet Laureate." Brother William Petrie was most assuredly " of our Lodge" because, — without taking into consideration Brother James Marshall's statement in 1845, at Pa£e 91 of " A Winter with Burns," regarding "William Petrie, who was initiated during 1787, and had acted as serving brother and as tiler to this and other Lodges during the greater part of the intervening period," he had most certainly been 11 of our Lodge" for the reason which I prove — that William Petrie and Robert Stewart were tylers to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning from the year 1835 to 1845. The evidence of this is beyond all possibility of truthful contradiction. I refer to the chart of office- bearers in Appendix for abundant proof of it with details. Any one who desires further satisfaction will find it in the Lodge records. It is possible that Petrie may have been only a "visiting brother" when he attended the various meetings in 1786-87 at which Robert Burns was present ; but it is quite probable that he may have been even then a member of the Lodge — I cannot say. Some quidnunc might tell me that James Marshall did not state distinctly that Petrie was "initiated during 1787" in the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. I have nothing to do with that. On this question it is clear that the historian of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), and the indefatigable Past Master of that Lodge, who claims to have helped him in the history, have signally failed to prove that this statement of mine relative to William Petrie is " unfounded."

The bold assertion made by Brother Mackenzie's correspondent, to the effect that Brother William Petrie is neither recorded as a member of Canongate Kilwinning " in " the books of the Lodge nor in the register of its members in Grand Lodge," is worthy of no consideration. Everybody knows the laxity with which entries were made in the minute books of Lodges during last century. Most of us in Canongate Kilwinning know that fifteen of our Right Worshipful Masters do not appear at all in

22

the records as to when they were admitted members of the Lodge. Yet, there can be no doubt that they must have been duly E.P. and R., or duly affiliated from some other Lodge, otherwise they could never have been promoted to the chair of Canongate Kilwinning. What, then, may we not assume as the fact regarding Brother William Petrie, seeing we have only in the minute-books the bare record of him as Tyler during the years 1835 to 1845, while we have reliable independent testimony from two sources that he was present in the Lodge at meetings during the year 1787? Brother James Marshall, who was personally well acquainted with William Petrie in the year 1845, vouched for him as having been " initiated during 1787." I leave that evidence as I find it in the " Winter with Robert Burns," and, despite the correspondent's over- confident assertions to the contrary, claim Brother William Petrie as having been a member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, simply from the fact just stated, that in the records he appears year by year, from 1835 to 1845, appointed one of the Tylers of Canongate Kilwinning. Evidence of his election as one of the Tylers on 24th June 1835 will be seen at page 40 of Part II. Before me, while I write, are the accounts of the Lodge Treasurer for the period -igth July 1839 to i5th June 1840; and, under the heads of " Discharge, Branch IX," " Tyler's Salaries," I find the following items, proving, independently of the minutes, Petrie's connection with the Lodge: —

" 1839.

" Dec. 27. Paid Wm. Petrie half-year's salary to Christmas . . .£1100

" 1840.

" Jany. 31. Paid R. Stewart half-year's salary to do. . 440

" June 12. Paid do half-year's do. to 24th inst. . . 440

" ,, Paid Wm. Petrie do. do. to do. . i 10 o

" Sum . £n 8 c."

As already stated, the earliest record in the minutes of William Petrie having been one of the Tylers of the Lodge is 24th June 1835, but there is every reason for believing that he must have been admitted a member of the Lodge long before that period in regular form, and was frequent at Canongate Kilwinning meetings.

Nevertheless, William Petrie does not appear recorded as a member, which circum- stance leads me to conclude that Brother James Marshall may be quite correct in the statement occurring at page 91 of the "Winter with Robert Burns," to the effect that "he, after the remit in November 1845, visited William Petrie, who was initiated during "1787, and had acted as serving brother and tiler to this and other lodges during the "greater part of the intervening period." Although William Petrie does not appear on record as one of the entrants or affiliates of the year 1787, that is not surprising after what is learned in these papers of the lamentable neglect of Canongate Kilwinning records during the years 1786, 1787, and 1788.

Incidentally, in looking over one of the Lodge accounts of the year 1835, the following interesting items : —

" 1835. Feb. 6. Paid Wm. Petrie to get a white neckcloth, .010 » » Paid for pair of Shoes and Buckles for Tyler, . o 9 6."

23

This extract from the records shows that William Petrie was connected with the Lodge prior to the date when he was first recorded as being appointed Tyler.

Doubtless, if I could devote the time and attention required to exhume more items such as these from old accounts, old letters, and other material among the archives of the Lodge, much valuable information could be derived on this matter, which no amount of careful scrutiny poring over the minute books, upon which our two controversialists affect to rely so much, would ever reveal.

Past Master Sam. Somerville of Ampherlaw, M.D., who frequently in the year 1873 informed me of William Petrie's reminiscences of Lodge events which occurred last century, and especially of his having been present on occasion of the Inauguration in 1787, — was very regular in attendance at meetings of Canongate Kilwinning for several years before Brother William Petrie died (1845), and therefore had many special oppor- tunities of acquiring information from him about old times in the Lodge.

At page 66 of " the printed correspondence," Brother Mackenzie's disputant goes on to say, with reference to Brother William Petrie in 1787, as follows : —

" He was then a mere youth in humble circumstances. He was a TAILOR by trade, and he never rose in it, in so far as I have been able to discover, above the rank of a journeyman or operative. His social circumstances were very different from those (sic) who formed the membership of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. They were all (?) men of high social and professional position, and most unlikely to identify their associa- tions and surroundings with a youth of Petrie's stamp."

The above much exaggerated affirmation — so very confidently made — as to the "high social and professional position" of all the brethren of 1787, is not likely to be favourably appreciated by the brethren of " professional position" or even by any brethren who may perchance \\a.\e patrician sympathies in the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning of the present day.

Such a style of composition as I have now quoted was very different from that of Robert Burns ! His style, when descanting on such a theme, was this : —

"The honest man, though e'er so poor, Is king o' men for a' that."

Past Master Somerville, of Ampherlaw, Past Master Thomas Drybrough, and other old members of the Lodge, who had known William Petrie well, placed implicit reliance in his statements relative to Robert Burns and old times in the Canon- gate Kilwinning ; also, Brother Stewart Watson, who painted the inauguration picture, and Brother James Marshall, who wrote " A Winter with Robert Burns," had likewise implicit faith in the words of William Petrie, as uttered by him in course of their inter- view, described at page 20 ante, otherwise the narrative of that interview would not have appeared in the " Winter with Robert Burns."

Therefore, until it can be proved that William Petrie was not a truthful or not an honest man, I claim that his statements, — as reported by Brother James Marshall and Past Master Somerville, — must be accepted as true in every particular.

I have proved throughout these pages that the strictures indulged in by Brother

24

Mackenzie's correspondent regarding William Petrie are absolutely " unfounded," so far, at least, as the reference to his association with Canongate Kilwinning is concerned.

In contrast to the correspondent's vain and unworthy attempt to undervalue Bro. William Petrie, and to disparage the obvious worth of his testimony — merely because it so happened that he was "A TAILOR by trade, and he never rose in it, — in so far as / [Bro. Mackenzie's correspondent] have been able to discover — above the rank of a journeyman or operative," the following quotation from a valuable address which was delivered in Lodge "Quatuor Coronati," 2076 E. C., 4th March 1892, by Brother Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson, M.D., etc., etc., on " The Masonic Genius of Robert Burns," deserves special notice : —

" Robert Burns was in the twenty-third year of his age, and living with his father at the farm of Lochlea, in the parish of Tarbolton, when, on the 4th July 1781, he was entered an apprentice in the Lodge St. David, Tarbolton."

********

" The brother who had the honour of thus ushering into the light of masonry our illustrious brother was one Alexander Wood, a TAILOR, of Tarbolton, and, on the ist of October of the same year, Burns was passed and raised." *

It may be safely averred that Robert Burns never was, and never aspired to be, one of the " men of high social and professional position," " most unlikely to identify their associations and surroundings with a youth of Petrie's stamp."

Reverting to page 66 of " the printed correspondence," I continue the quotation thus : —

" Brother Murray Lyon has very kindly, at my request, been at pains to examine the registers of Grand Lodge from 1736, the date of the institution of Grand Lodge, for many years downwards, and he has failed to find that Petrie was a member of any Lodge within the Edinburgh district within the period of his search."

That laborious task, said to have been performed by Brother Murray Lyon, seems to have been quite an extravagant work of supererogation, because Brother Mackenzie's correspondent asserts that Petrie's age is "ascertained as having been twenty-one in 1787, the date of Burns' alleged inauguration." Why then should Brother Murray Lyon have " been at pains to examine the registers of Grand Lodge from 1736" — thirty years before William Petrie was born ?

The reference in "the printed correspondence," p. 67, to William Petrie's age, is as follows : —

" Petrie's age is thus ascertained as having been twenty-one in 1787, the date of Burns' alleged inauguration, at which he is said to have been present. Now, although so young a man, it was perfectly possible, but I think unlikely, that he was then a member of the craft. The History of the Lodge, however, sets forth that he was 'of our Lodge,' and ' had been present at the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate,' — that is, that he was a member o/ the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 1787. This vital statement is shown by the Lodge's records, and other circumstances, to be incorrect."

Those assertions are very obviously wrong, and the conclusions deduced from

* This event is narrated also in the " Life and Works of Robert Burns," by Mr R. Chambers.

25

them are most unwise and irrational. In my letter of ;th February 1873, I said that William Petrie was " of our Lodge." I repeat the statement, and have proved it. I never said that he was a member of Canongate Kilwinning in 1787. He may have been a member notwithstanding. He did not need to be a member to have been present at the inauguration.

Continuing the quotation from page 67 of " the printed correspondence," we are told :—

" If Brother Petrie was ever a member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, of which there is no evidence (?)," " his intimate acquaintance with that Lodge, if it ever existed, had ceased for many years prior to his death (?)."

At this point I suspend quoting further on purpose to contradict, as I do most emphatically, the unauthorised assertions by Brother Mackenzie's correspondent that there is no evidence of William Petrie having been a member of Canongate Kilwinning, and that if he had been, " his intimate acquaintance with that Lodge had ceased for many years prior to his death"

I have proved that William Petrie was one of the Tylers of Canongate Kilwinning till 24th June 1845, — within a few months of his death.

I continue the quotation from previous paragraph, thus : — " for he held the humble office of Outer Guard — or Tyler — of the Lodge of Edinburgh for the long period of eighteen years, from December 1827 until his death in December 1845; — it being thus shown that the fundamental statement that Petrie was a member of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning when Burns visited it and was inaugurated as its Poet Laureate, is untrue, the whole story, in so far at least as Petrie is concerned, is discredited, and falls to the ground." (!)

I have established all that is stated in my letter of 7th February 1873 relative to William Petrie having been a member " of our Lodge," and to his having been present at the inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate.

4. In re THE EXTREME BREVITY OF CANONGATE KILWINNING MINUTES PRIOR TO THE • YEAR 1789.

The statement made in my letter of 7th February 1873 regarding the extreme brevity of the Minutes during many years of last century will be found at page 60 of Part II., and need not be quoted here.

The remarks in that part of my letter are well supported by the testimony of Brother D. Murray Lyon in his excellent History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) ;— in page 333 he says : —

" Our statement regarding what appears in the Minutes " [of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning] "on the subject of the Laureateship is founded upon a personal examina- tion of the minute-book. But while deeming it proper to give the result of that examination, it is equally right that we should state that the commonly received report of the circumstances connected with the Inauguration has never been discredited. The Lodge Canongate Kilwinning is not singular in the omission from its records of facts which

e

26

have come to be regarded as interesting features in its history. Its minutes at and for many years prior to the period of Burns 's attendance at its communications are brief to a degree ; and this may account for the infrequency of their allusions to Burns, who was not then the distinguished poet he afterwards became. It was only after his death that Robert Burns and his works were esteemed at their proper value, and only after many years that his memory was regarded with anything like the veneration accorded to it now."

Another masonic author, in the year 1880, — who published an ably-written sketch of the chequered career of a well-known old lodge, — while endeavouring "to recall a few facts relative to its early history," said as follows : —

" The materials for such a purpose are unfortunately scarce, and those which exist are brief. It t's, indeed, questionable if Masonic Lodges two centuries ago, and down to a comparatively recent date, kept any record of their proceedings IN THE SENSE OF THE MODERN MINUTE-BOOK, and it is clear that if they did, it was not with very scrupulous care, either as to their completeness or their preservation."

This same grievance of defective minutes had been similarly dealt with three years previously in the second of two lectures * which I delivered in connection with the Festival held 2oth December 1877, commemorative of the bi-centenary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. I quote the following passages from that second lecture : —

"As we advance in the second century (1810 and onwards) of Canongate Kil- winning, there is observable over a very extended period, in the Minute-books, a marked improvement in recording the minutes; they are of greater length, more liberal in details, superior in penmanship and composition. Each Secretary in turn, for the time being, appears to have been thoroughly impressed with the fact that he was writing the history of the Lodge, and seems to have done his duty with rigid scrupulousness.''! . . . "They (the minutes) stand forth in singular and instructive contrast to the curious laconism of eighteen words (sometimes less) which occurs so frequently as the record of a meeting during the previous generation."

In evidence of the absolute truth of what is affirmed in those three quotations, on the brevity of Lodge minutes prior " to a comparatively recent date" I quote the following instances verbatim from the minute books of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning .• —

[29 words.] "EDINBR. 5 June 1777

" The Lodge met this Evening agreeable to the above adjournment and was properly constituted — After having gone thrd their usual business the Lodge was adjourned

to the 24 Current.

[What business ?]

* One of these lectures, delivered shortly previous to the bi-centenary night, was on "The First Century of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning " ; the other was on " The Second Century of Lodge Canon- gate Kilwinning," delivered shortly after that occasion. Lectures were given by other members, one each monthly meeting. The session was extended a month earlier and a month later than the usual period of November to April. A musical evening began the course, and, so far as I can remember, a musical evening closed it.

t Ex gr., Bro. Taylor's compositions in 1815. Vide Part II. pp. 30, 31, and 52.

.27

[i9 words.] « ST JOHN'S CHAPEL. 6 July 1780

" The Lodge being duly constituted &>the usual business being done was adjourned to the first Wednesday of August"

[16 words.] "6 Sept. 1780

" The Lodge duly constituted 6- the usual business over they adjourned to their next monthly meeting."

[16 words.] "4 6V/. 1780

" The Lodge was constituted 6- the business ended as usual adjourned to their next monthly meeting."

[17 words.] "6^/71782

" The Lodge having met 6- the business being finished it was adjourned to the next monthly meeting."

[i 8 words.] « 6 Navem. 1 782

"The Lodge having met 6- the usual business being finished it was adjourned to the next monthly meeting."

[18 words.] "4£>ecem. 1782

" The Lodge having met 6* the usual business being finished it was adjourned to the next monthly meeting."

[24 words.] " October 2nd, 1783

" The Lodge having met and being duly constituted and having gone through the usual business it was adjourned to the first Thursday of November."

[25 words.] "Nov. 5, 1783

" The Lodge having met and being duly constituted and having gone through the usual business it was adjourned to the first Thursday of next month."

[30 words.] "7 Oct. 1784

" The Lodge having met Brother Darling was elected Grand Steward for the year ensuing 6" the other business of the Lodge being finished it was adjourned till Thursday nth November." «CHAS. MORE, D.M."

Those quotations may be deemed enough of one kind ; therefore I pass on.

From the extraordinary similarity of the laconic minutes above quoted, it seems as if a printed form would have been specially useful in saving an indolent or incompetent secretary the seemingly great trouble of writing much more than the date heading ; — but it shows that the secretary of those times was simply following the example of the high authority set forth in the pages of his own minute-books by the minute engrossed therein on behalf of Grand Lodge recording a visitation. The formula rigidly followed on such occasions is facetiously and truthfully described by Brother James Marshall at page 67 of " A Winter with Robert Burns," [and is referred to by Brother Mackenzie's disputant of The Freemason in his undated letter at page 45 of "the printed correspondence"] thus : — " It was the duty of the Grand Secretary and Grand Clerk of Grand Lodge to

28

accompany the Grand Master in Visitations of Lodges, and on those occasions ' to insert in the books of the Lodge visited a minute of the fact, and this they did as if they copied it from a style-book in a regular stick-to-the-form manner.' Hence, you may "witness our hand" for a series of years in every Edinburgh Lodge, whoever was Grand Master, or whoever were present, or whatsoever were the sayings or doings or occurrences of the night.'"

The word business stands prominently in each of the brief minutes now quoted as an unmeaning term, as signifying anything or nothing, perhaps comprehending a great deal, but perhaps comprehending nothing. No doubt, several plausible interpretations may be put upon the word. Certainly, it is surprising that men of business habits, who had occasion to write the minutes of those times, could have so expressed themselves, or could have continued using the stereotyped phrase in which the word " business " predominates, and is so misapplied. Hence do I say that the phrase introduced by an indolent and incompetent secretary, as a conclusion to the minute of ist March 1787 — " No other business being before the meeting the Lodge adjourned " — has no special signification; it is of no value whatever to Grand Secretary in his vain endeavour to prove a negative by claiming, as he does, such statement as evidence that the election and inauguration of Poet Laureate did not take place on that date. All the preceding matter of the minute is a brief report — in the usual hackneyed phraseology — of members initiated, passed, and raised " since last meeting." That was professedly all the business before the meeting. There was " no other business." In the estimation of the model [?] Lodge Secretary of that time,* the inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate was an event altogether outside the routine work or " business " of registering the names of new members (which, apparently, he considered was all the " business " needful to be recorded), and was no more needing to be mentioned in the minutes than any of the other notable, social, and convivial events which were continually occurring during that very lively period of the Lodge's history.

Quite akin to this branch of the subject are the following extracts from other records of those times, and these afford further evidence of the singular laxity that existed in the mode of recording minutes of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning during the period now under notice.

Extract from Minute — [concluding Paragraph and Postscript^

" ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL, 5 Decem. 1781.

******

" The Lodge was closed with the proper ceremonies & adjourned to the first Wednesday of January next.

JAMES HAMILTON, M.,/.£ CHAS. MORE, S.W.,/./. ROBERT HOPE, J.W.,/.£

" Thereafter, before closing the Lodge, Brother Thos. Brodie, of the Lodge of St. Luke, was assumed a member of this Lodge."

* The model [?] Lodge Secretary of 1787 was the "practising solicitor" who comes in for so much unfounded laudation at page 33 of "the printed correspondence."

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The worthy brother who composed this postscript, which exhibits such a very amusing contradiction in terms, was quite a prototype of the Canongate Kilwinning Secretary who recorded the minute of ist March 1787, and, like him, would also have ignored the Inauguration of Robert Burns as not being " business."

Copy of Minute — \complete in 49 words,]

" ST JOHN'S CHAPEL 21^ Augt. 1783

"The Lodge having met and being duly constituted the following Gentlemen vizt. Jas. Fortescue Esq, Mr. R. Wilson, and Lieut. McKenzie were all entered appc?s and paid their dues to the Treasurer."

Here occurs a considerable blank space in the minute ; after which comes the final paragraph, as follows : —

" The usual business of the Lodge being done it was adjourned to the first Wednesday of October.

"THOMAS HAY, M."

What was the usual business ?

In the original minute, the word " October " is written over the word " November."

Extract from Minute — {concluding Paragraph and Postscript^

"ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL 5 Feb. 1789

********

" The Lodge was visited on this occasion by several brethren from the different Lodges in this City & particularly by Brother Symes, Master of the Mary's Chapel.

,, r> AT a " WILL DUNBAR M.

" ROBERT Mom Secry

" HENRY JARDINE

"N.B. — At this meeting Brother Adair presented the Lodge with a new sword to be used at entering Brothers which was accepted with thanks."

This is an exceedingly apt illustration of the positive indifference which existed during last century to matters being recorded in the minutes, which, now-a-days, would at once be included in the regular " business " of a Lodge meeting.

Brother Adair himself, however, was quite wide-awake to the need of keeping the Secretary up to his work, and made it understood that his gift to the Lodge should have been recorded in due form as part of the evening's business — hence the " N.B."

5. In re THE TESTIMONY RECORDED IN THE WORK ENTITLED "A WINTER WITH ROBERT BURNS," REGARDING LODGE EVENTS OF 1786-7, "WAS WIDELY CIRCULATED, AND NEVER CONTRADICTED."

The above heading is a very brief r£sum& of one of the statements contained in my 1873 letter. The full text will be found in Part II., page 58, first and second para- graphs. I adduce the following facts in support of the statement: —

On 24th June 1802, the approval by Committee, and "the approbation of the Brethern," expressed with regard to the framed print — which had been " got for the Lodge" — of "ROBERT BURNS the SCOTTISH BARD, POET LAUREAT, LODGE No. 2 CANNONGATE KILWINNING," were transactions not done in a corner. The membership at that special time was large and influential ; the meetings of the Lodge were frequent, and the attendance was usually very numerous, — many visiting brethren from other Lodges here and in distant lands being among the company, — as is testified by the records : therefore, that quaint-looking framed print was very well known among the Craft then, bearing the above-quoted inscription in large characters upon it. It has been prominently displayed in the Lodge-room for very nearly a century, and the truth of that inscription has never been called in question by any one of the very many thousands of members and visiting brethren who have seen it during that long period.

In the year 1815 the lists for subscriptions to the mausoleum fund were . distributed throughout the brotherhood of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, because of "the Lamented Bard, ROBERT BURNS," having been "a member and POET LAUREAT OF THIS LODGE." Those subscription-lists were specially directed to be presented to "every member" of the Lodge, as the records testify. Such instruction was carried out, and every publicity was given to the object for which the subscriptions were being collected ; — and the fact was thereby proclaimed far and wide that Robert Burns had been Poet Laureate to the Lodge, — such " Subscription, in order to contribute towards the erection of that work [the mausoleum], being the only manner in which they [the brethren] can testify their respect for the Memory of a Public Character so immediately connected with them, and who, on so many occasions, contributed so generally to the harmony of the Masonic Order, and to that of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in particular"* Assuredly, such testimony as to the Laureateship which was published with those subscription-lists " was widely circulated, and never contradicted?

In the year 1835, when James Hogg was elected successor to Robert Burns in the Laureateship, and when, three years later, a committee of highly influential brethren of the Lodge was formed on purpose to glean materials for a history of the Canongate Kilwinning, not a word was uttered against the fact of Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate.

In 1845, when a picture of the Inauguration of Robert Burns was proposed to be painted, "authenticated particulars" relating to the Inauguration were asked for on occasion of the Lodge meeting held i2th November. The whole question was

* Extract from Minute, gth February 1815, Part II., page 30.

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discussed at that meeting and at the following one, when the said authenticated particulars were produced. These particulars had been so satisfactory that the R.W. Master himself seconded the motion, and it was "unanimously carried," empowering Brother Stewart Watson to proceed with the painting. The result was the production of that magnificent and justly-celebrated picture of the Inauguration, which for the past thirty-one years has been on view in the Board-room of Grand Lodge. Throughout this period, no brother mason, and no one else, has ever recorded a doubt regarding the Inauguration.

Grand Secretary, in his newly-conceived opinions regarding Robert Burns and the Laureateship, does not appear to have considered that if the election and inauguration of Robert Burns never took place, or if there had ever existed any doubt on the subject during the early years of this century, there were always on the alert a few brethren sufficiently fond of a little lively discussion to have caught hold of any such suggestion, and to have made themselves heard regarding it, — but no one ever raised such a question.

There is evidence in the minute books, and in letters possessed by the Lodge, proving that throughout the first and second decades of this century several events occurred which disturbed the usual harmony of Can. Kil. Especially was this the case during the period from 1807, when the secession differences of Canongate Kilwinning and sister Lodges in Edinburgh with Grand Lodge began, till these were smoothed down. As one instance during that period, I may mention that, on 24th June, 1809, on a motion by Past Master ALEXANDER J AFFRAY, upwards of seventeen brethren were visited with masonic censure "until they make satisfactory apologies for their conduct," for having " on many occasions behaved in a disrespectful manner towards this Lodge."

A few other curious and unwelcome events occurred during those times, as appears by the minute books, letters, and other records still extant. On 3rd April 1817 one brother was "expelled the Lodge" for his "unmasonic conduct," and others suspended from masonic privileges for a time.

Several of those occurrences took place while the lists were being circulated for subscriptions to the mausoleum fund, and while the money was being collected in the years 1815, 1816, and 1817, yet not an objection had ever been heard of, and not a word was ever recorded against the universally-accepted fact that Robert Burns had been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

I bring forward those unpleasant narrations merely as aids to illustrating one special fact, namely, — that, during the early years of this century, when there were very many living witnesses of Lodge events which had occurred during the Burns period to refer to, — had there been the slightest room for doubt of the Laureateship of Burns, it is very certain that some industrious, well-meaning member, and his seconder, would have discovered it to be their duty to put a motion on record for an enquiry into the question of the Laureateship. In such case, the matter would assuredly have been discussed and recorded ; but no such business has ever appeared on any of the minute books of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

, . 32

Past Master Alexander Jaffray, above mentioned, along with his intimate friends, Brothers Charles More, William Ballantyne, and Alexander L. Robertson, took very active part in promoting the subscription towards fund for erection of the mausoleum to the memory of Robert Burns in the years 1815 and 1816, because Robert Burns had been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Those brethren, and their connecting links and associations with the present time, form a strong chain of interesting and conclusive evidence in favour of the main fact set .forth in " A Winter with Robert Burns," thus :—

Past Master ALEXANDER JAFFRAY, Advocate, 1795 to 1820,* was initiated while the Poet was yet alive, and on same night as Brother Robert Moir, W.S., was installed R.W.M. of Can. Kil. Said Brother Robert Moir had been initiated ist Feb. 1787, same evening the Poet was affiliated; the last trace of him in the records is in 1 806.

Brother CHARLES MORE, of the Royal Bank, 1769 to 1818, was Depute Master when Robert Burns visited the Can. Kil. in 1786 and 1787. He took part in all the lodge events of that time ; appears to have attended every meeting; and was on Committee from then till 1817. Vide page 12, ante.

Brother WILLIAM BALLANTYNE, W.S., 1799 to 1819, was re-elected Depute Master 24th June 1802, when Brother William Campbell, W.S., was re-elected Senior Warden, and when the framed print of Robert Burns as " Poet Laureat of the Lodge " met with " the approbation of the Brethern."

Brother WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Writer to the Signet, 1801 to 1849, son of Sir James Campbell, Baronet of Aberuchil, Perthshire, whom Burns visited. Brother William Campbell spent two of his " most happy days " with Robert Burns at Auchtertyre, the seat of Sir William Murray, Baronet, and, at Lodge meeting on i2th November 1845, Brother Campbell seconded motion for painting Inauguration picture. Vide page 14, ante.

Past Master ALEXANDER LAMBE ROBERTSON, Writer to the Signet, 1814 to 1863, was R.W.M. from June 1819 to June 1830, and again from June 1860 to June 1862 ; he was elected a member of Committee 24th June 1835, when James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, was elected Poet Laureate in succession to Robert Burns. Past Master Alex. L. Robertson was an intimate friend and associate of Past Master Alex. M'Neil, Past Master Sam. Somerville of Ampherlaw ; Past Master W. N. Fraser of Tornaveen ; Past Master Thomas Drybrough, and Brother Thomas Elder MacRitchie.

Past Master ALEXANDER M'NEIL, Advocate [not recorded], 1824 to 1855.

Past Master SAMUEL SOMERVILLE, of Ampherlaw, M.D., 1840 to 1876. He was present as Immediate Past Master, along with the R.W.M. and other office- bearers, at meeting of i2th November 1845, when Brother William Campbell seconded the motion approving of the Inauguration picture being painted.

Brother WILLIAM PETRIE, 1787 to 1845. Vide page 19, ante.

* The two years noted immediately after each name, indicate the brother's masonic career.

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Brother THOMAS ELDER MACRITCHIE, of Craigton and Dunork, W.S., 1818 to 1875, was on the Lodge Committee along with Past Masters Sam. Somer- ville, W. N. Fraser, and Thomas Drybrough, when, as Secretary to the Lodge, I wrote, with their approval, the letter dated yth February 1873, to Brother D. M. Lyon, the statements in which are now being substantiated. Brother STEWART WATSON, Portrait Painter, 1828 to 1870. Vide Part II.,

page 48. Past Master THOMAS DRYBROUGH, 1843 to the present time. Vide Part II.,

page 54. Past Master WILLIAM N. FRASER, of Findrack and Tornaveen, 1849 to the

present time. Vide Part II., page 53.

The above series of names presents the question, as it were, in a nutshell. Each of the brethren has testified to the Laureateship and Inauguration of Robert Burns, and each was more or less constantly in touch with the others, according to the duration of his masonic life, as indicated by the years noted immediately after each name ; all which is proved by the notes and other references given.

Therefore, having all these facts on record, it is safely affirmed that the testimony afforded in the work entitled, " A Winter with Robert Burns," and by the brethren who gave their evidence in 1845, WAS WIDELY CIRCULATED AND NEVER CONTRADICTED.

6. In re " IT WOULD BE PALPABLY WRONG TO SUPPOSE," "THAT THE MEN OF ACKNOW- LEDGED WORTH AND STATUS IN SOCIETY," WHO, AT THE MEETINGS HELD QTH

FEBRUARY AND STH JUNE 1815, TESTIFIED TO ROBERT BURNS HAVING BEEN " POET LAUREAT OF THIS LODGE," HAD BECOME FOR THOSE OCCASIONS " MOST UNSCRUPULOUS AND UNTRUTHFUL."

The statement, of which the above is a brief rendering, appears at pages 58 and 59 of Part II., as it was given in my letter of ?th February 1873.

Part of the letter written by Brother Allan Mackenzie to The Freemason, on 4th March 1889,* specially merits reproduction now, by reason of his appropriate remarks on this branch of the subject, and because of the significant reply given to it, which reply also I shall now reproduce.

Brother Mackenzie— having quoted in his letter the paragraph from Lodge minute of i2th November 1845, containing the words used by Brother William Campbell, Writer to the Signet, when he (Brother Campbell) seconded the motion in favour of having a picture of the Inauguration painted — goes on to say : —

" And this is a specimen of the testimony which is characterised as ' baseless assertions.' Besides, he [Bro. Mackenzie's controversialist in The Freemason] virtually asserts that all the correspondence which was carried on between men occupying the highest legal status in society at and before 1815, and all conferences and committee

* Vide " the printed correspondence," pp. 40 and 41.

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meetings of the Lodge downwards, were concocted or ' promoted ' to launch and keep afloat a piece of imposition on the entire Craft ; that even all the men of honour and integrity who were connected with the Lodge, at the time, and for many years after 1815, 'purposely suppressed' all particulars of the "tragic scene" *

"The list of subscribers to the fund in 1815 contains the names of some distin- guished lawyers, and I am confident that " . . . " unless good cause was shown, no member of this profession would be likely to contribute, and therefore they must have known or believed that Robert Burns was umquhile Poet Laureate of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge."

The statement of similar import contained in my letter of 7th February 1873, and the above observations in Brother Mackenzie's letter of 4th March 1889, remained unnoticed by Brother D. Murray Lyon.

It was reserved to Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The freemason to reply, which he did as follows : — f

" Brother Mackenzie appeals to me to say whether I think that the brethren, members of the Lodge, who subscribed in 1815 towards the erection of the Burns' mausoleum, would have given such subscriptions unless in the belief that he was the Laureate of their Lodge. My answer is that I think they would have done so /"

Such is this modern Freemason's estimate of the conscience possessed by each of his distinguished brother masons — of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning — in the year 1815! Nevertheless, in a subsequent letter to The Freemason, the same writer found it convenient to refer to those worthy brethren in the following manner : — " They were all men of high social and professional position.1"

I have much pleasure in also contributing the following extracts from Brother Mackenzie's able letter, dated 6th July 1889, which appeared in the columns of The Freemason, as well deserving of careful consideration. J

" I may be permitted to add just one very important fact, which, it must be admitted, confirms and supports the question at issue. It is, that out of about one hundred members whose names appear on the records as having frequented Canongate Kilwin- ning Lodge for years prior to, and at, Burns' affiliation, and also subsequent to the year 1815, — 'when it was resolved to open a public subscription by the INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS of the Lodge in aid of the general subscription by the friends and admirers of THE

LAMENTED BARD, ROBERT BURNS [WHO HAD BEEN POET LAUREAT OF THIS LODGE], for

the erection of a mausoleum to his memory ' (vide minute, 8th June i8i5),§ — search may be made in vain for the record of any exception having been taken to this proceeding,

* This ludicrous reference to Burns' Inauguration as a "tragic scene," occurs in the letter from Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason, dated I2th January 1889, reproduced at page 28 of "the printed correspondence." The word "tragic" signifies — "relating to tragedy — mournful — sorrowful — calamitous— fatal;" but why the word is made to do duty in relation to the Inauguration scene is a mystery.

t What follows is quoted from undated letter in " the printed correspondence," pp. 50 and 51.

\ Copied from "the printed correspondence," pp. 62 and 63.

§ Vide also Part II., p. 31, also p. 30, and pp. 32 to 38.

35

or of any discredit having been thrown on the Laureateship, and there is no con- temporaneous evidence of any sort or kind to be found against the proposal [i.e., to open a subscription by members of the Lodge]— in recognition of the office. " Amongst the members referred to above, mention may be made of—

Lord Balcarres,* .... initiated 1775, died 1825

Louis Cauvin, Burns' French teacher, | . „ 1778, „ 1825

Alexander Nasmyth, painter of the only authen- tic portrait of Burns in existence, . . „ 1777, „ 1840

Dugald Stewart, „ 1775, „ 1828

Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster, „ 1771, „ 1835

Sir Hay Campbell, President of the Court of

Session, . . 1758, „ 1823

Dr Andrew Duncan, Founder of the Edinburgh

Dispensary, „ 1774, „ 1828

Sir Henry Jardine Advocate, R.W. Master, 1790, „ 1782, „ 1851

Sir Charles Hope of Granton, President of the

Court of Session, „ 1784, „ 1851 and many others to whom circulars containing the above resolution were sent"

Of the many others referred to by Brother Allan Mackenzie, I need only name the following : —

Charles More, of the Royal Bank, Member of

Committee, 1783 to 1817, . . . initiated 1769, died 1818

Francis, seventh Lord Napier,! . . „ 1775, „ 1823

Bailie George Spankie, Merchant, Treasurer,

1783101803, . 1778, „ 1820

James Sandilands, ninth Lord Torphichen,

R.W.M., 1787-8, „ 1782, „ 1815

David Steuart, Earl of Buchan, . affiliated or „ 1783, „ 1829

Honourable Henry Erskine§ (initiation not re- corded), R.W.M., 1780-81, . . „ 1817

Honourable William Gordon of Kenmure, after- wards Earl of Kenmure, . . . affiliated 1786, „ 1840

Honourable Fletcher, Baron Norton, || . . initiated 1787, „ 1820

And,

William Campbell, Writer to the Signet,! . „ 1801, „ 1849

* Alexander, the sixth Earl of Balcarres.

t Son of Louis Cauvin, teacher of French, initiated 1752, died 1778.

J Lord Napier laid the foundation stone of Edinburgh University, 1 6th November 1789 ; vide Laurie's "History of Freemasonry," p. 141.

§ The Hon. Henry Erskine introduced Burns to the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge 1786, and to the eliti of Edinburgh Society about the same time.

|| Baron Norton, P. and R., 1st February 1787, same night Burns was affiliated.

*|f William Campbell was second son of Sir George Campbell of Aberuchil, Baronet ; was Senior Warden, 1801-2-3. Advocated painting of the Inauguration Picture, I2th November 1845.

36 7. In re "THE LODGE WAS A STRONG ONE IN THOSE DAYS [1815], AND, HAD EITHER THE

MATTER OF BURNS* POET LAUREATESHIP, OR OF HIS FORMAL ELECTION TO THE

OFFICE OF POET LAUREATE — so LONG AND WIDELY KNOWN — BEEN UNTRUE, THE

CONTRADICTION WOULD ASSUREDLY HAVE BEEN KNOWN ALSO."

The above statement and relative matter will be found in copy of my letter at page 59 of Part II.

In support of such statement, I need only refer to section 5 of this chapter. The facts and arguments therein given apply equally to this section.

8. In re JAMES HOGG, THE ETTRICK SHEPHERD, SUCCESSOR TO ROBERT BURNS, POET LAUREATE, LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING.

The complete statement on this part of the subject, which occurs in my letter, can be seen at page 59 of Part II., last paragraph.

The minute of meeting of Committee of the Lodge, held i6th January 1835, quoted at page 38 of Part II., affords incontrovertible proof that my statement is true ; nevertheless, Grand Secretary, without any discrimination, commits himself to the sweeping assertion that " the statements " contained in my letter to him of 7th February 1873 are " unfounded."

In connection with this matter, I shall now quote a letter from Grand Secretary, dated i3th December 1886, as it appeared in the Scotsman newspaper, wherein he gives an extract from his history of Lodge No. i, published in 1873. Giving such extract in that letter, proves that down to a comparatively recent period — the date of his letter — he believed that what he wrote in 1873, and as far back as 1863, acknowledging Robert Burns to have been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, was founded on absolute fact.

The letter with its headline is as follows : —

" Was the Ettrick Shepherd a Freemason?"

" FREEMASONS' HALL, EDINBURGH, "December 13, 1886.

"SiR, — A writer in a leading masonic journal has this week raised a curious question as to Hogg's connection with the craft. He says — 'It has been generally understood that the celebrated Scottish poet, James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, was a Freemason, in consequence of his having held the office of Poet Laureate of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2.' And to prove that Hogg never joined the fraternity, the writer quotes a letter from the poet to a member of that lodge, in which, writing from Altrive Lake, under date January 25, 1835, he says — 'I am sixty-five years of age this night. I am not a mason, and never have been, having uniformly resisted the entreaties of my most influential friends to become one. I am, however, intensely sensible of the high honour intended me, which, coming to my hand on the morning of my birthday, has, I feel, added a new charm to the old shepherd's life. My kindest respects to the hon. master and members of the lodge, and say that I cannot join them, nor be initiated

37

into the mysteries of the art, for I know I should infallibly . . . And alas ! my dear John (Forbes), I am long past the age of enjoying masonic revels. I shall, however, be most proud to become nominally the poet laureate of the lodge, to have my name enrolled as such, and shall endeavour to contribute some poetic trifle annually.'

" Hogg did become a freemason, and his association with the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning is at once peculiar and interesting. In treating of Burns' connection with this ancient and distinguished lodge in my ' History of Freemasonry in Scotland,' 1873. I wrote — 'The Laureateship is again referred to in the minute of i6th January 1835, which records the restoration, in the person of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, of the honorary office of Poet Laureate of the Lodge, which had been in abeyance since the death of the immortal brother, Robert Burns.'" The minute shows that while yet beyond the pale of the mystic tie, Hogg had been elected to office in Canongate Kilwin- ning * — an unprecedented proceeding on the part of a Lodge of Freemasons, and one that exposed its members to the highest masonic censure. Alarmed at their position,! the officers of the lodge renewed their efforts to induce Hogg to exchange a nominal for a real connection with the craft, and they succeeded, under a dispensation from the then Grand Master — Lord Fincastle, afterwards Earl of Dunmore. A deputation from the Canongate Lodge proceeded to Innerleithen on the 7th of May 1835, and in a special communication, held in the Cleikum Inn at St Ronan's, initiated their poet laureate into the mysteries of the ' royal art.' The shepherd is reported to have enjoyed with zest the harmony that followed his initiation, and delighted the brethren by singing one of his own songs — ' When the kye comes hame.'

" It is unfortunate that, while in May 1836, enrolling some two hundred entrants in the books of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, the lodge should have omitted to return the name of Hogg.

" The Lodge Canongate Kilwinning will in a few days hold the third jubilee of the consecration of St. John's Chapel. It might then very properly pay a tribute to the memory of the Ettrick Shepherd, by having his name recorded in the official register of the Scottish craft.

" Hogg died in November 1835. — I am, etc., etc.,

" D. MURRAY LYON,

" Grand Secretary:'

Grand Secretary is mistaken in the statements which follow the quotation from his History. There is no indication whatever of the officers of the Lodge having become " alarmed at their position." That is a mere unsupported assertion by Grand Secretary. There was no cause for alarm. When the motion was passed at the meeting of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, on i6th January 1835, relative to the Poet Laureateship, "Brother John Forbes, } in consequence of his being personally acquainted with Mr Hogg, was instructed to communicate to him this resolution." Nobody dreamt of James

* The minute in question contains no mention of Hogg having been elected to office — Vide

Part II., p. 38.

t An extravagant assertion.

\ Brother John Forbes, Writer, E.P. and R. August I2th, 1825, was elected Treasurer in 1831,. and was thereafter a member of committee till 1839.

38

Hogg being elected Poet Laureate unless he were to be previously admitted a member of the Lodge. Everybody knew that the idea of proposing James Hogg as Poet Laureate, carried with it as a sine qua non his admission to membership, to precede his election to such office. The office-bearers of Canongate Kilwinning were all able lawyers, most of them very old masons. The admission to membership of the R.W. Master Alexander M'Neil, Advocate, happens to be unrecorded ; but he is mentioned in the minute of ztfh June 1824 as having been then elected a member of committee ; therefore, he must have been an experienced member of the Craft at that early time : — he had been five years R.W. Master of the Lodge — no one should in such case look on him as a novice in masonic law or custom. Brother John Forbes, Writer, the intimate friend and adviser of James Hogg, had been initiated, passed, and raised in the Canongate Kilwinning as early as the year 1825. Brother John Leslie, S.W., and Brother John Abercromby, J.W., had both been admitted members in 1828, and Brother Francis G. Souter, Treasurer, joined the Lodge in 1826 — every one of them experienced masons. Brother Charles Mac- dougall, Advocate, the Depute- Master, and Brother W. B. D. D. Turnbull, Advocate, the Substitute Master, appear to have been constant in their services ever since joining the Lodge. These are a few of the officers of the Lodge in 1835 ; all of them, with one exception, experienced men of law: they were of high social as well as professional standing; most of them were also old members of the Craft, and not one of them was likely to be caught napping over a small matter of masonic law and procedure with which any tyro in masonry is familiar. The reputation of those very worthy masons on such a point of masonic jurisprudence is not likely to be damaged by the strictures of any critic of the present day.

Grand Secretary is quite wrong in asserting, as he does in his letter of i3th December 1886 now quoted, that "the officers of the lodge renewed their efforts to induce Hogg to exchange a nominal for a real connection with the craft." Hogg never could have had a " nominal " connection with the craft, therefore to " exchange " it " for a real connection " was not in his power. The correspondence proves what I say. The tenor of James Hogg's reply, dated 25th January 1835, to the letter from his valued friend John Forbes, dated the 1 6th of same month and year, clearly shows that Brother Forbes had invited him to join the craft in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning — and that invitation had been the special point in the letter from Brother Forbes to his friend the Ettrick Shepherd — the Laureateship had been secondary, or made dependent on the first point being conceded. The offer at the close of James Hoggs letter was very obviously his own, spontaneously made in ignorance of Masonic law, and from a desire to oblige his friend and correspondent, John Forbes. Grand Secretary is in error also, asserting that the deputation " initiated their poet laureate into the mysteries of the ' royal art ;'" — they initiated James Hogg.

There is no evidence whatever in the Canongate Kilwinning records of there having been [as Grand Secretary asserts] "any dispensation from the then Grand Master Lord Fincastle, afterwards Earl of Dunmore," granted to empower a deputation from the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge to proceed to Innerleithen on purpose to initiate James Hogg. Lord Fincastle was not " the then Grand Master," as is shown in page 41.

The procedure which was observed on such very memorable occasion is well

39

expressed by Brother Allan Mackenzie in his "History of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning," thus : —

" It will be seen that the refusal of Mr James Hogg, at this date,* even to join the Order, arose chiefly from a resolution to withdraw himself from public society. Never- theless, what cannot be considered otherwise than a most graceful compliment to the Craft, Mr Hogg, after mature consideration of the value of freemasonry, about three months afterwards, declared his willingness to join, and subsequent to becoming a member, frequently expressed himself more than satisfied with the fraternity, and looked upon the circumstances attending his initiation as marked by complimentary exceptions in his favour.

" As circumstances prevented Mr Hogg from attending a meeting of the Lodge in Edinburgh, a masonic excursion was determined on, to go to Peebleshire for the purpose of initiating him into the order; but previous to doing so, a warrant, or dispen- sation, to constitute a Lodge there was obtained, and it is minuted that —

" ' At a meeting of the Committee of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, held on the first day of May 1835. The which day it was moved and unanimously approved of: That in consideration of the eminent character and acknowledged worth of James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, he be admitted a member of this ancient Lodge, and for that purpose a deputation, headed by Bro. Jas. Deans as acting Master, assisted by Bros. Anthony Trail and Alex. Mackie, as his Wardens, and other Brethren, do proceed to Innerleithen, or any other convenient place there, to open and hold a meeting of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and to initiate the said James Hogg, or other gentlemen present on that occasion : For doing whereof this shall be your Warrant.

" ' Given under our hands and seal at St. John's Chapel, Edinburgh, this ist day of May 1835, and of Masonry, 5835.

" ' (Sd) CHARLES MACDOUGAL, D. M. " ' W. B. D. D. TURNBULL, S. M. "'JOHN LESLIE, S. W. " < A. MACKIE, Secy:

" The ceremony was accordingly fixed for 7th May 1835, and on the morning of that day two of the Brethren, Messrs Adam Wilson and William Pringle, drove to Mr Hogg's House at Altrive Lake, when they found him prepared to mount his steed for the occasion. After being hospitably welcomed to the Banks of Yarrow, the party started on a short fishing excursion. Having arrived at the Cleikum Inn, St Ronans, the expectant Brethren were all introduced to him, and the proper paraphernalia having been brought from the city, the Lodge was duly constituted, and the three degrees conferred upon the 'Shepherd'; after which the Brethren sat down to a sumptuous repast in the Cleikum Inn, kept by Meg Dods. After the usual masonic toasts, the R.W.M. proposed the health ' of the newly initiated Brother JAMES HOGG,' and in so doing alluded to the remarkable circumstance of Burns having been the Poet Laureate of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and said, that as the 'Ettrick Shepherd was universally

* 2$th January 1835.

40

looked upon as the successor of that immortal poet in his poetic fame, so the members had felt the greater anxiety to enrol the name of James Hogg, Poet Laureate of the Lodge:"

Passing over Brother Hogg's reply, and other particulars of this famous event in Scottish masonry — which is so graphically told in Brother Mackenzie's History — I conclude the quotation therefrom as follows : —

"Many other toasts were drunk, among which was 'the health of Brother Professor Wilson, the friend and patron of the Yarrow bard.'

" The Ettrick Shepherd sang some of his own sweet lays, such as ' When the Kye comes hame.' Next day three of the Brethren went home with Brother Hogg, with whom they dined, returning delighted with his hospitality, and agreeable family and fireside.

" Under the above date (yth May, 1835) it is minuted that —

" ' IN VIRTUE OF THE ABOVE DISPENSATION, WE, the undersigned Brethren, did this day meet within the Cleikum Inn, at Innerleithen, and there held a Lodge, at which James Hogg of Altrive Lake, the Ettrick Shepherd, was regularly initiated as an Entered Apprentice, passed a Fellow-Craft, and raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.

" ' Given under our hands and seal this 7th day of May, in the year of our Lord, 1835, and of Masonry, 5835.

" ' (Sd) JAS. DEANS, M.

" ' ANTH. TRAIL, S. W.

" ' A. MACKIE, J. W. " * James Hogg.

"'James Burnes, M.D., H.E.I.C.S. ;

"'Adam Wilson, Dan. M. Davidson, R.A. ;

'"John Donald, Wm. Jeffries Dowlin, And. Sievwright,

" ' Pat. Sandeman, Wm. Pringle,

" ' John Forbes, C. Neaves,

" ' Rob. Boyd, A. Mackie, Secretary: "

From these quotations it is clear that the deputation from Canongate Kil- winning did not have occasion to proceed to Innerleithen to initiate James Hogg, " under a dispensation from the then Grand Master," as Grand Secretary asserted, but, the deputation did proceed on such errand under a warrant or dispensation granted by Lodge Canongate Kilwinning herself, dated ist May 1835, which is duly recorded in the minute book. The concluding line is very definite, thus — "For doing whereof this shall be your Warrant:''

Again, it is chronicled in the minute book of that time, that, " In virtue of the above dispensation? certain brethren who had formed the deputation, duly recorded the fact that on the yth May 1835 they had met at the Cleikum Inn, and there held a Lodge, in which the three degrees had been conferred on James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd. The minute is signed by fifteen of the brethren, and by James Hogg.

Not a word occurs anywhere in the minute book, of " a dispensation from the then Grand Master."

41

Grand Secretary made another unfounded statement in his extraordinary story about James Hogg: because "the then Grand Master" was not Lord Fincastle, but the Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale. The latter had been re-elected Grand Master on ist December 1834. According to recognised authorities, the Right Hon. Alexander Edward, Viscount Fincastle, was not elected Grand Master till 3oth November 1835 * — six months after James Hogg had been made a Freemason.

Further details regarding the initiation of the " Shepherd" will be found instruc- tive and agreeable reading, at page 200 and onwards of the " History of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning."

In relation to this matter, I should mention that Brother George Gumming, Writer to the Signet, — not recorded, like very many more brethren — but who was elected Junior Warden, 24th June 1835, — in the course of one of his many letters to me regarding interesting events which occurred in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning during those old days, gave some valuable particulars relative to James Hogg ; among others, he mentioned the special invitation from the Ettrick Shepherd's friend, Brother John Forbes, requesting the Shepherd to become a member of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, and various circum- stances connected with such an auspicious occasion. The gist of Brother Cumming's remarks may be here aptly expressed in his own words, thus : — " His [the Shepherd's] initiation was quite an event in Scottish masonry."

Returning to Grand Secretary's letter, above quoted, of i3th December 1886, and, in view of all the circumstances now detailed, it would be of much interest to know his authority for asserting that " a dispensation from the then Grand Master" was ever granted to, or ever acted on, by the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning with respect to the admission of James Hogg as a member of the Lodge.

9. In re "AUTHENTICATED PARTICULARS" RELATIVE TO THE ELECTION AND INAUGURA- TION OF ROBERT BURNS AS POET LAUREATE, WERE ASKED FOR AND SUPPLIED DURING NOVEMBER 1845.

This statement, as given in my letter, will be found at page 60 of Part II., and the Lodge Minutes to which it refers are quoted at pages 41, 42, and 43 of Part II.

No other proof of my statement being well-founded is necessary.

The "authenticated particulars" produced at the Lodge Meeting held ipth November 1845 — pursuant to the requisition expressed at the meeting held a week previously — were so very satisfactory that the R. W. Master, Archibald David Campbell, seconded the motion made on that date in favour of having a picture painted of the Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate, and it was " unanimously carried."

The question may be asked — Why were those " authenticated particulars " not

* Vide'W. A. Laurie's " History of Freemasonry," pp. 216, 217; also, "The Constitution and Laws of Grand Lodge," edition MDCCCLXXXVI., p. 139.

g

42

recorded in the minute book ? My answer is, that the authenticated particulars produced to the Lodge meeting on igth November 1845 were so copious, that the brethren would never expect their Secretary to engross them in the Lodge minute book. It is enough to know by the minute of that date that those particulars were approved, and that the motion was " unanimously carried."

It is not by any means probable that the particulars — all duly authenticated — which are now produced will ever be recorded in the minute book of the Lodge.

These are " the statements " of which my letter to Brother D. Murray Lyon, dated 7th Feb. 1873, mainly consist They are the only statements that are essential to the question, and are herein proved beyond any doubt or cavil.

VI.

Brother D. MURRAY LYON'S FLUCTUATIONS OF OPINION

WITH REFERENCE TO

ROBERT BURNS

HAVING BEEN POET LAUREATE OF LODGE CANONGATE KILWINNING.

Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason, in his letter dated i5th October 1889 — reproduced in "the printed correspondence" which was submitted to Grand Committee by Grand Secretary, 2gth December 1892, asserts that I " misled our eminent historian " by the statements relative to Brother William Petrie, as contained in my letter of 7th February 1873.

Grand Secretary himself makes assertions of a similarly depreciative nature in the extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 2gth December 1892, vide Part II., page i ; as also in " the printed correspondence " therein referred to, regarding " the statement laid before him," and " the statements made to him," by me in that letter of yth February 1873, "which (he asserts) he unfortunately accepted as true, and, in Ms History modified the opinion which he had originally formed?

It would be matter of some interest to know who had " misled " [?] Brother D. Murray Lyon ten years previously to my writing him, when he announced to the world, in The Scottish Freemason's Magazine of ist December 1863, very distinctly and impressively, his belief in Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

The passage I refer to occurs at page 206, year 1863, of that magazine, and it is a very edifying quotation in the light of events, because therein Brother D. Murray Lyon truthfully, pithily, and eloquently asserts —

"The Royal Arch of St. Abb, under whose warrant Scotia's Bard was exalted; Tarbolton St. David, within the walls of which he first beheld the light ; Kilmarnock Kilwinning St. John, with whom he was linked by the tie of Honorary Membership, and to whom were addressed the stanzas beginning —

" ' Ye sons of Old Killie, assembled by Willie ; ' AND THE CANONGATE KILWINNING, WHOSE POET LAUREATE HE WAS, may all feel justly

proud of their connection with Robert Burns."

In that quotation Brother D. Murray Lyon designates Robert Burns as Poet

44

Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning. As a rule, historians do not make such unqualified statements without proper investigation, and without being satisfied as to their truth. I am disposed to believe that Brother D. Murray Lyon, before lending the character and weight of his name to such an assertion, and committing his thoughts to an article in a public magazine, must have thoroughly sifted all available information on the subject. I will not assume that he accepted of the information he obtained regarding it without a belief that he had proof of its authenticity.

What trust, what reliance, can be placed on the other assertions of Brother D. Murray Lyon, if I am compelled to believe that the assertion in question was made without due investigation ?

It might be curious, if not useful, to briefly state the various changes or fluctua- tions of opinion which have taken place in the worthy historian's mind before he has arrived at the conclusion which he now holds on this important subject. To any one who considers this matter with care, it must strike him as a remarkable circumstance, that the " eminent historian " has had frequent occasion to change his mind. In fact, his changes of mind have been so sudden and so often as to be perplexing to his readers.

In order to be exact, and to show the fluctuations alluded to, it may be as well to narrate those changes in detail.

FIRST. — The Grand Secretary himself informs us, in the " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 2gth December 1892," that his original opinion was, "that Burns never was elected to, and never held the office of, Poet Laureate of the Lodge, and never was installed into such an office."

SECOND. — On ist December 1863, in The Scottish Freemason's Magazine, Brother D. Murray Lyon wrote to the following effect : — " The Canongate Kilwinning, whose Poet Laureate he was, may feel justly proud of their connection with Robert Burns."

THIRD. — Brother D. Murray Lyon, by his letter to me, dated 24th January 1873, in a qualified manner threw doubts upon the question of Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate, and challenged me to produce evidence in support thereof.

FOURTH. — On 7th February 1873, as requested by Brother D. Murray Lyon, I furnished him with the evidence required as to the Election and Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning; and on nth February 1873, he replied to me, making the following statement : — " I recognise the satisfactory nature of the evidence you have submitted, and shall have pleasure in giving effect to it in my forthcoming work."

In the work referred to — the History of Lodge No. T — Brother D. Murray Lyon acknowledges, at the very commencement of his notice of " Burns and the Laureateship of Canongate Kilwinning," * that —

" Mr Fergusson of Craigdarroch was Master of Canongate Kilwinning at the date of Burns's appointment to the Laureateship of that Lodge. The Inauguration of the Poet to this office ii> the subject of a painting well known to Scottish Freemasons, executed by a member of the Lodge, the late Bro. Stewart Watson ; it also forms the subject of a

* A title quoted from the Index of the History of No. i.

45

small volume entitled, ' A Winter with Robert Burns,' * containing biographical sketches of the Brethren whose portraits appear in the painting."

Brother D. Murray Lyon must admit that such language is entirely his own, and that he is not indebted to me for any part — either of the text matter or of the footnote relating to it — from my letter of 7th February 1873. In that letter of mine I did not mention the name of " Mr Fergusson of Craigdarroch." Copy of the letter can be seen in Part II., page 57. More than that, Brother Lyon, in his reply, dated nth February 1873, acknowledging receipt of that letter from me, warned me thus: — "I would take the liberty of saying, that while I shall embody the facts you have put me in possession of, I will not require to ALTER a single sentence of what I had previously written"

Therefore, one portion at least of that which he " had previously written " must consist of the opening sentences of the notice now referred to of "Burns and the Laureateship of Canongate Kilwinning," with which sentences my statements had no connection whatever.

Further, as showing Grand Secretary's long-continued faith in Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, I quote the following passage from a letter of his dated 13^ December 1886, to The Scotsman newspaper, f He therein refers to "the restoration, in the person of James Hogg, the 'Ettrick Shepherd,' of the ' honorary office of Poet Laureate of the lodge, which had been in abeyance since the death of the immortal Brother, Robert Burns.' "

FIFTH. — The latest confession of faith on the subject by Brother D. Murray Lyon, so far as I am aware, is that contained in the " Extract from Grand Lodge Proceedings, 29th December 1892," wherein we find that after all those changes of opinion, he has travelled back to " the opinion which he had originally formed" which he asserts is — " that Burns never was elected to, and never held the office of, Poet Laureate of the Lodge, and never was installed into such an office."

* "The author of this work, Bro. James Marshall, was a Solicitor in the Supreme Courts of Scot- land, but afterwards emigrated to Australia, and carried on the business of an attorney in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, where he died in 1870."

t Quoted in full at pp. 36 and 37.

VII.

ERRORS ,

IN

" THE PRINTED COPY OF THE CORRESPONDENCE "

WHICH WAS SUBMITTED BY GRAND SECRETARY TO GRAND COMMITTEE, DECEMBER 1892, IN SUPPORT OF HIS CONTENTION.

In previous chapters I have exposed a few of the errors, both of assertion and argument, that occur throughout the letters written by Brother Allan Mackenzie's two controversialists, as reproduced in "the printed copy of correspondence."

The errors are very numerous. I have no intention to load this work with a refutation of them all — that would be too big a task at this time — but, in what now follows, I shall exhibit and controvert a few of the most prominent of them which have not yet been referred to.

i. PROCEDURE ALLEGED TO BE NECESSARY IN " CREATING AN ADDITIONAL

OFFICE-BEARER."

As a specimen of the plausible but erroneous style of controversy typical of the letters written by one of Brother Mackenzie's disputants, I quote the following lines from page 43 of "the printed correspondence," letter No. VI., written to The Freemason by the Past Master of Lodge No. i, who described himself as such in the "Prefatory Note" to that collection of letters.

" I have set forth well-established contemporary facts and circumstances, in my opinion clearly showing that the office (of Poet Laureate) had no existence till 1835. . . .

" The office could only have been created by a written resolution passed by the Lodge creating an additional office-bearer, which would have been an alteration on its laws and constitution requiring the approval of Grand Lodge ; and had such a change been made, it would have been recorded not only in the minutes of the Lodge No. a, but also in the minutes of Grand Lodge itself. The minute book in which that resolution

47

ought to have been found is in existence. It is well and continuously kept,* and contains no record either of the creation of the office, of the Poet's election to fill such an office, or of his inauguration into it, nor of Grand Lodge's approval of the step. The minute book of Grand Lodge is also ominously silent on the subject."

Was any law on the subject, as defined so elaborately in above quotation, " created " so far back as the times when the offices of Poet Laureate and Substitute Master were " created"?

Let it be specially noted that the important office of Substitute Master of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning was "created" 24th June 1788, solely by the very simple process of naming John Millar, Advocate, as Substitute Master, in his proper place, along with the other office-bearers elected on that date.

How is it then with other offices that have been " created " on equally short notice in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning ?

By reference to the Chart of Office-bearers in Appendix hereto annexed, it will be found that the following offices have been "created" on the respective dates indicated, and in no instance has the creation been accomplished by the tedious and unwonted procedure above described in the quotation : —

Poet Laureate, . . Robert Burns, the Scottish Bard, . . 1787, March i.

Substitute Master, . John Millar, Advocate, 1788, June 24.

Organist, .... Robert Purdie, 1800, June 24.

Chaplain, .... Fras. M'Nab, 1808, June 24.

Senior Deacon, . . Archibald Horn, 1816, June 24.

Junior Deacon, . . Malcolm M'Neil, 1816, June 24.

,8,9, June ,4-

Convener or Chair- (John Wilson, Advocate, " Christopher) Q T man of Committee \ North," | 1^35, June 24.

Architect and Super- intendent of Works,

David Rhind, 1836, Jany. 27.

Master of Ceremonies, Andw. Dunlop, W.S., 1836, June 24.

In like manner, pipers were introduced in the year 1889, and have been regularly allotted a place in the list of office-bearers elected each year since then. No "written resolution passed by the Lodge, creating an additional office-bearer " on such occasion, was ever recorded in the Lodge minute-book, and it may be safely concluded that " the minute-book of Grand Lodge is also ominously silent on the subject."

Quoting further from " the printed correspondence," it will be seen in letter XI. — the last of the series — that Brother D. Murray Lyon, Grand Secretary, in respect of the Laureateship of No. 2, asserts that : —

" Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd, was the first of its Poets- Laureate, and he was made so in 1835."

By such a pointed, but unsupported assertion, Grand Secretary quite ignores all the plausible story set forth in letter VI. of same series, descriptive of the procedure which

* An unfounded assertion ; vide pp. 6 and 7 ante; also Part II., pp. 4 to II, and pp. 12 to 19.

48

Brother Mackenzie's other controversialist asserts is necessary in creating a new office- bearer. Oddly enough, that other controversialist himself ignores it when asserting, as he does, that " the office of Poet Laureate had no existence till 1835."

Specially worthy of note in this connection is the fact that the only record of James Hogg having been elected Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning occurs in the minute of meeting held 24th June 1835, and that entry occupies a single line in the list of office-bearers then elected,* thus : —

"James Hogg, the ' Ettrick Shepherd' Poet Laureate."

There is no evidence whatever of any communication having been made to Grand Lodge, nor of any sanction by Grand Lodge having been given to Canongate Kilwinning for " creating " the office of Poet Laureate in the year 1835. Such long- drawn-out procedure, involving " a written resolution passed by the Lodge creating an additional office-bearer," etc., etc., if it ever had been observed, was then quite un- necessary, for the good reason that Grand Lodge, and Freemasons generally who knew anything at all of Canongate Kilwinning, were quite well aware that ROBERT BURNS, the Scottish Bard [and not " Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd], was the first of its Poets- Laureate."

2. INCONSISTENCY OF BROTHER MACKENZIE'S CORRESPONDENTS OF The Freemason.

The inconsistency exhibited by the Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary's Chapel, No. i, and by Grand Secretary in their letters since the year 1888 on the subject of the Inauguration of Robert Burns has been briefly referred to in pages 7 and 8 ante. I shall follow up that reference now.

The Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh Mary's Chapel, No. i — who claims to have " rendered some help to Brother Lyon in the production of his History " of that Lodge, is the first of the two correspondents who, shortly after the publication of the " History of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning," wrote to The Freemason, taking exception to the reference in that work to ^ Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

Grand Secretary is the other correspondent: he contributed two letters to the series, one dated i2th February 1889, and the other dated i8th August 1891.

Robert Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh.

The Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh in his first letter to The Freemason — at page 16 of "the printed correspondence" — expresses himself as follows regarding the visit of Robert Burns to Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, No. 48 : —

"The Poet was proud of honours paid him, and took frequent notice of them. On his visit to the LODGE ST. ANDREW, EDINBURGH, shortly prior to the alleged inauguration, he writes that the toast was given of ' Caledonia and Caledonia's Bard,

* Vide Part II., p. 40.

49

Robert Burns,' and proudly records his gratification at the compliment. In like manner he records his honorary affiliation a few months later by the Eyemouth Lodge ; but, singularly, neither he nor the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, nor any one else, make any contemporaneous record of the great and exceptionable (sic) honour said to have been conferred on him by a Lodge of foremost distinction, at a special gathering of upwards of sixty of the most distinguished Scotsmen of the age."

The above reference to that famous meeting of the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, which took place " shortly prior to the alleged inauguration," is appropriately supported by testimony contained in the "History of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel)." In that valuable work the talented author — the second of Brother Mackenzie's correspon- dents— gives interesting details of certain Grand Lodge visitations to Lodge No. i. At pages 331 and 332, he mentions a visit to No. i which occurred towards the close o^ 1786, and follows that with a telling narrative of the "special gathering" which took place in the Lodge of St. Andrew on i2th January 1787, thus : —

" 1786 : December 12. — Francis Charteris, younger of Amisfield (afterwards Lord Elcho), the Grand Master 36th in succession, was accompanied by Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch, Provincial Grand Master of the Southern District. This was one of a series of Grand Visitations that were being made at the time of Burns's visit to Edinburgh. Through his attendance at some of these, and other Masonic meetings, the Poet made the acquaintance of the Earls of Glencairn, Buchan, Balcarres, and Eglinton ; Lords Elcho, Napier, Torphichen, and Monboddo ; Sir William Forbes, Sir James Hunter Blair, Professor Dugald Stewart, Henry Erskine (the celebrated lawyer), Henry Mackenzie (' The Man of Feeling '), William Smellie (the printer of the second edition of Burns's Poems), William Creech, and other luminaries in that galaxy of Scottish Craftsmen, of which he for a time formed the centre of attraction.* Writing to his friend and patron John Ballantine, the brother to whom he inscribed the beautiful allegory of * The Twa Brigs,' Burns gives the following graphic account of his reception at one of these Communications, held in THE LODGE ST. ANDREW, ON THE I2TH OF JANUARY 1787 : — ' I went to a Mason Lodge yesternight, where the Most Worshipful Grand Master Charteris, and all the Grand Lodge of Scotland visited. The meeting was numerous and elegant; the different Lodges about town were present in all their pomp. The Grand Master, who presided with great solemnity and honour to himself, as a gentleman and a Mason, among other general toasts, gave ' Caledonia, and Caledonia's Bard, Brother Burns,' which rang through the whole assembly with multiplied honours and repeated acclamations. As I had no idea such a thing would happen, I was downright thunderstruck, and trembling in every nerve, made the best return in my power. Just as I had finished, some of the Grand Officers said, so loud that I could hear, with a most comforting accent, ' Very well, indeed ! ' which set me something to rights again.' Mr Charteris, during his Grand Mastership, succeeded to the title of Lord Elcho, his father

* Canongate Kilwinning was the mother Lodge of all those distinguished brethren, except two, and those two were affiliated members. Alexander Fergusson of Craigdarroch was at this time also R. W. Master of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

h

having inherited the Earldom of Wernyss. He belonged to the Lodge Haddington St. John, and was also an affiliated member of Canongate Kilwinning."

[Then follows the notice regarding " Burns and the Canongate Kilwinning," the first two sentences of which are quoted at pp. 44-45 ante, and the whole of it in Part II., page 63.]

Those are very interesting narratives of the well-known visit of Brother Burns, " Caledonia's Bard," to the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, No. 48, on the i2th January 1787, but there is no record in the minute book for the year 1787 of Robert Burns having ever visited that Lodge.

The minute book is before me while I write, and I remark that the Secretary of the Lodge has not recorded any minute of the proceedings on the i2th January 1787.

The only memorial of events which took place in the Lodge on that date is the minute recorded on behalf of Grand Lodge, accurately reproduced as follows : —

"Edmr. 12 Janry. 1787.

" This evening the Lodge being duly constituted by the Right Worshipful Master Thereafter the most Worshipful Francis Charteris Esqr. junior of Amisfield Grand Master Mason of Scotland The Right Worshipful Fletcher Norton Esqr. Depute Grand Master P.T. The Right Worshipful Thomas Hay Esq Substitute Grand Master James Home Esqr and Gillies Grand Wardens/./. William Mason Grand Secy. &

Robert Meikle Gd Clerk preceded by the Lodge of Grand Stewards in their proper clothing were pleased to favor this Lodge with a visit when he was received with that respect due to the dignity of his high office & distinguished rank and having taken the chair delivered a suitable charge to the brethren which was received with the highest tokens of applause & approbation. The Lodge on this occasion was visited by Brethren from the following Lodges, viz'. — Canongate & Leith, Leith & Canongate, S*. James, Ruglen Royal Arch, & S'. Stephens Edinr., To all whom the proper compliments were paid and due returns made."

WILL. MASON G. Secy. FRANCIS CHARTERIS G.M.*

Ro. MEIKLE G. Clk. FLR. NORTON D.G.M././f.

THOMAS HAY Ste. G.M.

JAMES HOME S.G.W. /./.

ADAM GILLIS J.G.W././."

It may seem extraordinary that Lodge St. Andrew — which has acquired much fame by the Bard's visit — possesses no record of that highly appreciated episode in his life. But even the Grand Lodge officials present on such an extraordinary occasion did not consider the presence of Burns, or the toast given of •" Caledonia and Caledonia's Bard, Robert Burns," as business needing to be put on record, and possibly the Secretary

* Francis Charteris was affiliated to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in 1779 — seven years before he became M.W.G.M. ; and Canongate Kilwinning was the mother Lodge of Fletcher Norton, Thomas Hay, and James Home, whose signatures are appended to above minute.

of No. 48 might think, that, with such an example before him, there was no necessity for him to be at any trouble making a record of the proceedings.

Evidently the Grand Lodge minute of izth January 1787 has been held to include all that was needful to be recorded — " No other business being before the meeting." *

Be that as it may, there can be no doubt that the Secretary of Lodge St. Andrew, on i2th January 1787, like the Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, on the ist March of same year [when the Inauguration of Robert Burns took place], must have been very easy-going, even neglectful, of his duties, as we view those matters now-a-days. Each of the two Secretaries seems to have considered the whole affair, wherein Robert Burns appeared such a conspicuous figure on these respective occasions, simply as a social event in which no "business" of a customary kind had been transacted, and therefore that it had no need to be mentioned in the minute.

There is no minute recorded by the Secretary of Lodge St. Andrew after the one dated 27th December 1786, till that of the monthly meeting held gth February 1787.

In passing, and while on this subject setting forth the perfunctory style of work accomplished by some secretaries of last century, and especially about the time of Burns' visit, it may be shown by the following illustration that Lodge St. Andrew could almost match Lodge Canongate Kilwinning for brevity of minutes.

[23 words.] " 1786, EDR- 20'* November.

u The Lodge Edr- St. Andrew Being legally met & constitute Mr John Cummin was entered an Apprentice Mason & paid his fees Accordingly.

GEO. MONTGOMERY, Master.

ANDW- SMITH, S.W.

JAS- SAGE, Junr- J.W.P.T."

Towards the close of Grand Secretary's letter to The Freemason, dated iSth August j89i, — last of the series of letters contained in "the printed correspondence" (p. 71), he pretentiously displays a copy of the Canongate Kilwinning minute, dated ist March 1787, with the following introduction: —

" In all statements and discussions in support of the story of the inauguration, the minute of the meeting at which the event is alleged to have happened has been studiously kept out of sight. It had better be published, and here it is : — [See Part II., page 14.].

As I happen to be one of the brethren who made certain statements f in support of the fact that Robert Burns had been elected and inaugurated Poet Laureate of Canongate Kilwinning, which statements are fully substantiated in pages 12 to 42 ante, I feel privileged— without further noticing the ill-advised and unfounded taunt — to ask Grand Secretary why he, as an eminent historian, should commit himself to the adverse

* Vide Can. Kil. minute of ist March 1787, Part II., page 14.

f My " statements " were made in a letter to Brother D. Murray Lyon, as long ago as 7th February 1873, copy of which will be found at page 57 of Part II.

52

assertions which he now does relative to " Burns and the Canongate Kilwinning," after having published in his history of No. i such a very attractive story about Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, as is quoted in page 49 ante, for which story there is no authority in the minute book of that Lodge 1

The little work which Grand Secretary refers to as "the printed copy of the corres- pondence," and which contains the narrative about Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew, quoted at pp. 48-49 ante, was submitted by Grand Secretary to Grand Committee as substantiating his contention about Burns and the Canongate Kilwinning so lately as zgth December 1892,* which testifies that at that date, he continued to believe the said narrative as quoted from his History of Lodge No. i.

A very few days previous to that meeting of Grand Committee, Grand Secretary wrote [i2th December 1892] to Brother George Crawford, Right Worshipful Master of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, a letter from which I am permitted to make the following quotation : —

" ist March 1787 is the date given as that on which Burns was 'inaugurated ' as Poet Laureate of Can. Kil. The Minute of the Lodge of that date shews that no such inauguration took place.

" Your Lodge does not require to perpetuate a myth in connection with its historical recollections."

Will Grand Secretary show a valid reason for taking so much trouble vainly trying to sever the connection of " Burns and the Canongate Kilwinning " — so far as the Poet-Laureateship is concerned — while he is "ominously silent "| about the very obvious discrepancies in his eloquent narrative of Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew? —

The two cases are quite parallel, in respect that neither on the ist March 1787 r in the minute book of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, nor on the i2th January 1787, in the minute book of Lodge St. Andrew, No. 48, is there any mention of Robert Burns !

On the question of discrepancies in the very interesting narrative regarding Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew, it is well to point out that in his letter to John Ballantine, — which is quoted both by the Historian and the Past-Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh, — Robert Burns did not say that he visited the Lodge St. Andrew. He begins his reference to the event thus : — " I went to a mason-lodge yesternight, where the most Worshipful Grand Master Chartres and all the Grand Lodge of Scotland visited." \

Further, it cannot fail to be observed, as an odd coincidence, that the date of Burns' letter is omitted by both correspondents from their versions of the narrative. The letter was dated i4th January 1787, which was a Sunday, and the statement made by Burns as to time and place was merely that he " went to a mason-lodge yesternight? —

* Part II., page I.

f This is one of the happy expressions invented by Bro. Mackenzie's correspondent, the Past- Master of No. i, and is given in his undated letter, marked VI., in the "printed correspondence," page 44.

J Quoted from the "Prose Works of Robert Burns." W. & R. Chambers, 1839. Letter XXXIII., page 17-

53

implying the night of Saturday, the i3th January 1787. The meeting in Lodge St. Andrew took place on Friday, i2th January 1787.

By the i4th November 1888 — when the first letter of "the printed correspond- ence" was written to The Freemason — there had been time for the author of it to discover that some difference of opinion might exist regarding the precise date of this visit "to a mason lodge," because our poet's letter was dated the i4th January i787r therefore the writer of that first letter, like a " wary controversialist,"* adroitly avoids naming any specific date, and refers to the presence of Burns on such occasion thus : — " On his visit to the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, shortly prior to the alleged inauguration, he [Burns] writes that the toast was given, ' Caledonia and Caledonia's Bard, Robert Burns,' and proudly records his gratification at the compliment."

Those observations are not made in any captious spirit; — they are not made with any idea of casting any discredit on the universal belief in the narrative of proceedings which it is understood^ took place in Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, on 1 2th January 1787, although the Secretary has omitted to record them, and even Grand Lodge minute of that date contains no reference to "Caledonia's Bard." No oner so far as known, has ever expressed any doubt whatever of the events having taken place as narrated.

Such discrepancies or defects as I have noted in the attractive narrative of Burns and the Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, demonstrate that Grand Secretary and the Past Master of Lodge No. i have written on that subject in a much more liberal and friendly spirit than is characteristic of their references to the Inauguration of Robert Burns in the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning on the ist March 1787, while the two instances — so far as the main fact of each is concerned — are precisely similar.

Gavin Wilson and the Lodge St. David, Edinburgh.

The extraordinary inconsistency exhibited by Grand Secretary and Brother Mackenzie's other correspondent of The Freemason, in their treatment of the well- known narratives, respectively, of Burns in Lodge St. Andrew, on i2th January 1787, and the Inauguration of Burns in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, on ist March 1787, becomes more conspicuous according as the minute books of other Lodges are examined, and as attention is given to the careless manner in which, during last century, certain

* The author of that phrase is the Past Master of Lodge No. I — Brother Mackenzie's corre- spondent— who used it very erroneously in his undated letter to The Freemason, marked VI. in " the printed correspondence," page 47, as follows : — " I cannot help expressing the fear that he (Bro. Mackenzie) is not so wary a controversialist as the author of ' A Winter with Robert Burns,' for Brother Mackenzie gives particulars which enables one to check the accuracy of the statements in the minute which Brother Marshall more adroitly suppresses. "

t The inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning was understood to have taken place on ist March 1787, as stated in my letter, dated 7th February 1873, set forth in Part II., page 59, line 24, and erroneously commented on by the Past Master of No. I in his letter to The Freemason, dated I2th January 1889, reproduced in " the printed correspondence," page 29.

54

Lodge matters were recorded, while others were left unrecorded, precisely as is observable throughout the eighteenth-century minutes of the two Lodges above named.

In this connection, my attention was drawn some time ago to a very interesting article which appeared in Part III., Vol. V., of the Transactions of the " Ars Quatuor Coronatorum." It is headed "Gavin Wilson, a forgotten Masonic Worthy," and is quoted from The Gentleman 's Magazine, of iyth April 1793. The article is valuable as affording another parallel to the Canongate Kilwinning minute of ist March 1787, by its references to the Lodge St. David, Edinburgh, No. 36, of which Lodge the said Brother Gavin Wilson was a highly-valued member.

I shall merely quote the following sentences regarding Brother Wilson from the article as it appears in page 156 of the work above-mentioned : —

" He was a regular attendant at the Lodges of the Freemasons, and a warm friend of the fraternity. By his propensity for versifying and composing songs and short stories in rhyme, he contributed much to the social mirth and enjoyment of their meetings, and to the good humour and amusement of all companies where he came. He frequently sang and recited his own productions in the Lodge meetings — from this circumstance he was elected Poet Laureate to the Lodge of St. David, at Edinburgh, of which he was a member.* After receiving this distinguished mark of honour, in the year 1788 he published a collection of his poetical performances under the title of ' A Collection of Masonic Songs and entertaining Anecdotes for the use of all the Lodges. By Gavin Wilson, Poet Laureat to the Lodge of St. David, Edinburgh.' To this publication is prefixed a portrait of the author decorated with Masonic insignia. By people who were acquainted with him, I have been told that it is a very good likeness. It is drawn and etched by a very ingenious artist, Mr John Kay, engraver and portrait painter in Edinburgh." f

Brother Gavin Wilson's book of Songs was advertised as being " In the Press " in the year 1787, and published shortly afterwards. His portrait by Kay, facing the title-page, is dated 1787, and that appears to be something more than a mere coincidence — it suggests the very obvious conclusion that, as Gavin Wilson "was a regular attendant at the Lodges of the Freemasons, and a warm friend of the fraternity," he met Robert Burns during his frequent visits to the Canongate Kilwinning, and knew of Burns as her Poet Laureate.

A copy of Gavin Wilson's " Collection of Masonic Songs " is in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, and it contains many pieces of interest. One is of special value to Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, being a dirge composed by Brother Gavin Wilson to the memory of Past Master George Drummond, which was sung at " a Funeral meeting " of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, held in the Lodge-room, 7th January 1767, "in honour of the memory of George Drummond, Esq., once Grand Master for Scotland, and late Master of this Lodge." An interesting report of this funeral meeting is given in the Canongate Kilwinning minute of 7th January 1767, portion of which is quoted at page 92 of the history of that Lodge.

* No mention of such election occurs in the minutes of Lodge St. David.

t Below the likeness, on left side, is engraved, " K. Fee'." ; on the right, " 1787."

55

•

No. X. (written in the year 1771) of Brother Gavin Wilson's "Collection of Masonic Songs," contains a laudatory reference to "the organ," and to the inspiriting effect of music as given forth from that effective instrument. The organ* in Canongate Kilwinning has for nearly a century and a half been a special attraction in the Lodge, and evidently was so to Brother Gavin Wilson, who found that it could "discourse most eloquent music."

From these and other circumstances above mentioned it is evident that the Poet Laureate of Lodge St. David, No. 36, was a frequent visitor at meetings of the Canongate Kilwinning.

In connection with these references to Bro. Gavin Wilson and his having been Poet Laureate of Lodge St. David, Edinburgh, I beg to subjoin the result of an examination of the minute books of that Lodge, made in order to glean such information regarding him as those records afford. The first allusion to him is in the year 1766, as follows : —

"21 October 1766. — Monthly Meeting.

" The Lodge being convened and properly formed Br- Peter Smith in name of " Br Gavin Wilson of St. Paul's Glasgow presented this Lodge with two handsome " large Leather mugs, of his own workmanship for which the Brethern unanimously " expressed their thanks by drinking his health, and also assumed him as a member " of this Lodge." (No signature.}

The minutes of the annual election of office-bearers on St. John the Evangelist's days in 1767, 1768, and 1769 record that he was elected on each occasion one of the Stewards of the Lodge. The next reference is : —

"Monthly Meeting. — 16 October 1770.

. . . . " The Brethren were entertained with vocal music from Brs- Esplin, " Pillam, Downie &c- and the new song of St. David by Particular desire from " Brother Gavin Wilson. After the visitors were gone the Lodge unanimously made " choice of Br Gavin Wilson to be their General Stewart for the ensuing year."

" (Signed) ANDREW BALFOUR, Mr>"

Brother Gavin Wilson was re-elected one of the Lodge Stewards on 27th December 1770; "contd- Grand Stewart for the ensuing year," on i5th October 1771; re-elected one of the Lodge Stewards on St. John's Day in December 1771; and, finally, at an " Emergency" meeting on gth October 1772, it is recorded that he acted as Junior Warden pro. tern. With these exceptions, Gavin Wilson's name does not appear in the minutes of St. David's Lodge, and it is certainly a noteworthy circum- stance that his Laureateship was published to the world a few months after the date that Burns had been elected to a similar office in Canongate Kilwinning.

* The organ, built by Sneitzler, of London, still in first-rate condition, was placed in the Lodge- room, in 1757, within a niche prepared for it opposite the R.W. Master's chair, by Brother James Fergus, Architect of the Royal Exchange, etc. By the time Robert Burns visited Can. Kil., the organ had been placed within the more convenient recess shown in the Inauguration picture, where it now is.

56

Proof of this is found in the following advertisement, which appeared in the Edinburgh Evening Courant newspaper of Saturday, isth December 1787 : —

" In the Press, and speedily will be Published.

" DEDICATED BY PERMISSION " To the RIGHT HONOURABLE AND MOST WORSHIPFUL

LORD ELCHO " GRAND MASTER OF FREEMASONS IN SCOTLAND

"A COLLECTION OF MASONIC SONGS

" AND

" ENTERTAINING ANECDOTES

" For the Use of all the Lodges " Ornamented with a Print of the Author taken from the Life by J. Kay

"Bv GAVIN WILSON "POET LAUREAT TO THE LODGE OF ST. DAVID

" Leg, Arm, and Boot Maker : " Inventor of Hardened and Polished Leather."

Hence it is seen that very shortly after Robert Burns had been elected "Poet Laureat" of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning — in the very same year, 1787 — the news had been proclaimed to the world through the press in the above manner and otherwise, that Brother Gavin Wilson was "Poet Laureat to the Lodge of St. David," — nevertheless, there is no record in any minute of the Lodge that Brother Gavin Wilson had ever been .elected to that office. Evidently such appointment had been considered outside the " usual business," as appears to have been the case on other occasions.

Leonard Horner and the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho.

Through the kindness of Brother George Innes, a respected Past Master of the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho, I am enabled to exhibit another parallel to the very incomplete minute of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, dated ist March 1787, in the minute of a meeting held by the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho, No. 85, on 3oth September 1803. By that minute it appears that even in 1803 there was a Lodge Secretary quite as forgetful of his duties as was the " practising solicitor " who was understood to be Secretary of the Canongate Kilwinning in the year 1787.

Before reproducing the minute, I take occasion to explain that Brother Leonard Horner, a distinguished citizen of Edinburgh during the early part of this century, and who is specially referred to in page 18 ante as a friend of Brother William Campbell, Writer to the Signet, Senior Warden of Canongate Kilwinning, 1801 to 1803,* was affiliated a member of Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho on 3oth September 1803, as is very distinctly stated by Brother Horner in the inscription on a bible which he pre- sented to that Lodge, and which is quoted in said page 1 8 ante. Copy of a letter from

* The same Brother William Campbell who, on I2th November 1845, seconded the motion as to painting the picture of the Inauguration of Robert Burns as Poet Laureate.

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Brother Horner, and extract from subsequent minute of the Lodge, relative to this matter, are herein given under the head of Notanda.

The odd part of the business is that Brother Leonard Horner is not recorded in the minute of 3oth September 1803, nor in any other minute, as having been affiliated from Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

The minute referred to of Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho is as follows : —

" RATHO Sepr. 30'* 1803

" The Lodge met and Constitute when James Kraft Simonsen of Norway,. Abraham Henderson, William Weir, & Geo. McLaren were admitted Members, & paid their dues accordingly.

Brother Simonsen paid . . . o 13 6

Brothers Henderson, Weir, & McLaren, 10/6 each."

(No Signature.}

Were Grand Secretary's illogical assertion regarding the Canongate Kilwinning minute of ist March 1787 for a moment to be entertained, then, by a parity of such reasoning, " the foregoing minute proves beyond question that no such event as the " affiliation of Brother Leonard Horner to the Lodge Kirknewton and Ratho " took place at the meeting of"* 3oth September 1803, — which reasoning is manifestly absurd and untrue.

Robert Burns and the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow.

The inconsistency of those two brethren, the Historian and an industrious Past- Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), in ignoring the fact that the visit of Robert Burns to the Lodge St. Andrew, No. 48, on i2th January 1787, is not recorded in the minute book of that Lodge, — while, by their vaunting reference to the Canongate Kilwinning minute of ist March 1787, they try hard to persuade their readers that the omission from that minute of any record concerning Robert Burns "proves beyond question " that no such event as the Inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate of Canongate " Kilwinning took place at the meeting of ist March 1787," — is further demonstrated by the following narrative of an episode in the Poet's life which is not generally known.

This narrative comes as a very complete parallel to the Inauguration episode above mentioned, in respect that the great honour conferred upon Robert Burns on the special occasion in question was not minuted on the date of its occurrence, " and yet, " neithe r he , nor any of his friends, nor any of his biographers, take any notice of such an " event." f

The narrative is as follows : —

On the 1 6th day of November 1787, Robert Burns of Mossgeil, Ayrshire, was made a Burgess and Guild Brother of the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, but the easy-going

* The two quotations in above paragraph are from Grand Secretary's letter to The Freemason, dated i8th August 1891.

t A statement in re the Inauguration quoted from the letter written by Brother Mackenzie's correspondent to The Freemason, dated I4th November 1888.

i

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Town Clerk of that ancient and renowned burgh took no notice in his minute of the Town Council's business on that day, of the unusual occurrence he had witnessed, in which Burns figured so prominently. The Town Clerk doubtless considered the rare honour conferred on Burns was quite a complimentary or social affair — quite outside the usual routine, and not " business" according to his acceptation of the term, — just as the Secretary of Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, appears to have thought of the Burns' incident on izth January 1787, and as the Secretary of Canongate Kilwinning thought regarding the Inauguration of Burns as Poet Laureate on ist March 1787.

That Robert Burns had been made a Burgess and Guild Brother of Linlithgow on 1 6th November 1787 — that no record of such event had been made in the minute of the Linlithgow Town Council Meeting of said date — and that his Burgess Ticket, bearing same date upon it, was produced and verified at a meeting of the Town Council of Linlithgow held on 4th January 1859 are indisputable facts, satisfactorily shown in the following copy of Excerpt from Minute of Council Meeting held on the latter date : —

" Excerpt from Minute of Meeting of the Town Council of the Royal Burgh of Linlithgow, held on ^th January 1859.

" Alexander Thomas, Esquire, residing in Linlithgow, having been introduced to the meeting, exhibited a Burgess Ticket to instruct that our great National Poet, Robert Burns, the Centenary of whose birth is to be celebrated with such universal acclaim throughout the length and breadth of the land upon the 25th of January current, was duly admitted a Burgess of this Burgh upon the i6th of November 1787. Mr Thomas stated that this interesting and valuable relic was now the property of Neilson Mitchell, Esq., Merchant in Glasgow, a native, like himself, of the good town.

" The Council, having inspected the Ticket and the impression of the Burgh Seal attached to it, and being fully satisfied of their genuineness, — althrf no notice is taken of the admission in the Council Minute of the date it was made, — arising, doubtless, from the practice that prevailed in the Burgh down to a comparatively recent period of parties being admitted by the Magistrates without any record of the circumstance being preserved in the Council Minute Books,* — instruct the Clerk to subjoin a copy of the Burgess Ticket to this minute, and also to insert a Memorandum on the Minute Book of the date it took place that such an admission had been made, and that the Burgess Ticket had this day been produced to and verified by the Council.

"The meeting further passed a vote of thanks both to Mr Mitchell and Mr Thomas for thus enabling them to preserve such gratifying evidence of the connection that existed betwixt the Burgh and Scotland's own Immortal Bard."

* From this singular explanation, made in the year 1859, it is evident that the bestowal of a Burgess Ticket, even upon so distinguished a poet as Robert Burns, was not considered "business." Vide minute of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, March ist, 1787, Part II., page 14.

59

" COPY OF BURGESS TICKET granted by the Town of Linlithgow to ROBERT BURNS.

" AT LINLITHGOW, the Sixteenth day of November One thousand seven hundred " and Eighty-seven years,

"The which day, in presence of James Andrew, Esq., Provost of the Burgh of " Linlithgow ; William Napier, James Watson, Stephen Mitchell, and John Gibson, " Baillies, and Robert Speeden, Dean of Guild, — COMPEARED, Mr Robert Burns, " Mossgeil, Ayrshire, who was made and created Burgess and Guild Brother of the " said Burgh, having given his Oath of Fidelity according to the form used thereanent. " EXTRACTED BY

"(Signed) JA. TAYLOR, Clk."

Notwithstanding the very plausible explanation given in the year 1859 by the Town Council of the ancient burgh of Linlithgow, as to the singular omission from their minute of meeting, dated the i6th November 1787, of any reference to Burns — it does seem very odd that the Burgess Ticket should appear as if it had been " Extracted by Jas. Taylor, Clk.," from some record of the said Town Council.

That all shows how indifferent even a Town Clerk could be during last century in rendering an account of what occurred at one of his most important meetings.

3. EXCURSIONS OF ROBERT BURNS DURING THE SUMMER AND AUTUMN, 1787.

The Past-Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i, in his undated letter to The Freemason, pp. 48 and 49 of " the printed correspondence," has expended much time and labour unnecessarily in his references to a "journey" which Burns made in the year 1787. Throughout pages 14 to 19 ante, I have shown that, in the letter referred to, he has made most absurd and unfounded assertions concerning the boy William Campbell and "this journey." At this point I shall only quote the following words from it : —

"But Brother Campbell's statement is contradicted by all the biographers of Burns, who state that he made this journey in company with Dr Adair only." [Continuation of this quotation will be found at page 14 ante.']

Brother Mackenzie's correspondent cannot prove the assertion with which he begins that paragraph. Brother Campbell's statement is a very simple one ; it is quoted in the last paragraph of page 14 ante, and, instead of being "contradicted by all the " biographers of Burns," it is not mentioned by any one of them.

6o

Further, "all the biographers of Burns" do not "state that he made this journey 41 in company with Dr Adair only," as will now be shown.

On this subject of the excursions made by Robert Burns during the summer and autumn of 1787, I quote from "The Life and Works of Robert Burns," by Robert Chambers, appendix to vol. II., page 319, published 1886, as follows : —

" In previous narratives of Burns's life the events of the summer and autumn of 1787 are to a serious extent incorrectly arranged.

" Dr Currie represents Burns as returning from Mauchline to Edinburgh in June, and thence setting out on the West Highland ride which terminated at Dumbarton.

There is no apparent evidence for his having returned at this time to Edinburgh."

******

" The learned biographer is certainly wrong in placing the tour by Stirling to Harvieston with Dr Adair in August. Burns was at Mauchline till the 7th of that month, and on the 23rd he wrote a letter, dated from Nicol's house in Edinburgh. On the 25th he and Nicol set out on their post-chaise journey to the Highlands. It is very unlikely that Burns would have a ten days' tour between the 7th and 23rd of August, and so early as the 25th set out again over the same ground — ground, too, which Currie

represents him as having passed over for a first time in June."

******

" What finally sets it at rest is a document, lighted upon since the above was written, and alluded to in the text, showing that Burns was a subject of legal proceedings, and made a personal appearance in Edinburgh on account of them on the i5th of August. Arriving in Edinburgh from Mossgeil on the 7th, engaged in these legal matters on and perhaps before the i5th, writing to Robert Ainslie from Nicol's house on the 23rd, and setting out on the post-chaise journey with Nicol on the 25th, there is no time for a ten days' tour with Dr Adair during this month. No such tour, there- fore, took place at that time. The early and middle part of October is the first clear space of time which will suffice for a ten days' tour ; it is also the first sufficient space of time prior to the setting in of winter, after which any such tour was not likely to have taken place."

The foregoing is only one authority on the subject of the August and October excursions of Robert Burns in the year 1787 at variance with statements in "the printed correspondence," and, as already stated, that authority was published in the year 1886. In the following information, published so far back as 1871, I find a similar account of the circumstantial narrative of the several journeys as traced by Robert Chambers. It is quoted from " Chronological Summary of the Life and Writings of Burns," a chapter contained in " The Complete Poetical Works of Robert Burns," by William Scott Douglas.

"MORE EDINBURGH LIFE, AND SUNNY-DAY RECREATIONS, [1787— AGE 28].

" AUG. 25. — Northern Tour. — [Sets out from Edinburgh in a chaise, along with Wm. Nicol, for Stirling and the North.]

"AUG. 27. — [The poet leaves Nicol for one day in Stirling, and proceeds to visit Gavin Hamilton's relatives at Harvieston, on the Devon.]

6i

" AUG. 28. — [Journey resumed by way of Crieff, Tay mouth, Aberfeldy, Dunkeld, Blair- Athole, Killiecrankie, Fort-George, Inverness ; and back by Nairn, Forres, Elgin, Fochabers, Castle-Gordon, Cullen, Aberdeen, The Mearns, Montrose, Arbroath, Dundee, Carse of Gowrie, Perth, Strath earn, Invermay, Kinross, Queensferry to Edinburgh, where the travellers arrived on i6th September, after three weeks' absence.]

" Final Excursion in October. — [Re-visits Stirling and Harvieston in company with Dr Adair; Cauldron Linn, Rumbling Brig. Visits Mr Ramsay of Ochtertyre on Teith, and Sir William Murray of Ochtertyre in Strathearn ; also Mrs Bruce of Clack- mannan Tower.]

" OCT. 20. — [Returns to Edinburgh, and makes his residence with Mr William Cruickshanks, teacher, High School.]"

A third authority is " The Complete Works of Robert Burns, with a Memoir by "William Gunnyon," published in 1873 by William P. Nimmo. It affords precisely the same information as do those two authorities already quoted, — quite in opposition to the erroneous assertion of Brother Mackenzie's correspondent, regarding what he asserts is said by " all the biographers of Burns."

A fourth authority to similar effect on the subject of the August and October excursions in 1787, is "The National Burns," edited by the late Rev. George Gilfillan.

But, — independently of all those testimonies, — evidence exists from so far back a period as the year 1846 in the "Dedication" [Preface] of "A Winter with Robert Burns," where it is stated that Brother James Marshall, the compiler of such work, testified to the fact of Brother William Campbell, W.S., having said that he had been in "the company of Burns at Auchtertyre House, during the autumn of 1787." Brother Marshall was present at the meeting of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning when his friend Brother William Campbell so expressed himself. Further evidence, therefore, on this head is unnecessary to confute the reckless assertions of Brother Mackenzie's correspondent, the Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh, No. i.

4. ATTENDANCE OF ROBERT BURNS AT MEETINGS OF LODGE CANONGATE

KILWINNING.

The Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i, in his "Prefatory Note" to "the printed Copy of the Correspondence," dated June 1892, concludes his assertions thus : —

" It may be added, for what it may be worth, that, in the opinion of the writer, — formed after an exhaustive examination of every available source of information, and a careful consideration of the associations and movements of the Poet during his visits to Edinburgh, — there is nothing to lead one to believe that the Poet visited the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge on any occasion other than the one on which he received honorary affiliation."

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In his first letter on the subject, dated i4th November 1888, the same writer said : —

" It is seen that he (Burns) could have attended, at the most, only three meetings of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning during the season 1786-87."

A few lines further on, in same letter, he writes : —

" He (Burns) thus, during the Masonic season 1787-88, could not have attended more than two such meetings, if he attended any."

In his letter to The Freemason, dated 6th July 1889, the correspondent made the following assertion : —

" I have already shown that Burns could have only attended the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning on two, certainly not more than three, occasions."

But afterwards, in same letter, the correspondent assured his readers as follows : —

" From my own researches / am satisfied that Burns attended one meeting only — the February meeting — of the Lodge in 1787."

As a direct and effectual contradiction of those assertions made by the Past Master of Lodge No. i (Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason), I shall do little more than refer to the extract from Minute of Lodge meeting, held Qth February 1815, to be found herein at page 30 of Part II., in which the lamented Poet Laureate is referred to as " a public character so immediately connected with them [the brethren of Canongate Kilwinning], and who on so many occasions contributed so generally to the harmony of the Masonic Order, and to that of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in particular"

Further, as showing how very quickly after arriving in Edinburgh Robert Burns began his attendances at Canongate Kilwinning, the following extract will prove of interest. I quote it from page 282 of " Biography of the Hon. Henry Erskine, Lord Advocate for Scotland, by Lieut. -Colonel Alex. Fergusson," 1882 : —

" It was Mr Erskine who introduced Burns, on his coming to Edinburgh, to the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge of Masons, He had himself joined it about six years previously, and since that time had frequently occupied the chair at the meetings of this Lodge, which was especially resorted to by many of the leading Whigs at that time. Mr Erskine was the more ready to present his friend to the brethren, as he had, it is stated, ' seen by his poems that he was a person who would be quite at home in a Lodge.' "

Robert Burns arrived in Edinburgh, 28th November 1786.

" On the 7th December 1786, Burns wrote to his friend, Gavin Hamilton : — ' My Lord Glencairn and the Dean of Faculty, Mr Henry Erskine, have taken me under their wing.'"

There is a minute of the Lodge meeting held 7th December — first of the season 1786 — also a minute on behalf of Grand Lodge on same date, but in neither of them is there any mention of Burns being present. That is not surprising after what we

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learn of the neglect elsewhere in the Canongate Kilwinning records, also in the minutes of Lodge St. Andrew, Edinburgh, because the minute-book of the latter body shows no mention of Robert Burns as being present at the great meeting of i2th January 1787.

At page 278 of same work quoted, it is said : —

" The year 1786 is memorable as that in which Robert Burns made his debut in Edinburgh, an event closely connected with more than one member of the Erskine

family."

******

"The extreme cordiality of the reception which awaited Robert Burns on his arrival in Edinburgh, from a small group of congenial souls, is not difficult of explanation — there was more in it than mere admiration for genius. Mr Erskine's sister had, as has been stated, been married in the preceding year to the Earl of

Glencairn's brother." — (Page 280.)

******

" Creech the bookseller, too, who had been the travelling tutor of Lord Glencairn, and who was to be Burns' publisher, was not the least important of those whose acquaintance he made by means of this family coterie at the earliest stage of his Edinburgh career." (Page 281.)

In my Review of the minutes of years 1786-7-8, at pages 4 to n of Part II., abundant proof is given out of the recorded minutes themselves — reproduced in the eight pages which immediately follow that Review — that very many other meetings of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning had taken place during the two-and-a-half years referred to, of which no record has been preserved.

It will be obvious to any impartial reader of that Review, and those minutes of the years 1786-7-8, that there had been very many meetings of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning besides the very few recorded during that period, and, consequently, there is no reason to doubt what was said by the R.W. Master, George Simson, and acquiesced in by all the brethren present, at the Lodge meeting, held gth February 1815, that Burns on " many occasions contributed to the harmony of the Masonic Order, and to that " of the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning in particular."

5. ALLEGED FIRST MENTION IN CANONGATE KILWINNING RECORDS OF ROBERT BURNS HAVING BEEN POET LAUREATE.

The Past-Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel), No. i — Brother Mackenzie's correspondent of The Freemason — in his first letter, already referred to,

said : —

"Until 1835 there was no such office in 'the Lodge Canongate Kilwinning as that of Poet Laureate."

In same letter it is said : — " The Poet is claimed not only as having been elected its first Poet Laureate, but as having held that office from 1787 until his death in 1796. The records of the Lodge, which I some years ago examined, give no countenance to this assertion."

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And, further on, it is added : — "It was not until 1815, twenty-eight years after the alleged occurrence, and nineteen years after the Poet's death, that any mention is made of the event."

In answer to those misleading assertions, I will briefly remark that it is quite evident that the records of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning did not receive a very "exhaustive" examination by the said Past Master of Lodge No. i, otherwise he would have learned, if anxious about it, that the earliest record in Lodge Canongate Kilwinning of Robert Burns having been Poet Laureate, so far as yet discovered, is the framed print of our first Poet Laureate, bearing the following inscription : —

" ROBERT BURNS, THE SCOTTISH BARD,

"POET LAUREAT,

"LODGE No. 2, CANNONGATE

"KILWINNING."

further, that the said Past Master of Lodge No. i — had he been careful in his examina- tion of Canongate Kilwinning records, and desirous of the information — should have discovered also, as I did, that the above-mentioned print was one of "four prints which were got for the Lodge," and which on 24th June 1802, "met with the approbation of the Brethern."

Such entry in the record of Lodge meeting, held 24th June 1802, constitutes it the earliest reference in the minute books of Canongate Kilwinning to Robert Burns as Poet Laureate of the Lodge.

The said Past Master of Lodge No. i should have also learned that the above noted print of Robert Burns, "Poet Laureat," contains the year of publication, 1798, engraved upon it, and, consequently, that it may have been exhibited in the Lodge- room even earlier than on 24th June 1802, though only approved on that date by "the Brethern." See frontispiece, also pages n and 20 ante, and Part II., pages 20 to 25.

6. GARBLED QUOTATIONS.

Brother Mackenzie's principal correspondent of The Freemason — the industrious Past Master of the Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary's Chapel) — in his anxiety to underrate the argument contained in my letter of yth February 1873, has made some extravagant assertions, and has mixed and misquoted passages from that letter in a most arbitrary manner.

I shall confine my comments on this point to a certain portion of the letter written i4th November 1888 by the above-designated correspondent to The Freemason.

The portion to which I refer appears in pp. 12 and 13 of "the printed copy of correspondence." In reproducing the same as follows, I also reproduce alongside it two paragraphs — from widely separate parts of my letter of yth February 1873 —

out of which the misquotations in question have been adroitly woven. These show at a glance how the garbling process has been accomplished : —

EXTRACTS from LETTER to Brother D. MURRAY LYON from Brother HUGH C. PEACOCK when the latter was Secretary of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning.

7//z February 1873.

[Vide Part II., pp. 57 and 59, also History of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, pp. 117 and 120.]

[Paragraph from beginning of Letter. ] " Had any doubt ever been previously thrown on the universally accepted connection of Robert Burns with the Canongate Kilwinning, the nature of your reference to it might be looked for in such a com- prehensive work as you propose to publish ; but, when it is considered that only now, when few of the living links! remain, connecting us with those who had often borne testimony to their personal ac- quaintance with Burns, and to their having been at meetings of the Lodge when he was there as its Poet Laureate, the tenor of your notice appears extraordinary. "

*##**#

[Paragraph front nearly the end of Letter. ~\ " It may be reckoned comparatively slender evi- dence to add to the foregoing, yet it may be re- marked as some satisfaction to know, that there are members of the Lodge at the present time who associated for years with those members who had the privilege of Burns' company in the Lodge when he wore the jewel of his office as Poet Laureate ; that, further, that jewel was also worn by the Ettrick Shepherd as Poet Laureate of Canongate Kil- winning, and it had the name of Robert Burns engraved upon it when the Poet Laureateship was conferred on him."

EXTRACT from LETTER to The Free- mason by Brother MACKENZIE'S chief correspondent — the Past Mas- ter of the Lodge of Edinburgh No. i.

lAttli November 1888.

"The allegation that Burns was elected Poet Laureate of the Lodge is further sought to be- supported by