OUR NATIONAL BARD, BROTHER ROBERT BURNS, BORN THIS DAY 25TH JANUARY 1759
Saturday 25th January 2025
Many influences played on Robert Burns as he developed into the historic character who is so widely revered throughout the world, his life and works being celebrated far and wide as many participate in Burns Suppers globally, a celebration begun on 21 July 1801, the anniversary of the poet’s death. Led by the Reverend Hamilton Paul, a number of Burns’ friends met at Burns Cottage in Alloway to raise a glass to the memory of their friend and quote some of his work. They didn’t know it at the time, but this was the first Burns supper.
Haggis and sheep’s head were on the menu, while they recited “Address to a Haggis” and sang some of the great man’s songs. Thereafter, the celebration was moved to annually mark his birth in January.
Amongst the influences were his father, William Burness, his tutor, John Murdoch, and, on becoming a man, Freemasonry.
On the 4th of July 1781, Robert Burns joined Lodge St. David No. 174 in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, in his twenty third year as an Entered Apprentice, his Initiation fee being 12s 6d, and paid on the same date. He had been guided in that direction and introduced to The Craft by Brother Alexander Wood, a tailor from Tarbolton.
Burns was subsequently Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft and raised to the Degree of Master Mason on 1 October 1781. The Lodge record book, reads as follows:
‘Robert Burns in Lochly was Passed and Raised, Henry Cowan being Master, James Humphrey Senr. Warden, and Alexr. Smith Junr. Do., Robt. Woodrow Secy. and James Manson Treasurer, and John Tannock Taylor and others of the Brethren being present.’
Burns, at the time of his Initiation into Freemasonry, was living with his father at the farm of Lochlea, in the parish of Tarbolton. However, he had been developing plans to temporarily move to Irvine to learn the art of flax dressing, He had hoped that this would enable the opportunity of setting up a business, with his brother, in dressing flax which would be developed at his father’s farm. A few days after his Initiation into Freemasonry, he set off to Irvine. However, his plans failing, he returned home.
His zeal for Freemasonry became obvious. His father had taught him to look with reverence to the Almighty for guidance and support; he loved nature and all things around him; he respected and loved his fellow man. In effect, he practised the true tenets of Freemasonry. It is no surprise that he was an enthusiastic and regular attender at his meetings.
The talent of Burns was well recognised by the Brethren, resulting in, on 27 July 1784, his election, at the relatively young age of 25, as “Depute Master”. It was not unusual for the Master of a Lodge to be so in an Honorary role, so most of the duties of Brother Sir John Witefoord, Master, were carried out by Burns (who was effectively Master). Burns carried these out in an excellent and exemplary manner.
It is of interest that three minutes of the Lodge meetings were in his handwriting and from the twenty-nine minutes which were signed by him, we can also see when he changed the spelling of his surname. William, his father, spelled it “Burness” and Robert had followed suit. However, when on 1 March 1786, Robert’s brother Gilbert received his Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees, both Gilbert and Robert signed their surnames as “Burns”.
Also in this year, Burns reversed his decision to emigrate to Jamaica and decided to stay in Scotland. July 1786 saw his Kilmarnock Edition of poems financed and published by a Brother Freemason, in conjunction with 350 brethren of St. John’s Lodge, Kilmarnock, all of whom had subscribed to a copy. Becoming an Honorary Member of Lodge Kilmarnock Kilwinning St. John, he wrote “Masonic Song” in honour of the Lodge.
Burns received a great honour on 1 March 1787, in front of a full complement of the Brethren of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning—part of the business being to confer a mark of respect on Burns. In carrying out this duty, the Master bestowed the title of Poet-Laureate of the Lodge on Burns, a title which he treasured and of which he was extremely proud. This is well represented in the painting depicting the inauguration of Burns as the Poet-Laureate of the Canongate Kilwinning Lodge, on view in the museum in Freemasons’ Hall, Edinburgh.
In reading Burns’ work, we are reminded of the importance of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth and that these should be practised outwith the Lodge as well as within it. This is evidenced in such verses as:
Adieu! a heart-warm fond adieu;
Dear brothers of the mystic tie!
Ye favoured, enlighten’d few,
Companions of my social joy;
There’s mony a badge that’s unco braw,
Wi’ ribbon, lace and tape on;
Let Kings and Princes wear them a’,
Gie me the Master’s apron!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
It’s comin yet for a’ that,
That Man to Man the warld o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that.
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