Robert Burns – A Poet and a Freemason

All men possess some measure of intrinsic worth, but genius , like int he case of Robert Burns, is a rare and singular gift bestowed upon humanity. The word genius denotes originality, deriving from the Latin gignere, meaning “to be born,” and, earlier still, from the Greek gennaō, “to generate” or “to produce.”

A man may be an able soldier or a skilled politician, yet only a man of genius becomes an inventor, a poet, or an original thinker. Whenever we encounter individuals of exceptional intellect, shaping their own destinies and rising above their contemporaries, we recognise the presence of such minds. They have appeared in every age and among all races of humankind. They belong to no single class or creed and are often deeply religious in their own distinctive way.

Robert Burns, Scotland’s greatest son, was indeed such a man. He taught the world through his poems the difference between religion and faith.

"The rank is but the guinea's stamp

The man's the gowd for all that."

THE MAN HE WAS

Possibly no poet ever lived who possessed that original style and uniqueness of composition as Robert Burns. He was the poet of the rights of the common people. His qualities were fire, tenderness, humour, simplicity and all so nicely and rarely blended together.

He touched with delicate and joyful hands the deep and noble feelings of old Scotland and the life, the faith, the genious and hope of his native land.

This is why we love Robert Burns, for it was he who taught us the brotherhood of man, that which lives in his songs and always will live while human nature is the same. He saw the nature with the eyes of a child, saw beauty in the fold of hills, in the trees, in the flowing waters and the sound of the wind filled him with a sad joy.

Such was Robert Burns, a man full of passion and pity.

If he could have its way with us, every injustice, every cruelty, every despotism would fall and every man would have a more fulfilled life and superior soul.

“Then let us pray, that come what may 

As come it will, for all that

That man to man, the world over 

Shall brothers be, for all that”

HIS LIFE

Robert Burns was born on the 25^th day of January 1759 in a peasant cottage in the village of Alloway, two miles south of Ayr, Scotland.

The old parish records, faded with age, show his ancestry to have been of the best blood of Ayr and Alloway. The following is a brief account of this old (Celt) family: “Lawful son of William Burns of Alloway and Agnes Brown, his spouse” and “baptized by Mr. William Dalrymple: witnesses, John Tement and James Young.”

The youthful days of Burns were spent amid rural surroundings that gave him an opportunity to read of the philosophy of life from the open pages of the book of nature. His playmate in school was his modest brother Gilbert. The poet’s maternal grandfather, Gilbert Brown, was a farmer known for his upright living but also for his deep religious convictions.

To begin with his education was basic and consisted of learning to read and write, the rules of grammar and arithmetic, but later in life he picked up a bit of French, Latin and some knowledge of the Classics.

When his farmer father died in 1784 he inherited the business but was unable to run it and soon fell into financial difficulties having also made two women[1] pregnant in the meantime.

In 1788 he married Jean Armour, a very forgiving woman who took care of all Burns’ children, legitimate and illegitimate alike. They bought a farm but it did not prosper and Burns, for the second time, had to abandon that profession and in 1789 he became an Excise employee.

He was described to be nearly five feet ten inches in height, agile and strong; his forehead shaded with black curling hair, his eyes large, dark, full of bright intelligence, his face vividly expressive. But the principal aspect of Burns, even in his young age, was his charming personality so full of fun and fire; he was affable and a lover of company.

He was first an honest man but often utterly sinful!  Women found him most attractive and gave him a string of illegitimate children.

But we love Robert Burns as much for his weakness as for his strength and his fame rests on verses written swiftly, on spontaneous songs.

BURNS THE FREEMASON

Before reaching manhood Burns had witnessed a Masonic funeral, a sight that remained with him for the rest of his life. At the age of twenty two he was initiated into the mysteries of Freemasonry in Tarbolton, Ayrshire by the Lodge of St.David’s No. 174, whose membership consisted of the “substantial, upright, and honest gentlemen” of the neighbourhood. An extract from the minutes  of that historic Lodge, under the date of July 4, 1784, reads:  “Robert Burns in Lockly was entered an apprentice.” Signed, Norman, The Master.”  and under the date of October 1, the record reads:  “Robert Burns in Lockly was passed and raised, Henry Cowan being Worshipful Master, James Humphrey being Senior Warden, and Alex Smith, Junior; Robert Wadrown, Secretary, and John Manson, Treasurer; John Tammock, Tyler, and others of the brethren being present.”  Yes, the second and third degree were conferred on the same evening!

The lessons Burns had learned in Freemasonry had a very welcome place in his heart, and in a short time he wished for more “light”. Six years after his initiation he was made a Knights Templar as well as a Royal Arch Mason in Eyemouth, as under the old regime the two were always given together. By this time he had won some fame as an enthusiastic Freemason as well as a poet and a the author of songs; writing and publishing them became his livelihood.

On July 27^th 1784, Burns was elected Master of St James Lodge, Tarbolton, an office he held until St John’s Day, 1788.

Burns was made an honorary member of St John’s Lodge 22, Kilmarnock, on October 26^th 1786 by his great friend and financial supporter, Major William Parker,  also the Worshipful Master of the Lodge.

The minutes of that meeting read as follows: “Robert Burns, poet from Mauchline, a member of St James, Tarbolton, was made an honorary member of this Lodge. The minutes of the old “record book” of “St. Abb’s Lodge” of Leymouth, under the date of May 19, 1787 read: “At a general encampment of St. Abb’s Lodge, the following brethren were made Royal Arch Masons: Robert Burns, from the Lodge of St. James, Tarbolton, Ayrshire; and Robert Ainslie, from the Lodge of St. Luke, Edinburgh. Robert Ainslie paid one guinea admission dues; but, on account of Robert Burns’ remarkable poetical genius the encampment agreed to admit him gratis, and considered themselves honoured by having a man of such shining abilities for one of their companions.”

Previous to Robert Burns entering the Craft , the Lodges of  St. David and of St. James’ were consolidated into one called “St. David’s Lodge, No. 174 of Ancient Freemasons” which later separated;  each Lodge claiming Bobbie Burns to have held membership with them.

THE MASTER’S MASON APRON

June 24th, St John’s Day, is a festival observed by the Masonic fraternity. In early June 1786, Brother Burns, anxious to ensure a strong attendance on the occasion, sent to his fellow Mason, Dr John Mackenzie, an elegant notice composed in verse, which delighted those who read it.

As it happened, the attendance at St. David’s Lodge on that particular “St. John’s Day”  turned out to be quite large and Robert Burns extended the warm hand of friendship and brotherhood upon that occasion by reciting that poem from his talented pen:

"There's many a badge that's unco braw

Wi' ribbons, lace, and tape on:

Let Kings and Princes wear them a'

Gie me the Master's apron

The honest craftsman's apron

The jolly Freemason's apron,

Bide he at hame, or roam afar

Before his touch fa's bolt an' bar,

The gates of fortune fly ajar,

'Gin he wears the apron.

For w'alth and honor, pride and power

Are crumbling stanes to base on:

Fraternity should rule the hour

And ilka worthy Mason,

Each free accepted Mason

Each ancient crafted Mason.

Then, brithers, let a halesome sang

Arise your friendly ranks alang.

Gude Wives and bairnes blithely sing

Ti' the ancient badge wi' the apron string

That is worn by the Maste Mason."

ON RELIGION

The petty politicians of sectarianism exploited Burns’s sensitive nature and, in his youth, drew him into theological disputes. In later years, however, Burns often maintained that the religious controversies of his early life did not arise from hostility to faith, which he deeply respected.

See his philosophy in these lines:

"In ploughman phrase, God send you speed,

Still daily to grow wiser;

And may ye better reck the rede

Than ever did th' adviser."

Many of his poems are sermons worthy to be cherished by all lovers of literature. He frowned upon no man for his form of worshipping God and despised the selfishness of man in commercial life:

"The poor, oppressed, honest man

Had never sure been born

Had there not been some recompense

To comfort those that mourn."

Again he writes:

"Great Nature spoke, with benign

'Go on, ye human race

This lower world I you resign

Be faithful and increase.' "

To the memory of his daughter who died in 1795 he wrote two verses, one of which is as follows:

"To those who for her loss are grieved,

This consolation's given:

She's from a world of woe relieved

And blooms a rose in heaven."

One of his truest friends was John Bushby, who was known for his faith in God and his honesty of purpose in worldly affairs. At his grave Burns wrote:

 "Here lies John Bushby, honest man!

Cheat him, Devil, if you can."

BURN’S DAY

January 25th has become a widely celebrated date among Freemasons and among all who cherish the gentler qualities of humanity, irrespective of race or creed. Where once the birthday of Robert Burns was observed chiefly in Scotland, it is now commemorated by people of many races, religions, and languages, who gather to mark the occasion. Burns Night has become a time when numerous dinners are held in honour of his memory. The ritual of the Burns’ Supper was started by his close friends a few years after his passing to the Grand Lodge above and the format remains largely unchanged today.

It begins with the Chairman of the Supper  inviting the assembled company to welcome in the haggis.  The poem “To a Haggis” is recited and the haggis is then toasted with a glass of wisky.  The evening thereafter ends with the singing of Robert Burns’ universaly known “ Auld Lang Syne” [2].

Our Brother and poet died in Dumfries on July 21, 1796 at the early age of thirty seven and was buried five days later at Alloway Kirk, Ayr. No grave in all Scotland is held in greater affection by visitors than that of Robert Burns—a man who, like all others, had his faults and faced the trials of life, yet whose tender heart bestowed upon humanity messages of enduring sweetness.

His name will live on to the end of time.

By Anon

---

[1] His mother’s servant Elizabeth Paton in 1785 as well as Margaret Campbell (“Highland Mary”)

[2]  Which he wrote in 1788