The Lecturer.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 43, 20 January 1894, Page 3

The Lecturer.

*‘A MAN’S a MAN for a’ THAT.” (From a Scotch paper.) The Rev. T. C. Hill some time ago g-ave a lecture in the chapel, East JStrathaven, on Burns’ song, “A man s a man for a’ that.” There was a good attendance. Speaking of the truth embodied in the song, Mr Hill said Robert Burns had a sore struggle all liis lifetime with poverty. He knew what it was to be “ a cottar howkin’ sai a sheugh,” k3iew what it was to Meet wi’ sair disasters, Bike loss o’ health an’ want o’ masters.” lie had indeed "Misfortunes great an’ sma’, But aye a head abuno them a’.” He was able to say " We dare be poor lor a’ that I Bor a’ that, an' a’ that, Our toils obscure an’ a’ that, The rank is but the guinea’s stamp, The man’s the gowd for a’ that.”

jSTo happier, or more striking figure of speech ever came from poet s pen, and no philosopher ever put so much truth into so little space. He saw cjearty, and felt it too, that it was not rank nor wealth that made the man, hut character, and each stanza of this son o - but give the various aspects of this*truth. The best qualities of his own character, the qualities that endear him to the national heart and make him the people’s poet, shine through it from beginning to end. He had a high contempt for all mere pride of birth, rank, or title that rested its superiority, respect, or worship on these external things. And nothing is more humourous in conception, more graphic in description, nor keener in satire than the words of the third stanza — Xe see yon birkio ca’d a lord, Whu struts an’ stares an’ a’ that ; Though hundreds worship at his word, He’s but a coof for a’ that; For a’ that, and a’ that, i His riband, star, and a’ that, The man of independent mind He looks an’ laughs at a’ that. If Robert Bums was anything he was .natural, and if he struggled to be anything it was to be a man, free from all affectation and cant. When his poems had brought him fame, and the prospects of wealth and ease opened up before him foi’ one brief moment, and when he might have been tempted to slip the humble friends and acquaintances of his ploughman’s days, it was the last thing- he thought of doing 1 , sis the gentleman who tried to oensui-e him for speaking to one in Jiodden grey knew to his cost. Speak -

ing of the false ideals of what it was to be a man, Mr Hill said ; People talk about their ancestors, their blue blood and their social status. They lay all the stress upon their gentility, and would mark off humanity not only into distinct sections, but would raise barriers loaded with cruel spikes to make the distinction all the more severe. All who toil for daily bread are made rude, vulgar, ignorant, and only exist to minister to their comfort and to uphold their dignity. This has been the attribute too long. It is a false one, however, and as such it mustpass away. Amongst the middle class we find, too, that the ideal of what it is to be a man is not very high. With many of our young men this is true. The beards of many of them; indeed, seem to grow faster than their brains. How they try to play the swell, although they should not have a sixpence in their pockets. What airs they put on ! How they strut about with largeheaded walking sticks, and collars and cuffs to match, and believe in their conceitedness that their manly appearance is the admiration of all the young ladies in the neigbourhood, and that they have just to propose to an}’ of them to be accepted. But our young ladies, as a rule, are not so blind as to take clothes poles for men. And if we come to the ordinary rank and file of the working classes, we find too many young men whose ideal of manhood rises no higher than that, when they have finished their apprenticeship, they will have plenty of money to spend on all kinds of amusements. There are too many men amongst the toiling masses who rail in unreasonableness and bitterness against the “ upper class.” They sing A man’s a man for a’ that.” But it is in the public-house when manhood’s out; for to sing this song, and others like it, when their children are starving, and their homes going to wreck and ruin, proves that they are not men at all. And on this point we might strengthen our position, if that be possible, -with two verses copied originally from an Australian newspaper : —•

“A man’s a man,” says Kobert Burns, l! For a’ that an’ a’ that But though the song be clear and strong It hicks a note for a’ that. The lout who’d shirk his daily work. Yet claim his wage an a’ that. Or beg when he can earn his bread. Is not a man for a’ that.

A man may own a large estate, Have palace, park, an a’ that, And not ior birth, but honest worth, Be thrice a man for a’ that; But Donald herding on the muir, "Who beats Jiis wife an’ a’ that. Be nothing but a rascal boor — Not half a man for a’ that. And so it is not birth nor rank, not wealth nor fine clothes, not the clean hands of the merchant nor the labour stained bands of the artisan, not society nor kings, that makes the man. A king can make a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an a’ that, But an honest man’s aboon bis might, Guid faith, he maunna fa’ that.

A clear conscience, a warm, generous heart, an intelligent mind, a will to do and dare for the good and the right, and a soul pare and ever open to the inspiration of heaven,‘are the virtues that go to make a man, and without them all outward adornments and advantages are in vain and for naught.