LECTURE ON ROBERT BURNS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1410, 16 July 1881, Page 2

LECTURE ON ROBERT BURNS.

A IiECTUBE on the life and works of the national poet of Scotland was delivered by the Rev. Mr Fulton at the Presbyterian Church, East Hamilton, on Thursday evening, the proceeds being devoted to the harmonium fund. Despite the disagreeable state of the weather, there was avery good attendance., Thg.xjhair was filled by Oapt. Steele, who in "iiKralucing the lecturer, made a few happy allusions to the subject about to be brought under the notice of the audience, quoting the words of old Fletcher of of Saitoun '• Give me the writing of the nation's ballads and you make the laws, 1 ' aa showing, the, immense influence e,xercisod by the writings of Burns. The rev. lecturer commenced with a brief examination into the nature of poetry in general, tracing its influence in the moulding of a people's language and modes of thought, strengthening and purifying the one, and enobling the other. The story of the chequered and but too brief life of the poet, his early struggles, his education, his noble aspirations and lofty aims, and his bitter and constantly recurring disappointments, his faults his follies, and bis virtues, was simply and forcibly told. Of the quality of Burns' poetry the lecturer haid little; nor was it necessary that a critical examination of his works should have been attempted. The position which his writings occupy in the literature of his country, and of the world, has been pretty accurately determined, and as ib cannot be assailed needs not fco be defended. But on Burns as a man, ajxd on the influence upon mankind of what he has left v«, the lecturer dwelt fully, and the opinions hazarded were those of the new and better school which has come to 1 ecogni«e that what there was of good in Robert Burns for out-weighs the evil, and that much of what has been placed in the litter category is n«t evil after all. Burns, it was claimed, contributed in no mean degiee to the attainment of those libei ties which men of the present day enjoy, and whbh were withheld irom tueir ancestors in the 18th century. To Bums also belonged the honor of having contributed to raise women to her proper station in the world. We have not space to follow the rev. gentleman in detail thiough one of the most delightful lectures we have listened to for a long time. By way of a conclusion, and as an illustration of the quality and moral tendency of Burns" writings, the lecturer gave a very fair readinsr of " The Cottar's Saturday Night." At the close of the lecture a hearty voto of thanks was tendered the lecturer and the usual compliment having been paid to the chair the audience dispersed well pleased with what they had heard.