New-York tribune., 1880-10-11
THE GLOhY AND SHINE or Burns.

The ger ROBERT Coliyer at me church orre Mcssiah-
The announcement that the Rev. Robert
Colyer would lecture Robert Burns filed the Church
of the Messiah last evening to OVERLOOKING The poet
was considered in three lights-thc lie he came lnto
the life he lived and the LIFE be LETT Alter plcturng the
condition of Scotland at the birth of Burns winch the
lecturer denounced as shameully degraded from the
precincts OF the KIRK he SAID that Burns, notwith-
standing the brutal treatment he received at the hands
of his cOuntrvmen during his short life'
did more to make Scotchmen proud OF Scotland
than any otner man. Scott, the poet OF feudalisIn
could command no such homage 4 Burns, the poet OF
freedom The treatment Burns received III lie was
bitterly denounced. Toward the end OF his lfe the
speaker SAID, the record one OF shame and dis
grace and death came from a cold caught while the
poet was drunk There was more shame and disgrace,
OF which few knew, and which the lecturer would not
dare mention Burns printed few books ana these
were bought 10y shepherds and poughman and milk
maids who obliged to hide them in hay mows Tor
Burns was locke upon by the Kirk as an nddel and
scorn.
There should be no apologies for Burns, the speaker
said lie could leave his WIFE in the pains of childbirth
who must die but for human charity; he could lift the
ideals o. manhood aud wOmanhoOd into the most en-
lrallug beauty and grace, aud then ruin women ana
make them base end wrtc things OF man 10 woman that
we bury like the of some evil thing out OF
sight No; the first demand the lie of Burns makes
truth for the sake OF Robert Burns alone but
for that Of all the generations that would understand
the true story Of mis- life
The miserable hut In which the poet was born was
blown pieces in storm before he was ten days Old
His father poet, and his mother sweet singer OF
the old songs About boy slavery. degradation
drunkenness ana the preaching thar these things
had been so from the foundation Of the world In the
field one day with maid nyoung Burns in the reaping
WAS doing his BALI OF ridge. tho maiden taking the
other half girl sang the youth blushed and said he
would write ballad If the maiden would sing IT, With
blush she said she would try and 1t written and
this was the first effort Of the future poet.
The beautiful lines " TO Mouse" suggested at the
plough tle boypOct turned mp mouse and spared
It's life Labor led the waking hours of the poor boy:
and with his brother hard TO keep the roof over
his father. Finally he bad to make change and he
took to faX-dressing The men engaged IN TINS Work
were vie characters and hard drinkers He contracted
his terrible habit OF drunkenness there. lie went 10
In all he did wrong before going 10 ldhhurSh tne ly
was greater than the sin, but III all hr dld wrong er
going Edmburg the sin was greater than tIe iOy.
lie had good little income from me DOCKS Out uThh
mastered nm ana twin curse. TIE poet could nave
saved himself had he wished to exercise his Will lie
would not The loving wife, with all ms fauts' was
true IN her love when all beside failed the poet Though
left widow with five children. all through her WIDOW
booI she tended and kept child not her own, but she
did It for the sake OF the father the dead husband
with all that sinful and shameful in the HE or
Rnrns there is something that shOne ALL and
evil he did does not live after him. while the good IN
him lives. He turned the shams and shames OF that
which passed religion all about him to the stern
whlto light Of God with such witherng scorn
that it might be wondered sometimes % $
more for the Burns was brother to all who
will agree 10 "A common human brotherhood his wolu
was the Declaration OF Independence set 10 music.
which makes sll that hear It and feel ITS power hold up
their heads and step out with surer tread III the up
brothers brothers. Robert Burns had
lived and suffered aud sung.