Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-22
.BURNs|ANA COLLECTION
TO MASONIC TRUSTEES
VIII Be Housed in Temple Of Scot
fish Rite in WASH
ington.
WITHOUT RIVAL IN WORLD
Transfer Made to Supreme Council
by Representatives OF Late VIII
liam II. Smith-To Be Open to
Public In Magnificent Building.

WASHINGTON. October 21.-By its
action on Friday in adopting the
recommendation made by Sovereign
Grand Commander George Fleming
Moore, the Supreme Council of the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Of
Frecmasonry for the Southern Jurisdic-
ton OF the United States paved the way
for tho transfer OF the trust created in
the will Of the late william r. Smith
In respect to the latter's noted Burnsi-
ana collection from the elcv,' trustees
named In the will to the supreme coun-
Gil. This action empowered Sovereign
Grand Commander Moore to sign all
necessary papers and perform such
other action as might be necessary in
the premises: 1t directed Secretary Cen
eral John II. Cloves. OF the supreme
council. who is custodian Of the build
Ing, to prepare and make ready In the
House of tho Temple. at Sixteenth and
Streets. Northwest, the room or rooms
necessary TO the proper housing and
care Of the Burnsiana collection. and II
empowered the finance committee Of
the supreme council TO provide the nee
essary funds therefor.
This action. 1t Is pointed out. meets
bir. Smiths main purpose and intent to
have the collection preserved intact;
II provides that the collection be prop
erly placed and arranged and also kept
open. under such regulations as will
freely admit the public. 1t further
promises the fulhllment Of Mr.. Smiths
earnest hope" that his Burns collec-
ton might prove the nucleus Of Scot
fish memorial In Washington. with the
practical certainty OF It's enlar gement
as a Burns memorial
FINDS HONORABLE PLACE
IN SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE
At last this noted collection OF Burnsi-
ana, which photographers and scholars
have declared to be almost without a
rival in the world. and which even the
British Museum. It is said, canno, equal
Is to fnd an honorable place in the
House OF the Temple OF the Scottish
Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction Of
the United States. which has been
called the Tai Mahal OF Freemasonry.
tho most significant temple of its kind
In the world.
In the language of the report of the
committee on the housing Of the COL
lection "A powerful and enduring or
Eanization will. with interest and at
lection preserve intact tho Smith Burn
siana open to the public and in a sep
arate room" The report adds: There
is ample room in the Scottish Rite
Temple and there Is n sympathetic dis
position In the Scottish Rite officials
to enlarge and develop the Burnsiana
In accordance with the spirit of Mr..
6mith's wishes"
Tho will OF william r. Smith named
eleven trustees TO whom he bequeathed
his collection OF the works of Robert
Burns. the Scottish poet, and all manu-
scripts. pictures. engravinEs and all
written or printed matter relating in
any way to Robert Burns now pos
sessed by me and known as my Burns
Collection" The collection Is fur
ther described in the will as containing
$500 volumes. which the testator be
lieved to be the largest and most COM
plete collection OF the different edi-
lions OF the poets writings and of
hooks relating to his life and works"
AS matter OF fact it also includes
many portraits and other articles illus
trating the life OF the poet Scottish
books OF poetry. etc. showing the en-
vironment Of Burns, a collection of
duplicates or other editions Of books
which Burns had in his library and
sets and volumes OF periodicals con-
taining notices or references to Burns.
There are also five busts, two pedestals,
a grandtather's clock a small table and
other brIc-a-brac
1t was the earnest and intense wish
OF Dir. Smith the founder of the col
lection. that II be conserved and pre-
served Intact for an American museum
OF one OF the worlds greatest poets
under such regulations as will freely
admit the public. In another para
graph OF the will the testator expresses
the earnest hope that my Burns Col
lection hereinbefore bequeathed to my
said trustees may prove the nucleus of
a Scottish memorial to be at some flu
ture time erected in the city Of Wash
ing:on, D. c."