A mason’s a mason for a’ that
Burns’ literary success ‘relied on Freemasonry’
HIS poetry and love songs are celebrated the world over.
But research suggests Scotland’s national bard owes his literary success not only to the quality of his verse, but also to his membership of the Freemasons.
A new documentary claims Robert Burns, when his career as a writer was in its infancy, depended entirely on the support and patronage of his fellow Masons.
Just before his first volume of poetry was published, Burns was considering a move to Jamaica to seek his fortune – a plan he only abandoned when his masonic brothers rallied round to buy copies. Later, their influence helped him find publishers.
Burns was initiated into St David’s Lodge in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, at the age of 22 in 1781 and remained a Freemason for the rest of his life.
A new BBC Scotland documentary suggests Burns enjoyed the spirit of brotherhood offered by the secretive society – but also saw his career transformed thanks to membership of ‘the Craft’.
Professor Gerard Carruthers, director of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at Glasgow Uniorigins, versity, said: ‘Burns becomes a member of the St David’s Lodge and within a couple of years he’s one of the leading Masons in his lodge. It’s a matter of pride to the masons and to Burns that he’s a member of the Brotherhood.
‘At the end of Burns’ first book, the Kilmarnock Edition, we have a masonic recessional, a song bidding farewell to his lodge brothers because he thinks he’ll be going overseas, to Jamaica.
‘He wrote, “May Freedom, Harmony and Love Unite you in the grand Design Beneath the Omniscient Eye above, the glorious Architect Divine”.
‘This is Burns using Freemasonic vocabulary to show he’s one of the Freemasonic boys.’
Professor Carruthers said 612 copies of that book were printed in 1786 and two-thirds of subscriptions were taken up by Freemasons.
He added: ‘The way to Edinburgh is paved by Freemasonic introductions. They are an important part of oiling the wheels of his reception, from his first publication to the end of his life.
‘His Freemasonic membership is part of the capital he brings to his career – and it’s worth more than money.
‘His fame is spread by Freemasonry. It’s the Freemasons who open doors for him in Edinburgh Enlightenment society.
‘Take the Freemasons out of the equation and it’s entirely imaginable that his fame would either not have spread so quickly or perhaps even happened at all.’
Burns wrote Masonic Song – Ye Sons of Old Killie – in honour of an Ayrshire lodge and his famous A Man’s a Man for a’ That is considered a masonic anthem.
Professor Carruthers said modern Burns Suppers have masonic adding: ‘You have discussion, you have addresses, you have replies, you have toasts, you have good food and good company – it’s clearly Freemasonic in its origins.’
Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect – the Kilmarnock Edition – was published in 1786 by a brother Freemason. The same year, Burns was made a member of Canongate Kilwinning Lodge No 2 Edinburgh.
Burns’ patron James Cunning- ham, 14th Earl of Glencairn, was instrumental in the production of the first Edinburgh Edition of his poems and introduced him to publisher William Creech.
When it was released in 1787, the publisher, printer and artist were all Freemasons.
Charles Gordon of Esslemont, the 110th Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, said: ‘A lot of leading Freemasons in Edinburgh welcomed Rabbie Burns and promoted his work.
‘They made Rabbie into the Scottish icon that he is today.’
‘Membership is worth more than money’
‘They made Rabbie the icon he is today’
Secrets of the Masons, BBC2 Scotland, tomorrow, 9pm.