Dalrymple Burns's Club, with banners and music.
Motto, "Firm."
KILWINNING BAND.
Kilwinning Mother Lodge of Freemasons.
CUMNOCK BAND.
London Newmilns Lodge.
IRVINE BAND.
Troon Navigation Lodge.
Girvan Masons.
St James's, Tarbolton.
St John's, Ayr.
Thistle and Rose, Stevenston.
St John's, Largs.
Glasgow Star.
ST ANDREW'S BAND.
Royal Arch, Maybole.
St Paul's, Ayr.
St Andrew's, Ayr.
St John's, Girvan.
St James's, Kilmarnock.
St Peter's, Galston.
St John's, New Cumnock.
Junior or Knights Templars, Maybole.
SALTCOATS BAND.
St John's, Dalry.
KILBARCHAN BAND.
St John's, Greenock.
Shoemakers as follows:--
Champion.
British Prince and attendants.
Indian Prince and Train.
CATRINE BAND.
King Crispin and Train.
Souter Johnie, in character.
Highland Chieftains.
GREENOCK BAND.
Lodge of Odd Fellows.
BAND.
Robert Burns's Lodge, Beith.
AYR BAND.
Banks of Ayr Lodge of Odd Fellows.
Sir T. Makdougall Brisbane Lodge, Largs.
Ancient Order of Foresters, Glasgow.
Captain mounted, with Bow and Arrows.
KILMARNOCK BAND.
Kilmarnock Burns's Lodge of Foresters.
Weavers from Maybole.
MAYBOLE BAND.
Tailors of Maybole.
MAUCHLINE BAND.
Boxmakers of Mauchline, with large Scotch Thistle, carried
shoulder-high by Four men, and Banner, inscribed,
"I turn'd my weeder-clips aside,
And spared the Symbol dear."
The Party were on the Establishment of Messrs W. and A. Smith. The
Thistle grew near to Mossgiel.
Caledonian Union Odd Fellows, Dunlop. (Deputations of the Magistracy
joined in the Procession from Dumbarton, Dunlop, Maybole, and Irvine.)
The effect of the Procession as seen from the Platform almost baffles
the power of description. The wailing of the bagpipes and the crash of
the bands were heard from the bosom of deep wood-thicket behind, long
before the ranks became visible. At length, among the trees that skirted
the opposite banks, there was a glittering of lances, and a lifting of
banners, and a dark-growing line of men, in closest order, marching as
if to battle. Gradually it flowed on, in continuous stream, file
succeeding to file without gap or intermission, until the head of the
column appeared recrossing by the Old Bridge, and winding up the road
towards the Platform; and still new banners rose up behind, and fresh
strains of music burst forth amidst the leafy screen. And now they
reached the platform: lance and flag were lowered in honour of those who
stood bareheaded above, and deafening were the cheers that ushered in
the arrival of the national pageant. The spectacle was most imposing,
and must have conveyed to the minds of the strangers present a vivid
impression of the energy and enthusiasm so deeply implanted in the
Scottish character, and always so irresistibly manifested at the
touching of a national chord. The most interesting part of the
Procession by far was the array of Farmers and Shepherds, the flower of
the west-country yeomanry, attired in the graceful plaid. Of that same
breed of men, of tall and compact mould and hardy sinew, was Robert
Burns; nor is it possible to imagine any thing more animated than the
appearance of those stalwart sons of the soil, as they lingered for a
moment before the platform, and looked with wistful eyes at the sons of
the Poet, if haply they might trace in their lineaments some resemblance
to the features of him whom, from their infancy, they had learned to
love. Then came the Freemasons, and King Crispin with his train, and the
Archers, and much more of old Scottish device, until there seemed no end
to the flowing tide of population, all keen, and joyful, and exultant.
But the full burst of enthusiasm was reserved for the close. In the rear
of all appeared an enormous Thistle borne shoulder high; and no sooner
was the national emblem in sight, than a universal and long-continued
cheer burst forth from the many thousands who were now congregated in
the plain beyond. Alas, for that thistle! Though Burns, as the
inscription bore,
"Had turn'd his weeder-clips aside,
And spared the symbol dear,"
such was not the fate of the offspring plant. Scarcely had it reached
the platform, when Christopher North violently possessed himself of one
branch, the Lord Justice-General seized upon another, and in the
twinkling of an eye it was torn into fragments, and its rough leaves and
rougher flowers displayed upon manly bosoms, from which it would have
been difficult to wrest them again. So closed the Procession--but not
the gathering. Deafening were the cheers which followed for Burns--for
his Sons--for Professor Wilson--for Lord Eglinton; until the last
remnant of reserve gave way, and a torrent of people swept forward to
obtain, if possible, a pressure of their hands that were gladly and
gratefully held forth. Descending from the Platform, we entered the
meadow-ground beyond, where the multitude were now assembled. One of the
bands struck up the beautiful air--"Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon;"
and immediately the People, as if actuated by one common impulse, took
up the strain, and a loftier swell of music never rose beneath the cope
of heaven. We thought of the fine lines of Elliott--
"To other words, while forest echoes ring,
'Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon,' they sing;
And far below, the drover, with a start
Awaking, listens to the well-known strain,
Which brings Schehallion's shadow to his heart,
And Scotia's loveliest vales: then sleeps again,
And dreams on Loxley's banks of Dunsinane."
Few could abstain from tears as the last glorious note died solemnly
away into the skies. We looked down from the top of the pavilion-stairs
upon the vast multitude beneath. There could not have been less than
80,000 souls collected upon the ground. Of all that mighty mass, not
one man had thrown discredit upon the harmony and order of the day.
Every face glowed with happiness and congratulation, as if conscious
that a good work had been done, and that the nation had at length
discharged the duty which she owed to one of her most gifted sons.