To Robert Burns
To Robert Burns
Immortal Scottish Bard-Ardent Freemason
(1759-1796)
Here in 1910, was erected by the Burns Club of Atlanta, Georgia, a building unique in the world - the only exact replica of the Burns cottage near Kirk Alloway Ayrshire, Scotland, birthplace of the world´s most beloved poet and "poet Laureate of Freemasonry". The cornerstone of the cottage was laid in 1910, in due and ancient form, by the most worshipful Grand Lodge of Georgia Free and Accepted Masons in tribute to the memory of our Great Scottish Brother.
Burns was made a Freemason on July 4, 1781, at St. David´s Lodge Tarbolton, Scotland. He was elected depute Master of St. James´ Lodge July 27, 1784 and served until St. John´s Day of 1788. In 1786 he was elected to Honorary membership in St. John´s lodge No. 22, Kilmarnock, Scotland and the minutes of that lodge recorded him as Robert Burns Poet.
Freemasonry was the dominant influence in his life and many of his poems express in unmatched beauty and simplicity the ideas of Masonic Brotherhood.
Marker placed by the Educational and Historic Commission
Grad Lodge of Georgia, F. & A. M. 1968
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.