On the 25th of January last, clubs and societies held dinners, suppers and concerts all over Britain and other parts of the world to render their annual honour to the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. In 1959, the bicentenary year of Burns’ birth, there are to be special endeavours to honour the memory of the poet, and as one writer stated, “to present him to the world.” At the same time, there is also concern by the worshippers of Burns, as in the past, to present him as to his personal character in a fairer garb and light than some critics, even from the distant past, would allow. In the Radio Times for 24th January there is an article in which a certain Scottish doctor, James Currie, M.D., comes in for slashing criticism. It is stated that Dr. Currie, who practised in Liverpool, met Burns once in his life and wrote a biography of Burns. The article states that the legend persisted that Robert Burns died early (at the age of thirty-eight) as a result of his alcoholic excesses. The article further says, “It is a legend.”
The man who created this legend is said to be James Currie, M.D. We add, so much the better if it really is a legend; but it does seem strange that there has existed “the popular idea of Burns the drunkard, the raffish wastrel,” to quote the above article again. Whatever the truth or otherwise of these charges against Burns, it is apparent that many do honour him to the point of worship. We recall attending the funeral of a man recently who never entered a place of divine worship for many years because of complete indifference to spiritual matters. One of his relations mentioned with obvious satisfaction that the deceased man could quote Burns extensively, and that among his last words on his death-bed included a quotation from the poet. There was no mention of quoting Scripture, the Word of God in his life-time or on the brink of Eternity.
This, we fear, could be said of many worldly-minded admirers of the Scottish poet. John Knox did more for Scotland than an army of like personalities to Burns by his godly character, his manly and gracious courage before the occupant of the throne in his day, his preaching, his pen, and his actions as a great Christian and Protestant Reformer. But Knox is now forgotten in Scotland to a large extent as well as other eminent personalities who, by their unique gifts, piety and character, raised Scotland from darkness and obscurity to an honoured place in the world. It is a Knox we need today, and not a Robert Burns, albeit he was a genius in his own line of poetry.