Today is the birthday of Scotland's national poet. All over the world people have heard of Robert Burns. We join hands at New Year and sing, 'Auld lang syne' - these lyrics were associated with Robert Burns who was born in Alloway, Ayrshire on 25th January 1759. There are 'Burns suppers' held all over the world when guests will hear renditions of Burns' famous poems such as 'Tam o Shanter' or 'To a mouse.' I personally find his poetry moving and insightful. However, I would not want to commend Rabbie Burns as an example to follow. For one thing he was a womaniser who was unfaithful to his wife, Jean Armour. Some politicians and celebrities in our day lead similar lifestyles fuelled by alcohol and self-indulgence. His prominence as a poet has tended to eclipse other Scottish poets whose work is equally worth reading.
However, Robert Burns had a respect for God and the Bible and he admired those who practised a sincere, unostentatious form of Christianity as can be seen in his poem entitled, 'A Cottar's Saturday Night.' He was a man full of contradictions - for example, he could be regarded as a socialist passionately defending the rights of the ordinary people of Scotland who lived in desperate poverty while the wealthy lived in luxury at their expense. But the same Burns liked to associate with the nabbery (the lesser gentry whom he admired greatly) and he wanted dearly to be accepted by higher society.
In today's blog, I want to think briefly about Burns' attitude to hypocrisy and his strident exposure of the Scottish Pharisees who were quick to condemn men such as him for drunkenness and immorality while at the same time they practised secret sins. Apologies to those of you who might find the old Scots language a barrier. I grew up with Robert Burns at school - no I am not as old as that. What I mean is that in early primary school and certainly in secondary school I frequently heard recitals of his poetry. Many of the old Scots words were still in currency - my granny spoke a form of Lallan Scots - the old Scots language which was spoken in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Dumfriesshire and other parts of the Lowlands of Scotland.
O ye, wha are sae guid yoursel', [O you people who think that you are so good]
Sae pious and sae holy, [So pious and so holy]
Ye've naught to do but mark and tell
Your neebour's fauts and folly [You have nothing else to do but notice your neighbours weaknesses and foolish sins]
[From Address to the Unco Guid by Robert Burns]
Here is another of Burns' poems on the subject of the kirk (the Scots word for church). It is called Holy Willie's Prayer, and it is an insightful exposure of the sin of hypocrisy. We are so ready to condemn other people and so reluctant to judge ourselves. Burns himself lived a very immoral life but he condemned those who professed to be good-living but were, in fact, covering up secret sins in their own lives. As I read this supposed prayer by one of the elders in the Parish of Mauchline in Ayrshire, I feel a bit uncomfortable. I can see some parallels with my prayers. Willie feels that God is on his side - after all he is an elder in the church . The Scottish Church was presbyterian - it was ruled by elders. It followed the teachings of John Calvin who emphasised the truth of election. Willie is convinced that he is one of God's chosen ones and he is proud of his special relationship with God. He has been predestined for heaven unlike the common sinners who are predestined for eternal punishment. He is quick to condemn others but he is gentle on his own secret sins (his extra-marital relationships) and he is able to find plenty of excuses for his misdemeanours. The church had various forms of public punishment for 'sinners' - including the ' jougs' - which were an instrument of public punishment which consisted of a hinged iron collar placed round the offender's neck, attached to a wall or post by chain and locked. Those who were caught sinning were fastened to the 'jougs' before the church service and the congregation had the privilege of mocking them on their way into the service. They might also have pelted them with rotten vegetables etc. to add to the humiliation.
Here are some verses from Willie's prayer. You can watch the whole poem being recited in the attached video.
Verse 5
Yet I am here, a chosen sample,
To show Thy grace is great and ample;
I'm here a pillar o' Thy temple,
Strong as a rock,
A guide, a buckler [shield], and example, [buckler = a shield]
To a' Thy flock!
(O Lord Thou kens what zeal I bear, [kens = knows]
When drinkers drink, and swearers swear,
And singing' there, and dancin here, [dancing = 'dancing']
Wi great an' sma'; [great and small - different social classes]
For I am keepet by Thy fear, [keepet = preserved]
Free frae them a'.) [free from all these sins]
Just listen to this poem being read by a Scots actor.
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