A hundred years ago Scotland was held tightly in the grasp of the Presbyterian faith. Calvinism is not very attractive even now, especially to us that live and expect to die outside its fold, but even Calvinism has softened and changed in a hundred years. Burns was too religious to believe in the Presbyterian faith, and to the Scotch Covenanter there was no religion outside the Calvinistic creed. How any man can read the poetry of Robert Burns and not feel the deep religious spirit that animates its lines is more than I can see. True, he ridicules the dogmas and the creeds that held the humanity and intellect of Scotland in its paralyzing grasp; but creeds and dogmas are the work of man; they come and go; are born and die; serve their time and pass away; but the love of humanity, the instincts of charity and tenderness, the deep reverence felt in the presence of the infinite mystery and power that pervade the universe, these, the basis of all the religions of the earth, remain forever, while creeds and dogmas crumble to the dust. Scotland of a hundred years ago measured Burns’ religion by “Holy Willie’s Prayer,” “The Holy Fair,” and kindred songs. The world a hundred years from now will not make these the only test. Dumfries and all the Unco’ Guid of Scotland could not forgive Burns for writing: O Thou wha in the heavens dost dwell, Wha, as it pleases best thysel’, Sends ane to heaven and ten to hell, A’ for thy glory, And no for ony guid or ill They’ve done afore thee! I bless and praise thy matchless might, When thousands thou hast left in night, That I am here afore thy sight, For gifts an, grace, A burnin, an a shinin’ light, To a’ this place. Lord, hear my earnest cry an’ pray’r, Against that presbt’ry o’ Ayr; Thy strong right hand, Lord make it bare Upo’ their heads! Lord, weigh it down, an’ dinna spare, For their misdeeds. But, Lord, remember me and mine Wi’ mercies temp’ral and divine, That I for gear and grace may shine, Excell’d by name; And a the glory shall be thine, Amen, Amen.