Given the Scottish roots of the Presbyterian Church, not to mention areas such as Brooke-Alvinston, Burns’ humble
rural beginnings, and his concern with the human condition, it is no wonder that
churches like Guthrie have embraced him as one of their own.
As Mary Ellen Brown at Indiana University writes, "Burns’ utopian cry remains as elusive and appropriate today as when he wrote it:
That
Man to Man the warld o’er,As Mary Ellen Brown at Indiana University writes, "Burns’ utopian cry remains as elusive and appropriate today as when he wrote it:
Shall
brothers be for a’ that. "
Although there appears to be little recorded history pertaining to the
early suppers held at Guthrie, one oral account from an “old timer” involves
her older brother entertaining the crowd with a lively rendition of “the Wiggle-Waggle of the Kilt.”
In 1966, the cover of a programme read, “Here’s hoping that Thistle be the Best Burns Supper You Ever Attended!" The cost for that dinner is said to have been $1.50.
Angus McLean, a local newspaper publisher, was very active in planning
these dinners. In 1967, he and his wife Mary invited well-known entertainer Andrew
Murdison (Auld Sandy) of Barrie to be the guest speaker.
Knowing it would be a
big evening, the Town Hall (located over the Post Office) was booked.
Over the years, those people addressing the Haggis included Norm
Humphrey, Robert Cochrane and Tom Rankin. Guest speakers ranged from a Member
of Parliament from Nova Scotia to neighbouring ministers to Guthrie’s own
members.
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| From the Left: Alda & Dr. Jim McKenzie; Ralph & Dolores Ferguson |
Remember the Campbell Brothers as our pipers? They are now well-known
musicians in the band The Mudmen. Charlie Eliot, Tim Zavitz, our own
Meghan McLean and Glencoe’s Don Webster have also done their turns.
Making the Haggis takes time. When most farmers had cattle, they would
save the hearts and tongues; now they are harder to come by. However, between
the McLachlans, the McKellars and McLeans, the savoury pots of haggis are
prepared and steamed to perfection with the traditional lamb being replaced by
beef.
At the supper, children dressed in Scottish caps and aprons follow the
piper with their plates of Haggis and spoons. The meal includes “neeps and
tathers” (turnips and potatoes), scones and biscuits plus ham, salad and
homemade pies. The room is filled to capacity; at least 130 people attend and
Scottish jokes are mixed with fine entertainment. The kitchen helpers work hard
to keep the food coming and the room is decorated with Scottish blankets,
pictures, dolls and banners.
Burns once wrote that, “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft
agley.” In other words, things often go
wrong in life. Certainly, this has been the case of Guthrie’s Burns Supper.
With January falling in the middle of Canada’s winter, weather can play a
crucial role in the hosting of this event. One year, when the Hydro failed due
to bad weather, the organizers rushed home to get old oil lamps for the tables.
The end result was beautiful and made for an evening that lingers in everyone’s
memory.
No doubt Burns would have approved of this impromptu moment as well as
the eighty-two year old tradition which is held in his name. It is this kind of
resilience and fellowship that has helped define the Guthrie Congregation and
allowed it to flourish to this very day.
Credit: Information about the Burns Supper and Copies of Programmes were provided by Dolores Ferguson.
Credit: Information about the Burns Supper and Copies of Programmes were provided by Dolores Ferguson.
