Twenty-Fifth Anniversary

In 1938 and again in 1942, Short Talk Bulletins about this publication formed the December issues. From these two pamphlets, the salient information has been taken and expanded to form this Bulletin about The Short Talk Bulletin.

With the December 1947, issue The Short Talk Bulletin completes its twenty-fifth volume. Three hundred have been published. All are in print and available.

The original idea, a monthly offering to lodges of an informative, interesting and chatty talk on a Masonic matter which would give a good idea of the subject treated, was proposed by the late great William L. Eagleton, past grand master of Oklahoma, then a member of the Executive Commission of The Masonic Service Association.

Great as was his vision, it is doubtful that it encompassed what this publication has become; the largest collection of Masonic addresses to be found anywhere. Covering the whole field of Freemasonry; law, jurisprudence, symbolism, history, accomplishments, charity, curiosities, relief, inspiration, philosophy, ethics, any speaker may here find an address on almost any subject he desires to cover.

The Bulletins are not intended to be complete expositions of the various subjects — how cover "The Holy Bible," for instance, in a dozen small pages? — they have been planned and written as popular interpretations of their several topics. Intended to reach eager minds but not to attempt to satisfy research students, the monthly Short Talk Bulletin has made its own place in the field of Masonic education. Lodges have them read; memorized and spoken; abstracted. Speakers here find addresses on nearly three hundred different Masonic subjects ready for their use. Libraries use them to answer inquiries. Writers consult them for subject matter and substance. Educational committees employ them in the instruction of newly-initiated brethren. The Masonic Press is continually printing and reprinting them for the edification and enlightenment of readers. Even non-Masonic organizations find in many of these papers matter which can be used to advantage — such a Bulletin, for instance as “The Black Cube” preaches a broad vision of the secret ballot applicable to any organization.

A few titles in the Index may appear as duplications: “G” and “The Letter ‘G’”; “The Masonic Service Association” and "Masonic Service Association”; “Apron” and “Lambskin Apron,” for instance. When “G" went out of print “The Letter ‘G’” took its place, with a different treatment of the same subject. The two Bulletins on The Masonic Service Association were years apart in publication; when the older one became no longer correctly informative, a new one was written. A new Bulletin on the apron was provided when the earlier was out of print. (All “out-of-print” Bulletins have now been reprinted). But 99% of the Bulletins do not duplicate any previous offering.

The publication is sent free to every lodge in a grand lodge that is a member of the Association. Subscriptions for individuals are still but 60 cents yearly, the original price set twenty-five years ago. The publication is to be looked at from an educational, not a monetary standpoint, since cost of production greatly exceeds the nominal price charged.

In earlier days a somewhat larger surplus was printed than is now essential. From these extra Bulletins grew the “bargain packages” of ninety Bulletins, all different, for $3.00, and twenty-five Bulletins, all different, for $1.00. Because of the low price and the fact that these “bargain packages” represent surplus stock, no selection is possible; brethren get what they find in the package, knowing in advance only that all will be different.

Great Masons contributed during its early years to this publication; brethren who gave their best to the Masonic world in these little papers; brothers who wrote by the lamp of inspiration and service. Among them are the late Jacob Hugo Tatsch; E. G. Williams and Realf Ottesen (now P.G.M.) of Iowa: Howard Cruse, P.G.M., New Jersey, and R.W. and Reverend Joseph Fort Newton who has written more of the Bulletins than any other contributor except the present Editor. As a matter of record it may be chronicled that the present executive secretary of The Masonic Service Association has written 249 of the 300 Bulletins.

It is impossible to evaluate the worth of these papers since for many years to come they will be available to Freemasons not yet made, to men not yet born. The nearly three million which have been printed inevitably must have stimulated sincere Masonic thought and carried authentic Masonic knowledge to many.

In 1938 and again in 1942, an attempt was made to classify the Bulletins so that speakers might the more readily find the subject upon which they desired light. Some Bulletins are easy to tag with a label; that which is history, that which tells of a curiosity, for instance, were simple enough to allocate to a class. But difficulties arose because of the fineness of the dividing fine between some classifications. Inspiration, charity, ethics, religion, may and often have overlapped in the treatment given a subject which may as well be listed under one head as another.

Any classification system must have overlaps; a Bulletin on “Benjamin Franklin” (classified in “About Individuals”), might as properly be listed under “Historical." “Masonic Offense” could as easily be in “Religion and Ethics” as in the classification “Body of the Craft.” What is here attempted in less extreme accuracy in sorting the several titles, than a division of three hundred papers into such groups that the seeker after some special class of material will find related subjects easy to locate.

The classification of 1938 was followed in 1942; here the classes have been extended and the number of Bulletins in each reduced, for greater ease in locating material.

Doubtless no classification system can be entirely satisfactory, but it is hoped that arranging these Bulletins in twelve general categories may be helpful. All three hundred are listed under: About Individuals; Body of the Craft; By-Paths; Civil and Patriotic; Historical; Inspiration and Charity; In the Lodge; Literature; Philosophy; Religion and Ethics; Symbols and Symbolism; The War and After. An alphabetical Index is also a part of this twenty-fifth anniversary issue.

About Individuals

02-36 Albert Gallatin Mackey
07-23 Albert Pike
04-41 Anthony Sayer, Gentleman
10-33 Benjamin Franklin, Freemason
05-32 Dedicating the Memorial
05-36 Desaguliers
09-36 Doolittle Pictures
10-47 Elias Ashmole
02-32 Facts for Speakers about Washington
02-42 Freemasonry’s Monument
09-32 Goethe, Freemason
09-23 Harding — Freemason
02-34 Hiram Abif
07-28 Lafayette
07-33 Our Masonic Presidents
01-23 Paul Revere
06-23 Robert Burns
08-42 Seven Great Masons
06-38 Thomas Smith Webb
04-34 Where Was Lafayette Made a Mason?
02-23 William Preston

Body of the Craft

By Paths

Civic and Patriotic

Literature

Philosophy

Religion and Ethics

Symbols and Symbolism

The War and After

03-45 “. . . And Ye Visited”
03-46 For Servicemen and Veterans
04-44 Freemasonry After the War
01-40 Freemasonry and Totalitarianism
01-41 Masonic Welfare Work
04-43 Masonry Follows Servicemen
07-40 My Part
03-44 Report of Welfare Work for the Armed Forces
03-42 Right Hand of Fellowship
03-47 “To Aid and Assist”
11-40 Will Freemasonry Survive?
09-42 Your Unknown Soldier

SHORT TALK BULLETIN INDEX

Vol. XXV No. 12 — December 1947