A Daily Advancement in Masonic Knowledge
HOW TO USE THE SHORT TALK BOOKLETS
These Short Talk Booklets have been compiled and specifically
produced for members of the Craft within the English
Constitution.
They are presented in a format of specially arranged short,
entertaining and thought provoking talks, which can easily be
read out aloud in twelve to fifteen minutes.
Consent from the Author to use the material for this purpose is not required.
They are intended to provide individuals, Lodges and Classes of Instruction with a valuable resource of information that can be used to create lectures of stimulating interest, which can be combined with a more formal Masonic Education Programme.
Whilst no claim is made that they are exhaustive treatments of any Masonic subject, they do represent as accurate information as possible with scholarly and thought provoking insights into the symbolism, philosophy and ethics of the Craft.
The sets of booklets were originally created to provide the
Authors Craft Lodge with a small library, as a source of
information, to assist Masters to create entertaining items of
labour into the business of the Lodge, when no ceremonies were
to be conducted.
It has also been used to help the Lodge Mentors by providing
them with educational material to guide and assist Brethren
making progress through the Craft ceremonies.
Many Lodges have now introduced a regular item of Labour into the programme of work to include a Masonic Short Talk at each meeting. This could be the job of the Lodge Orator. From feedback information - Mentors, Orators and Preceptors find the publication extremely useful
Some Lodges have seized the opportunity to encourage younger Brethren who are not yet in office to deliver a Short Talk in open Lodge, thereby providing unique entertainment for the Lodge and giving confidence to the young Mason upon his 'maiden voyage' to undertake work on the floor.
Another application for using these booklets is to create a theme for the evening, when several Short Talks relevant to each other, provides an informative and entertaining programme of work, which can be delivered by any combination of selected Brethren.
A few examples for suitable themes are suggested:
- Symbolism of each Degree (delivered on three separate evenings?)
- The Antient Charges and Constitution
- The Furniture of the Lodge
- Masonic Charity (suitable for the Almoner and Charity Steward)
- The Fatherhood of God (suitable for the Chaplain)
- Famous Names in Freemasonry
- Burns Night
- Christmas Celebrations
- Saint Johns' Day
- The History of Freemasonry (a massive subject!)
This list really is endless, certainly it would not be possible to do justice to each subject at one sitting and each individual Lodge will be able to develop their own ideas, and have total flexibility to use the information contained within these Short Talks as they see fit.
What is important is to create a programme of refreshing alternatives to the tedious regularity of monotonous repetition of the Craft ceremonies to the exclusion of any form of Masonic Education.
To this end, many Lodges are purchasing sets of booklets to
be used by more senior Brethren approaching the chair.
In fact
it makes sense for an incoming Master of a Lodge to be fully
conversant with the scope and extent of information available to
him through these publications.
To the older and more experienced members of the Lodge, the author hopes that they will acquire a set of booklets, purely to provide themselves with some worthwhile bedtime reading!
Warmest Fraternal Good Wishes to you all.
RAY HOLLINS