Regius & Friends – Oldest Masonic Document, Plus Companion Manuscripts, Now Available

The Regius Poem, believed to be the oldest surviving Masonic document, is considered to be one of the "Old Charges" – that is, a description of the requirements to be a Freemason.

 There are other ancient manuscripts and documents, which also fall into the category of "Old Charges."

The archives of the Masonic Service Association contain descriptions, insights and commentary about at least four of these historic documents.  They are:

• The Regius Poem (Halliwell Manuscript), circa 1390
• The William T. Boyden Manuscript, circa 1700
• The Shadwell-Cameron Manuscript, circa 1700
• The Thomas Carmick Manuscript, circa 1727

For those who want to learn more about some of the earliest historical documents about Freemasonry, MSA has assembled of packet from its archived material.

The Packet includes 2 Digests, 2 historical Short Talk Bulletins, and 2 copies of other saved documents from MSA's archives, all of which try to explain and translate what our Masonic forefathers considered important.

These items, if obtained individually from MSA, would cost $21.  Together in the special offer, they are available for $15, including shipping and handling.

Those interested can send a $15 check for each packet to the MSA Office, using the order code #SPRP.  Or, they can be obtained at MSA's website – shopping.msana.com -- using a credit card.

Supplies are limited.

 

Volume IV of Short Talk ‘Collection’ Ready for Orders

The fourth of a projected five-volume set of “The Complete Collection of Short Talk Bulletins” can now be ordered at special, reduced pre-publication prices.

Volume IV, with more than 700 pages, will cover all Short Talk Bulletins for the years 1968 through 1982.   When the series is completed, all 90-plus years of Short Talk Bulletins will be published in this attractive, re-edited, re-typeset, and indexed version.

Orders will be taken at the reduced, pre-publication price until September 1, 2016.  The Volume IV book will be shipped to all buyers in the Fall, 2016.

The Short Talk Bulletin is an invaluable treasure of Masonic education and inspiration, and a great source of topical material for Lodge meetings.

The editor of the volumes is S. Brent Morris, P.M., Managing Editor of the Scottish Rite Journal and Past Master of Quatuor Coronati Lodge in London.

Limited supplies of Volume II and III of the Collection are still available for sale.  Volume I is now out of print.

Read a detail flyer about Vol. II, including all pricing information, as well as directions for ordering.

Order a volume, using a credit card in MSA's Online Store.

 

MSA Audio Voice Achieves Cover Prestige in Maine

Brother Michael Smith, who initiated the program to put MSA Short Talk Bulletins into an audio format, has been featured with a cover story in the Winter 2015, issue of The Maine Mason, the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Maine.

MSA thanks Maine Grand Master David Walker A. Walker and Past Grand Master George P. Pulkkinen, editor of the The Maine Mason, for providing this special attention to MSA’s effort.

It was Brother Smith’s idea and very often his voice that makes the program work.

His concept has resulted in the Audio Subscription for Short Talk Bulletins. See the story below with details.

 

Audio Subscription for Short Talk Bulletin Now Available

A new style of subscription for the Short Talk Bulletin, is now available for those who may be visually impaired or just prefer an audio version.

By subscribing to the Short Talk Bulletin Online Audio Library, every month you will receive the current Short Talk Bulletin as a spoken audio file.

The Masonic Service Association is working with Brother Michael Smith, of Freeport, ME, and Anaba Publishing, who recently published an audio book of MSA Short Talks from many years ago.

The subscription fee for the special audio Short Talk is $20 per year.  For more information, go to the Online Audio Library for information on how to subscribe.

The subscription also provides notification of the growing collection of historical Short Talks, as audio versions are produced.

 

2016 Revised MSA Publications Catalog Now Online

The newly updated MSA Publications Catalog is now ready for viewing on this site.  The Catalog is available only on our webpage. Click here to download the Catalog in PDF format. Please print a copy for yourself to keep on hand. NOTE: This replaces all previous editions of the Catalog, and orders placed should be at the current pricing.

The redesigned Catalog shows updated prices on publications, which is required due to the increasing costs of printed materials. We have adjusted our shipping charges and now any order totaling $5.00 or less will ship for free.

Everything that MSA offers in its Catalog is not at the Online Store, but the most popular publications and those which we periodically offer at a special discounted price can be found there. MSA's Online Store may be used for ordering those items using a credit card. All other items in the Catalog can be ordered using the order form and including a check with the order.

The list of Short Talk Bulletins--from 1923 to the present--which in the past was printed in the Catalog, is now available as a separate document by clicking here.