The Senior Warden solicits papers for review for possible presentation and publication by TLR. Obtain a "Criteria and Style Sheet and Writing Guidelines for Papers Submitted to Texas Lodge of Research" from the Senior Warden prior to writing your paper as it describes suitable paper topics and format for your paper or you may recieve a file of the booklet by contacting the Webmaster. State whether you want it in WordPerfect 6.0 for Windows, MSWord 6.0. file format or Acrobat Reader format. Following instructions assists the reviewers in considering your paper and also reduces your work prior to final submission.
To assist in the preparation of the annual Transactions volume, authors are requested to submit an electronic version of their paper to TLR. Authors should submit their paper on a 3.5-inch high density floppy disk in Microsoft Word or WordPerfect format. At the time your paper is presented you should deliver the electronic disk of your paper, along with the paper copies, to the Senior Warden for handling. The Publications Committee appreciates your cooperation in this matter.
The Senior Warden's address is located on the Officers of the Lodge Link.
If you have submitted a paper for review and you have not heard from the Senior Warden regarding the status of your paper, contact him at your earliest convenience.
By Jim Dougherty, Worshipful Master 2006-2007
A fortune cookie slip once said "The longest journey begins with a single step." That's what every author knows who has traveled the winding road in the process to earn the distinctive apron certifying Full Membership in Texas Lodge of Research.
After serving two years on the TLR Editorial Committee and superintending the committee's efforts as part of the duties of Senior Warden, a few persistent problems seem to reoccur.
First of all, it is imperative that authors thoroughly read and follow the directions in the Criteria and Style Sheet and Writing Guidelines. For anyone who has prepared a research paper in his lifetime, I can assure you that the guidelines used in school are probably not exactly as will be encountered in the TLR style sheet. But, rules are rules and every paper should be written to a uniform standard.
Papers must be closely proofread before submission, spell checked and perhaps, read by a spouse, or someone dispassionate on the topic of the paper before being submitted. Papers submitted to the Senior Warden should be considered as the author's "finished" product. A single copy of the paper is circulated among members of the Editorial Committee. Members make notations on the manuscript, pointing out inconsistencies in TLR style, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure, grammar and end-noting, but they WILL NOT rewrite, or conduct research, for an author.
Members of the committee strive to make constructive criticisms of the content and structure of papers. In addition, the Senior Warden will usually return the paper to the author with a cover letter containing his suggestions. I've never heard of a paper being accepted, "as-written." Please know that all comments are meant to make papers more polished.
One of the most asked questions is: "How long should my paper be?" When papers are composed to double space, single sided pages in 12 point type, 12 to 14 pages will normally deliver in 20 to 25 minutes. Longer papers, while always welcome, should be condensed for presentation before the lodge.
After a paper is accepted and presented before the lodge, it is forwarded to the Transactions Editor for a final edit before being sent to the printer. The Transactions of Texas Lodge of Research is distributed worldwide to our membership, as well as individuals, libraries and Masonic centers which subscribe to our lodge. Therefore, papers we publish as a research lodge must be of superior quality in content, readability and scholarship.
At present, there are less than 100 living Full Members, worldwide. Secretary Kelso has just received 12 more aprons. First-time authors: Get to work by taking that first step!
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