Page 8 - Sojourner Newsletter-Spring 2023 v.3

8 THE SOJOURNER

HISTORIAN’S CORNER (NSI)

History of The Sojourner
Edward W. Nolte, National Historian

One of the many key roles of the Order’s nine National Secretary-Treasurers (NS-T) was and is being The
Sojourner Editor. Initially called National Sojourner Bulletin for its first, four-page issue in Oct 1924, the
magazine’s name changed to The Sojourner for the Nov 1924 issue and has endured for 99+ years.
Bro. George F. Unmacht, who was a Founder, our first National President, 1919-1920, NS-T, 1922-1947,
Honorary National Commander and Honorary National President, 1947, and National Historian, 1947-1954,
recorded the Order’s early history, the Proceedings of the first four Annual Meetings (not initially called
Conventions), and the move of National Sojourners from Chicago to Washington, D.C., in the November
1924 through May 1925 issues. From those initial monthly issues, The Sojourner expanded greatly with
many articles of historical significance on the U.S.’ founding fathers, military lodges, the U.S. Constitution,
Americanism, anti-Communism and anti-World Government, politics and religion, Proceedings, and Chapter
and Camp activities.

• Oct 1924 through Jun 1950 Monthly Issues: Three NS-Ts published 309 monthlies for 25 years and 9
months without missing an issue, even while Bro. Unmacht was on active duty during WWII and
operated NSI HQ in Hawai’i.
 Bro. George F. Unmacht, 33°, (273 monthlies—most of any NS-T): Oct 24—Jun 47.
 Bro. Arthur Perry (24 monthlies): Jul 47—Jun 49.
 Bro. Merritt B. Curtis (12 monthlies): Jul 49—Jun 50.
• Jul-Aug 1950 through May-Jun 1996 Monthly and Bimonthly Issues: Six NS-Ts published 22
Monthlies and 265 Bimonthlies for 46 years without missing a directed issue.

 Bro. Merritt B. Curtis (22 Monthlies & 7 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 50—May-Jun 53.
 Bro. John G. Volz (72 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 53—May-Jun 65.
 Bro. Melvin W. Byers, 33° (30 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 65—May-Jun 70.
 Bro. Stewart M. L. Pollard (30 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 70—May-Jun 75.
 Bro. Melvin W. Byers, 33°, (12 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 75—May-Jun 77.
 Bro. Nelson O. Newcombe (114 Bimonthlies): Jul-Aug 77—May-Jun 96.
• July-Sep 1996 through Oct-Dec 1999 Quarterly Issues: One NS-T, Bro. Nelson O. Newcombe,
published 14 Quarterlies for 3.5 years without missing a directed issue.
• Jan-Feb 2000 through Jan-Feb 2020 Bimonthly Issues: Two NS-Ts published 121 Bimonthlies for
20+ years without missing a directed issue.
 Bro. Nelson O. Newcombe (87 Bimonthlies): Jan-Feb 00—May-Jun 14.
 Bro. William R. Sanner (34 Bimonthlies & 1 Tri-Annual): Jul-14—Mar-Jun 20.
 The National Emergency, caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, impacted Headquarters staffing, thus
combining the Mar-Apr and May-Jun issues into a single Mar-Jun issue.
• Jul-Sep 2020 through Spring 2022 Quarterly Issues: One NS-T, Bro. Mark W. Underwood, has
published 11 Quarterlies for 3 years: Fall 2020—Spring 2023 (this issue).
 The National Emergency’s continued impact on the Headquarters staffing and operations, likewise,
pre-empted publication of the Summer (Jul-Sep) 2020 issue.
• The record of continuous publication of The Sojourner exceeds some familiar commercial magazines:
Esquire (1933-Present), Look Magazine (1937-71), Newsweek (1933-2012), and Sports Illustrated (1954-
Present). To the nine NS-Ts who established this record—Well Done, my Brothers! With this current
issue, The Sojourner record stands at 743 issues and counting!