I learned, when I was Lodge Secretary that you are right, it is difficult to keep up with members who have moved across the country, or even across the State.
I guess I don't quite understand why someone would choose to move away from family and friends during their later years, but it does happen, and if new connections aren't made, it can result in needs going unmet.
I heard recently of one Mason who moved quite far from his Lodge, and all of his support. He did encounter very serious problems, but luckily he was able to reach out to someone from the Lodge who was able to travel to his new area, help address his immediate needs, and working with Masonic Charities, set him up for the future.
I think that after this period of great difficulty, our Lodges would do well to reach out, in whatever way possible, to our Brothers who no longer live near us, just with a reminder that we are thinking of them as Brothers, and that we are here if they ever encounter a need for assistance.
Certainly one of the best things about Freemasonry is the fact that there are Freemasons everywhere. We can utilize that network to get our Brothers assistance, no matter where they might be.
It’s ad hoc for us. A few brothers check on older local members from time to time but as a Lodge we’re not systematic about it.
It’s a challenge keeping in touch with older members who have moved away. They pay their dues but we don’t engage them.
We should be more systematic, not just for the benefit of the older members but so more brothers learn the skill of keeping in touch.
I learned, when I was Lodge Secretary that you are right, it is difficult to keep up with members who have moved across the country, or even across the State.
I guess I don't quite understand why someone would choose to move away from family and friends during their later years, but it does happen, and if new connections aren't made, it can result in needs going unmet.
I heard recently of one Mason who moved quite far from his Lodge, and all of his support. He did encounter very serious problems, but luckily he was able to reach out to someone from the Lodge who was able to travel to his new area, help address his immediate needs, and working with Masonic Charities, set him up for the future.
I think that after this period of great difficulty, our Lodges would do well to reach out, in whatever way possible, to our Brothers who no longer live near us, just with a reminder that we are thinking of them as Brothers, and that we are here if they ever encounter a need for assistance.
Certainly one of the best things about Freemasonry is the fact that there are Freemasons everywhere. We can utilize that network to get our Brothers assistance, no matter where they might be.