A week before our 2012 installation, I had the privilege and honor of meeting Ancient York’s oldest living member, Brother Howard Richards. Three members of our lodge, Brother Busby, Worshipful Henry and I visited Brother Richards and his wife at his residence at the Hunt Home in Nashua. The four of us, old and new masons alike, spent an hour together talking about our Lodge, the history, the members and what was going on in lodge today. As one of the youngest Masons in our lodge, I felt moved listening to a man who has been in, and deeply cared for our lodge for longer than my own father has been alive. In honor of his achievement as being the oldest living member of our lodge, Worshipful Henry was pleased to present him with a hickory walking stick, with our lodge name engraved on the side. Teary eyed, he accepted it and thanked us for visiting, noting that we were the first members of the lodge to visit him. Ever.

Upon leaving him, it dawned on me that there are many other brothers around that have memories that should be shared with the lodge. We as a lodge should make it a point to visit our elderly brothers who cannot make it to lodge meetings anymore. Our lodge extends far beyond the walls of our lodge room, and as we are all Brothers in the most sacred manner, I would like to challenge all of us, including myself to make it a point to reach out to our absent brethren in the coming year. Gather in groups, and go and visit them. They will never forget it. Time is short, and I for one, would not like to meet our eldest brethren for the first time at their funerals.

My sincere thanks to Brother Howard Richards, the oldest living member of Ancient York Lodge, for opening his door and letting us visit and spend some time with him. It was a great honor to meet you. I look forward to talking with you again soon.

Fraternally,

Bro. Ryan J. Flynn

Senior Deacon