Freemasons hold annual installation of officers

SOUTH HADLEY - The Mount Holyoke Lodge held its annual installation of officers at the Masonic building on Oct. 3.

This was the 140th instillation of officers at Mount Holyoke Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Ralph G. Lamy, of Chicopee, was installed as Worshipful Master and will lead the lodge in the coming year. The term "Worshipful Master" is an English term meaning one being worthy of respect.

In addition, the following elected and appointed officers were also installed: Karl F. Ferguson, of Chicopee, Senior Warden; Henry Beaudoin, of Chicopee, Junior Warden; Ronald Jackson, of South Hadley, Secretary; Peter R. Sudyka, of South Hadley, Treasurer; Craig Gallant, of Chicopee, Marshal; James Garrant, of Holyoke, Chaplain; Tyler W. Seavey, of South Hadley, Senior Deacon; Gerard F. Kiley, of Chicopee Junior Deacon; Gerardo Remos, of Holyoke, Senior Steward; Ronald Zissell, of South Hadley; Thomas Knightly, of Chicopee, Organist; and Donald J. Kiely, Inside Sentinel.

Mark Mueller, along with Ralph Lamy, conducted the installation ceremony at the Masonic Lodge on North Main Street. Officiating at the ceremony was the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts representative District Deputy Grand Master, Paul A. Cataldo, of South Hadley.

Mount Holyoke Lodge was chartered on March 30, 1869, by Most Worshipful William Gardner, Grand Master of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge, with the Rev. George E. Fisher as its first Worshipful Master.

Prior to the granting of this charter, Masons residing in South Hadley were obliged to attend meetings at the Mount Tom Lodge in Holyoke by crossing the Connecticut River by boat, sometimes under the worst possible weather conditions, due to the fact that there were no bridges connecting the two towns at that time. The new lodge was first organized in an old school building on School Street, and has since been in six locations over the past 139 years.

Freemasonry is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was established in 1733 and is the third oldest Grand Lodge in the world. Today, there are 50,000 Freemasons in Massachusetts that meet in 200 individual lodges in cities and towns throughout the commonwealth.

Freemasons in North America contribute more than $2 million each day to charity. Freemasons operate the Shriners Burns Hospital in Boston where more than 750 severely burned children are admitted each year and treated at no charge. Some 3,700 children are treated each year in the hospital's clinic, again at no charge. Freemasons also operate the Shriners Hospital in Springfield as well as other Shriners Hospitals throughout North America where children are treated at no charge.

Ralph G. Lamy, of Chicopee, was installed as Worshipful Master and will lead the lodge in the coming year.