Masons hold installation ceremony
Goshen The installation of officers for the Goshen Lodge #365 Free and Accepted Masons was held on Friday, June 12, at Cavallini Italian Bistro, Park Place. Officers who were installed for the upcoming year include Kenneth Skyer, worshipful master; Louis Barbone, Jr., senior warden; Shawn Neely, junior warden; Charles Nagel, secretary; Edward Degan, treasurer; Clifford Bartley, trustee; Leonard Berger, senior deacon; Claude Horstmann, junior deacon; David Kingsley, chaplain; Douglas MacKenzie, marshal; and Stephen Coon, tiler. Robert Morlang, current district deputy grand master, presided over this public installation ceremony. As part of the Masons’ tradition, the newly inducted Worshipful Master must wear a hat to distinguish him as the master, and Kenneth Skyer was proud to wear his father’s bowler hat during part of the ceremony. Skyer’s dad, Dr. Maurice Skyer, was worshipful master in 1963. He has since passed away. However, it was Harold Suresky, who was district deputy grand master in the early 1970s and a Mason when Ken’s dad was worshipful master, who kept the fires burning in Ken to become a Free and Accepted Mason. “He talked to me about Masonry, and he was responsible for bringing me into the Masons,” said Ken, after his induction as worshipful master. Suresky attended the induction ceremony and met with past masters and the newly installed master for the Secrets of the Chair event, meant for only these masters to see. Goshen Lodge #365 Free and Accepted Masons is a fraternal organization that believes in a Supreme Being. “A Bible or Holy Book” is openrepresenting an open mind on the table of every meeting,” said Ken, adding, “but there’s no discussion of religion.” The organization’s mission is to make all men more perfect through spirituality and giving to the community. The Masons have contributed to the Orange/Rockland District Masonic Association to support a statewide Masonic initiative for digital identification using photos and fingerprints. The Lodge is also working on offering a scholarship for a graduating high school senior. Plans are underway for a children’s Halloween party and Easter egg hunt that will be held on the ground’s of the Mason’s new meeting place, the caretaker’s cottage at the Haight Cemetery on Main St. Renovationsusing proceeds from the sale of their former building at 221 Main St. are nearly completed on the cottage the Masons have restored in exchange for a lifetime place to meet. The Lodge is planning to show off the results of their labor at a community open house in September. If you are interested in joining this active, community minded organization, call Ken Skyer at 914-443-3742 or e-mail him: ken@sapphiretitle.com.