Stewards of the Lodge
Farris Creek Lodge #509 installs officers for new Masonic year
4:13 p.m. Dec. 13, 2025
FARRIS CREEK LODGE #509 LEADERS – Front: Andrew Dean, Tiler; Sam Johns, Junior Deacon; Jacob Clark, Senior Deacon; Patrick Maynard, Senior Steward; Larry Briggman, Junior Steward. Back: Woodye Bedford, Chaplain; Jason Stanfill, Senior Warden; Joseph Lundy, Worshipful Master; Josh Tye, Junior Warden; Zach Holcomb, Secretary. Not pictured: Scott Moore, Treasurer.
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
On Saturday, Dec. 13, Farris Creek Lodge #509 came together for one of its most important traditions: the installation of officers. This ceremony officially ends one Masonic year and welcomes the next.
The sound of the gavel marked the start of this transition. The installation ceremony is more than just changing officers; it is a careful handover of responsibility that links current leaders to a long-standing tradition. This moment confirms the lodge’s continuity and places its future in trusted hands.
An installation marks the formal point at which a lodge’s newly elected and appointed officers are invested with their duties. Until that ceremony takes place, authority remains with the outgoing officers. The ritual reinforces accountability and underscores a core Masonic principle: leadership exists to serve the lodge, not to elevate the individual.
The ceremony started with the opening of the lodge, setting a tone of order, respect, and purpose. Installing officers, usually Past Masters or grand lodge representatives, are welcomed and given the task of overseeing the transition. Their role shows a core Masonic belief: Leadership is shaped and supported by those who have served before.
Masonic officer jewels
The main part of the ceremony was installing the new Worshipful Master, Joseph Lundy. The Master-elect stood before the lodge and promised to follow the fraternity’s laws and lead with honesty and fairness. He then took his seat in the Oriental Chair and received the gavel and the working tools, which symbolize authority, discipline, and responsibility. A formal charge followed, explaining what is expected of him: to lead the lodge, care for its members, and keep its traditions alive.
After the Master was installed, the focus shifted to the other officers:
• Senior Warden – Jason Stanfill
• Junior Warden – Josh Tye
• Senior Deacon – Jacob Clark
• Junior Deacon – Sam Johns
• Senior Steward – Patrick Maynard
• Junior Steward – Larry Briggman
• Tiler – Andrew Dean
Each officer received a symbol of his office and a brief explanation of duties for the year. Together, they form the core team that keeps the lodge running and its traditions strong.
The ceremony ended with a formal announcement that the lodge is officially installed and ready for the new Masonic year. Lundy, the new Master, shared a few words, thanked everyone for their trust, and set the tone for the year.
Installations can be private for Masons only or open to the public, as Saturday’s ceremony, so family and community members can see the tradition’s dignity and structure. No matter the setting, the message is clear: leadership is temporary, responsibility endures, and service is paramount.
For Farris Creek Lodge #509, the installation ceremony was both an ending and a beginning. It was a respectful goodbye to one year’s leaders and a thoughtful welcome to the next. Through ritual and reflection, it reminded everyone of a lasting Masonic lesson: institutions last not because of titles, but because each generation takes on the duty to lead well and serve faithfully.
