Installation Address of Worshipful Master Jesse McCann
Presented on December 6th, 2025
Brethren, family, and friends — good afternoon.
It is an honor to stand here today. I am humbled by the trust you have placed in me, and I am inspired by the brothers — past and present — who have carried this Lodge through generations of change and challenge. To our Past Masters, thank you for your stewardship. To our officers, thank you for stepping forward to serve. And to my family — whose patience, encouragement, and love make my service possible — thank you.
Washington Lodge has always been a place where fellowship lives — in our Sunnyside Brunches, in the warmth of our dinners, in the laughter shared before and after meetings, and in the quiet acts of care extended when a brother is in need. We have a proud history of showing up for one another — and that is the ground on which we will build.
Each year, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oregon sets a theme to focus the Craft. That idea — that we chart a direction together — inspired me to choose a theme for our own Lodge’s work this year: Advancing Fellowship.
Not because fellowship is missing — but because it is worth strengthening.
Not because we lack connection — but because connection is what sustains us.
Advancing Fellowship means being intentional about the experiences we create together — the ones that turn good men into friends, and friends into brothers. It is about taking what already works, trying new ideas — and giving all of it every opportunity to flourish.
Masonry is a volunteer labor — and a meaningful one. I reflected on this in our most recent newsletter: everything that happens here occurs because brothers give of themselves.
When that work is shared widely, the Lodge feels alive and welcoming. When it rests on too few, even small tasks can become heavy. Not out of neglect — but because we are all living full, demanding lives.
Advancing Fellowship means inviting more hands into the work — in ways that feel joyful, manageable, and worthwhile. Whether that means helping on a committee, mentoring a new Mason, lending a skill, or simply being present… every contribution builds this Lodge.
When involvement becomes participation — and participation becomes belonging — the entire Lodge grows stronger.
Our Purpose This Year
This year, my goal is to expand opportunities to spend time together — socially, charitably, and in the work of the Craft.
We will build on what has already been started:
better communication, renewed outreach, and thoughtful programs designed to help every brother feel welcomed and valued.
My hope is that we create an unstoppable momentum — continuity with intention.
The Spirit of the Work
Freemasonry teaches us that improvement is not an event — it is a process.
We, as speculative Masons, shape our Lodge the same way operative masons shapes stone: patiently, faithfully, and together.
If, by the end of this year, our fellowship feels a little stronger, our involvement a little broader, and our connections a little deeper — then we will have accomplished something truly worthwhile.
Brethren, I am honored to serve you.
But I am even more honored to serve with you.
Let us honor what has been built — and add to it with renewed energy and purpose. Let us make this a year where fellowship isn’t just our theme — it becomes the cornerstone of our culture.
A year where the work we share becomes the bond we strengthen. A year where Washington Lodge No. 46 feels like a second home to all our brothers… because we have built it together.
Thank you, brethren.
May the Great Architect guide every step we take — as one.
