RINathanaelGreene45

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LODGE

Location: X

Chartered By: X

Dispensation Date: date

Charter Date: date

Current Status: status


NOTES

Meeting Date: First Thursday

PAST MASTERS


REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

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VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

HISTORY

Nathanael Greene Lodge is located on Edgehill Road in the Hoxie section of Warwick. The Lodge has been at its present location since the Fall of 1957 when it moved from the Lambskin Club building on West Shore Road where the Lodge had its beginnings.

Nathanael Greene Lodge was granted a Dispensation by Winfield Scott Solomon, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge on November 9, 1927. The Lodge territory was a small section of Warwick, sandwiched between two sister lodges, one in Pawtuxet and the other in East Greenwich, and had concurrent jurisdiction with Rhodes Lodge, also in Pawtuxet. Its first meeting place was provided rent-free for one year by the Lambskin Club, and at its first annual communication there was a membership of 75, no debt, and over one thousand dollars in the treasury.

Nathanael Greene Lodge was constituted on August 23, 1928. The officers of Rhodes Lodge, then under Dispensation, were our guests at the four o’clock ceremony. The Lodge was closed at 6:30, and the officers, guests, and members proceeded to Smith’s Inn in Pawtuxet for a banquet at which the officers of both Nathanael Greene and Rhodes were the guests of the Grand Lodge. The officers and guests then proceeded to Rhodes Hall, home of Harmony Lodge, where Nathanael Greene officers were the guests of Rhodes Lodge at their constituting ceremony during that evening.

Nathanael Greene was formed largely through the efforts of the Masonic members of the Lambskin Club. Howard C. Smith, Earl G. Mills, and Amos S. Harris were leaders of the club and with 51 others, signed the petition to Grand Lodge for a Dispensation. Worshipful Adelbert E. Place, Past master of Doric Lodge, was appointed acting master by Grand Master Winfield S. Solomon.

The name of the Lodge is from Rhode Island’s foremost military leader, General Nathanael Greene, second in command to Washington during colonial times. The star and medallion portrait of General Greene is a part of the Past Master’s jewel as well as the Master’s traveling jewel. Past master’s aprons are a reproduction of the round-cornered white watered silk apron worn by George Washington as master of his Lodge in Alexandria, Virginia.

During the first years of our existence many treasured gifts were presented to the Lodge. Among then the altar and chairs for the Master and the Wardens, which were presented by Rising Sun Lodge of East Providence. We received an organ, officer’s jewels, several historical gavels, and door knockers from Harmony Lodge of Pawtuxet. Worshipful Master George P. Start, during his tenure of office in 1935, donated many things to the Lodge, including new officer’s jewels, silver working tools, brass lectern, and the Master’s silver gavel.

Besides Worshipful Master Adelbert E. Place, the first line of officers consisted of; Clarence A. Griffin, Past Master of Harmony as Senior Warden; Kenneth C. Grinslade, Past Commander of Calvary Commandery, as Junior Warden, Amos S. Harris, Treasurer; Harry Tinker, Secretary; Rev. Alfred P. Grant, Rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Chaplin; Horace C. Smith, Senior Deacon; Earl G. Mills, Junior Deacon; Ellis A. Cranston, Senior Steward; Horace G. Belcher, Junior Steward; Fred W. Gay, Marshal; Isaac Bell, sentinel; George P. Start, Master of Ceremonies; William Farrar, Musical Director, and Fred Smith as Tyler.

Grand Master Arthur S. Vaughn reported at the 140th Annual Communication of Grand lodge that the rendition of the ritual by the first class of Nathanael Greene, a newly constituted lodge, was unique in Masonic history. A great deal of praise is due to the first officers who guided this unparalleled incident which attracted much attention in Rhode Island Masonry.

During World War II, the Lambskin Club building was used by the United States Army, and for most of the year 1942, stated communications of Nathanael Greene were held in King Solomon’s Lodge of East Greenwich.

Nathanael Greene has been fortunate to have Worshipful Brother Dr. Walter C. Robertson as Secretary since his untimely death of our first secretary, Harry Tinker, in 1945. Brother Robertson has faithfully served the Lodge longer than any other brother and has not missed a meeting without just cause or one item of minutes for the past thirty years.

Nathanael Greene has in its short history had one of its members serve as Grand Master. Most Worshipful Henry J. Cooper was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island in 1958, having served as Master of Nathanael Greene in 1946. Presently, Right Worshipful A. Sheffield Reynolds is serving as Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island in 1975, having served as Master of Nathanael Greene in 1961.

Pilgrimages by Nathanael Greene have been made through the years to sister Lodges in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire as well as throughout our own state, thereby perpetuating many lasting friendships that firmly places Nathanael Greene among the other lodges of the “Friendly Fifth.”

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