RINestell37
Contents
LODGE
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
PAST MASTERS
NOTES
Meeting date: Second Thursday
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
Nestell Lodge was constituted September 30, 1880. It was organized at a time when the country had just recovered from a long season of depression, and its establishment was, in a small way, a sign of better times. The question of starting a new Lodge, of which this was an outgrowth, had been discussed for a considerably period, but without any practical results. Usually, in forming a new Lodge, the material is taken from a Lodge or Lodges in the jurisdiction and includes brethren thoroughly conversant with the ritual. In this case, however, the brethren were either affiliated or held membership in other jurisdictions from Maine to Texas and from Scotland to Central America. The majority of them knew little about Freemasonry and still less of the work as practiced in Rhode Island. With these conditions it is no matter of surprise that there was some hesitancy in taking hold of the matter of forming a new Lodge when at best the project seemed largely experimental.
The first meeting for preliminary organization was held in the store of Wilson and Potter, 59 Weybosset Street, providence, December 22, 1879. The petition, having been approved by St. Johns No. 1 Providence, was presented to Grand Master E.L. Freeman, and a Dispensation was duly issued bearing the date of March 4, 1880.
At the first meeting held under this authority, March 8, 1880, in the Scottish Rite Hall, 48 Weybosset Street, Right Worshipful Edwin Baker presided as Special deputy of the Grand Master and read the Dispensation. At the close of his reading, Brother Joseph Baker was formally inducted into the Oriental chair. At this meeting attention was called to the change of the name of the Lodge from Narragansett to Nestell, a special alteration having been made, at the suggestion of the Grand Secretary, that recognition might be made of the Masonic fidelity of a brother recently deceased, Right Worshipful Brother Christian M. Nestell.
Nestell Lodge thus organized, held its meetings at the hall of the Scottish Rite and in the hall used by Corinthian Lodge. It was also indebted to What Cheer Lodge No. 21 for the use of jewels, aprons, working tools, and so forth, until such time as the Lodge acquired possession of its own accessories. Nestell Lodge continued to occupy quarters in Prescott Post Hall until December 15, 1881, when realizing the need of more suitable quarters, it united with Orpheus Lodge No. 36, in occupying Orpheus Hall at 70 Weybosset Street. This change of quarters was every way an improvement.
The fifth anniversary of the constituting of the Lodge was observed September 30, 1885. Nearly all the brethren present and many invited guests were present.
The Lodge continued to occupy Orpheus hall until November 11, 1886. It then moved into the building erected by the Freemason’s Hall Co. since which time its meetings until recently have continued to be held in Masonic Temple.
