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Captain and Brother John W. Nelms may well have been in attendance at the laying of the Capitol cornerstone, he and other Masons and dignitaries perspiring heavily under celluloid collars and wool suits of the time, since he was a member of Fairburn Lodge #180. Brother Nelms appears to have moved to Fairburn, Georgia from places unknown, where he affiliated with Fairburn Lodge #180 on July 10, 1873. He then relocated to Cobb County near Smyrna and was affiliated with Kennesaw Lodge #33 in Marietta on September 3, 1886. Brother Nelms together with other local Masons then became desirous of establishing a lodge in their own locale.
In those days of
severe economic
distress in the
aftermath of
devastation
caused by the
War Between the
States and the
Reconstruction
Period only a
few years past,
many lodges had
been unable to
maintain their
financial
obligations,
thus becoming a
burden to the
Grand Lodge.
Therefore, the
Grand Lodge was
more than
reluctant to
issue new
Charters in a
still recovering
economy of 1886.
Brother Nelms
who was a long
time Mason came
to the rescue.
Brother Nelms
traveled to
Macon at the end
of October and
due to his
diligence and
zeal, and the
small matter of
his paying the
proposed Lodge's
per capita dues
to the Grand
Lodge for two
years in advance
from his own
funds, a Charter
was obtained.
Exactly fourteen
months after the
actual laying of
the Capitol
Cornerstone, on
November 2,
1886, the
Charter was
granted for a
Masonic Lodge in
Smyrna, Georgia
by the Grand
Lodge of the
State of
Georgia, located
in Macon; which
was to become
known as John W.
Nelms Lodge of
F. & A. M. No.
323 of Smyrna,
Georgia. The
following
excerpt from the
November 4, 1886
minutes of Nelms
Lodge's first
meeting
describes the
role of Brother
Nelms .
"Brother Nelms,
who being one of
the Charter
Members, and
whose untiring
efforts before
the Grand Lodge
of Georgia to
produce a
Charter - so
endeared himself
to the Lodge and
its members,
that by
unanimous
accord, the
Lodge was named
for and in Honor
of our Respected
Brother - John
W. Nelms."
On November 4,
1886, the first
meeting was held
in Leggs Hall
the leased home
of Nickajack I
0 0 F
(Oddfellows
Lodge), on the
second floor of
a frame
structure
located near the
Southwest corner
of Atlanta Road
and Powder
Springs Street,
where presently
stands a former
service station
building, in the
City of Smyrna.
A committee was
appointed to
negotiate with
the Oddfellows
to share the
lease of Leggs
Hall. However
prior to
deciding to
proceed, a
Brother was
assigned to
remain in the
store below to
determine if the
work of the
Lodge could be
heard there.
The agreement
was subsequently
made to share
the Lodge with
the OddfelIows
for the
exorbitant sum
of $25.00 per
year with Nelms
Lodge providing
their own coal
and coal oil for
lighting as well
as their own
janitor to clean
up the Lodge,
arrive early to
build a fire in
the heater, trim
wicks and fill
the lamps.
The Lodge was
"duly
instituted" on
December 2,
1886. Brother
Parkhurst from
the Grand Lodge
presided and
Brother Meyer
from Atlanta
spoke to the
Brethren on
their
responsibilities
to the Lodge and
to the
community.
Brother
Whitfield
journeyed to
Macon in
December to
purchase the
first jewels of
the Lodge for
$13.00 and to
pay the $80.00
due for the
Charter. This
money was the
proceeds from a
note to J.A.
Stone, Secretary
of the Lodge,
for 90 days at
"the lawful rate
of interest".
Nelms Lodge was
not content with
just moving into
Leggs Hall as
is. Plans were
immediately made
to move the
stairs from the
South side to
the North side
and close the
South door.
Discussions
were also begun
with the
Oddfellows about
carpeting the
Lodge.
The first
applications
were read in
December of 1886
for W.J.
Bohanon, W,A.
Dodgen, S.F.
Iselam, and J.A.
Medlin by the
sixteen charter
members.
It was also
decided that the
Tyler would be
paid fifty cents
per meeting for
his services.
Brother Nelms
was apparently
an active
traveler in
those horse and
buggy and
railroad days.
He was away from
Smyrna and the
Lodge until
August of 1887,
when he gave an
"interesting
instruction",
and presented a
petition for
Doctor John A.
Nelms,
relationship
unknown.
In September of
1887, the Lodge
formed the first
"Eastern Star
Degree" for the
"ladies entitled
to receive
(those)
instructions".
The sick and
needy were, then
as now, of
primary concern
to Nelms Lodge.
Brother Stewart
was "so sick" as
to need two
Brothers to
nurse him each
night for more
than three
weeks.
The cost of coal
for the Winter
of 1887 was
sixty-five cents
and the rent was
raised in 1888
to five dollars
a month, payable
quarterly. In
March of 1888,
this apparently
exorbitant rent
prompted the
Lodge to form a
building
committee.
A motion was
made to "Look
for or build a
good schoolhouse
with a suitable
lodge hall over
it". After five
months of
searching, it
was decided in
September of
1888 to build
rather than
settle for any
available
structure.
They wanted a
place to stake
their "stock"
while attending
Lodge meetings.
A wagon had been
damaged recently
when the horse
backed it onto
the railroad
track while its'
owner was in the
Lodge. They
voted to have
Mr. H.C. McGriff build the hall, but later withdrew their
support because
"he would not
give a definite
answer".
In October of
1888, the Lodge
sent an
additional five
dollars to
Jacksonville,
Florida for
Masons who had
Yellow Fever.
They also
approached the
Elders of the
Presbyterian
Church about
perhaps building
a schoolhouse
with a hall
above on their
grounds or on
other
alternative
sites. Much as
today, a
committee was
appointed to see
how much money
they could
borrow.
In November of
1888, Nelms
Lodge purchased
a lot 36 feet by
100 feet on
Atlanta Road for
twenty-five
dollars. This
lot was located
in the hollow in
the vicinity of
what is now the
Second Baptist
Church site. In
a 1960 history
of the Lodge the
site was
identified as
"the lot
adjoining the
First Baptist
Church in the
hollow below the
present
Sub-station". At
the end of 1888,
the Lodge had
$100.43 on hand.
An additional
parcel of land
was purchased in
January of 1889
for which the
Lodge paid Mr.
Pace the sum of
$12.50. This lot
fronted on
Atlanta Road in
front of the new
Lodge site.
Construction was
completed on the
two story
structure in the
fall of 1889 and
the first
meeting was held
in the new Lodge
to install the
new officers for
1890. The ground
floor was
furnished by the
Lodge with
bolted down
school desks.
(Remember the
inkwell?)
Records are
sketchy from
this point until
1923.
However, Mr.
Robert L.
Baldwin, a
lifetime
resident of
Smyrna and a
member of Nelms
Lodge since
1923, said that
he attended
school in this
building. In Smyrna it was “The Fire.”
The Lodge
remained at this
location until
disaster struck
in March of 1924
- when fire
destroyed the
building.
Lodge records,
fortunately,
were saved
because the
Secretary kept
them at his
home. The
determination of
the Brethren of
Nelms Lodge,
that this center
of community
would continue,
also survived
the disaster.
However, prior to the fire, two significant events are recorded. In January, 1923 a Royal Arch Chapter was formed at Nelms Lodge and it remains active today as part of the York Rite of Freemasonry. Also in 1923 it became known that the Board of Education desired to sell the "Old School Building" on the present location of the Lodge. This was due to the construction of the new Smyrna School at King and Church Streets. In July of 1924 the lodge made $229.48 for the building fund by holding an ice cream festival.
Nelms Lodge
began holding
their meetings
in the old
school building
in April of
1925.
Although many
letters of
sympathy on the
loss of the Hall
were received,
only Bolton
Lodge offered
their hall for
meetings without
any charge. The
immediate
problem with the
old school
building which
faced Smyrna
Cemetery (West
Spring didn't
exist), was the
fact that the
building had
been condemned.
The exact price
paid for the
building by the
Lodge is
unknown;
however, it is
known that they
spent between
$4,000 and
$5,000 for the
acquisition and
renovation. The
Lodge demolished
the wooden front
portion which
faced the
cemetery and
renovated that
portion which
was the first
brick structure
constructed in
Smyrna in 1840.
The building
occupied by
Nelms Lodge in
1924 has quite a
history of its
own. It was
originally a
Boys Military
Academy before
the Civil War.
During the War
it served as the
first
Confederate
Officer's
training
headquarters
known as Camp
Joseph E. Brown
in 1861.
After the Battle
of Smyrna July
4, 1864, the
building was
used as a
Confederate
hospital and
later as a
Federal hospital
after Sherman
captured the
town.
Consequently, it
was the only
public building
not destroyed as
Sherman's troops
moved south. In
the 1870's and
80's the two
story structure
was used by the
Smyrna
Presbyterian
Church. It was
also in this
building that
the First
Baptist Church
was originated
in August of
1884. In 1905,
the Presbyterian
Church deeded
the property to
the Cobb County
Board of
Education for
$1,600. It
was used as a
school building
from then unti1
1922 or 1923
when the "new"
Smyrna School
opened.
Nelms Lodge
completely
renovated the
building, graded
a new street in
front of the
building and
occupied the
structure by the
end of 1925,
(Mr. Baldwin
stated that an
elephant is
buried in that
area of West
Spring Street in
front of the
fire station.
The elephant
died during a
carnival held on
that location
and no equipment
could be found
to move the
body.)
The Smyrna City
Council used the
Lodge as their
meeting place as
well as the
“Matrons Club”
and on at least
one occasion the
K.K.K. in
October 1926.
In November 1925
the Woodsmen of
the World began
meeting there.
It was also in
1926 that the
Lodge voted not
to buy stock in
the "new" Smyrna
Bank. This year
also marked the
beginning of the
famous possum
and chitterling
suppers held
each fall at hog
killing time.
In June of 1927,
a marble stone
was placed in
the sidewalk to
commemorate
Nelms Lodge.
It was then that
the Lodge
started charging
other groups
$2.50 to use the
Lodge. At this
time also one
dozen lambskin
aprons were
purchased for
the sum of
$18.85. In July
the Smyrna Bank
went "defunct".
The last action
taken by the
Lodge that year
was to sell the
lot where the
old Lodge stood
back to the
Baptist Church
for $300.00.
1928 was a
banner year for
the Lodge in
that there was
running water
installed. In
1929 the Lodge
"adopted" Jack
Tate, age 15, in
the orphanage,
buying his
clothes, his
Christmas and
contributing to
his further
education.
The City of
Smyrna exempted
the Lodge from
water bills the
following year.
The Boy Scouts
began using the
lower hall as a
meeting place
and a special
contribution was
made to the
Masonic
(Orphanage) Home
on the occasion
of its 25th
anniversary. A
sad note to 1930
was the typhoid
fever epidemic,
when many
Brethren were
stricken and the
Brethren and
their wives
pitched in to
nurse them.
In 1931, the
Lodges' adopted
orphan, Jack
Tate, was
expelled from
the Masonic
Home.
Georgia Power
during this year
held a cooking
school in the
Lodge building,
and broke the
lock on the
door, thereby
upsetting
everyone.
A new water
cooler (a keg,
two cups and a
dipper) were
purchased for
$2.00 for the
Lodge.
A portrait of
George
Washington was
presented and
hung in the
Lodge, by the
donation of
Congressman M.C.
Tarver in 1932.
The Lodge voted
to remove the
old cornerstone
that year and
replace it with
a "new replica".
1934 saw a fund
set up for the
Brethren and
their families
in distress
caused by the
Great
Depression.
A cow was
donated to one
widow and grain
was purchased
for a Brother. With the war in Europe and the Far East raging, the Lodge voted in 1942 to place their entire savings into War Bonds. In 1944, Arthur Bacon was elected into Masonry in Nelms Lodge. This same year the Lodge purchased $7.50 worth of hog feed and a committee was formed to see if it was fat enough to be killed. The Lodge voted the following year to inform the County that the doctor's clinic that had occupied the basement must either pay rent or be moved. Five years was long enough, rent free. In 1946, the magnificent mural of Masonic work which adorns Nelms Lodge in the most honored place was painted and donated to the Lodge by Brother Ted Bowman, Master in that year.
The roof
of the Lodge
building was
repaired in 1949
and a vote was
taken for the
installation of
a toilet. This
same year a
committee was
formed to
investigate the
possibility of
erecting a new
building.
1950 heralded
the formation of
Smyrna Chapter,
Order of the
Eastern Star and
they were
granted
permission to
meet in the
Lodge on the
first and third
Tuesdays. "But
again, in 1950,
when it became
known that the
Post Office
might rent the
ground floor, a
building
Committee was
appointed to
build a building
(adjacent to the
present
building) for
the Post Office.
The Post Office
rented the new
structure, and
through rental
money, the Lodge
was beginning to
pay off all
indebtedness.
The original
Post Office
building was
leased on April
9, 1951. THEN IT HAPPENED!
It was noted by
the Brethren
that the floor
sills were
retreating from
the old walls of
the old building
and considered
unsafe.
(The building
had been
condemned some
20 years
previous).
A new Building
Committee was
appointed in
1954 to explore
the
possibilities
and financial
conditions of
erecting a new
building which
would also
include the
first Post
Office for
Smyrna, Georgia.
It would have a
modern Lodge
Room on te
second floor.
After
investigations
with Finance
Institutions and
the Post Office
Authorities, The
Building
Committee was
empowered by the
Lodge to
proceed. This
was a "Golden
Night" of the
Lodge - since
the Committee
DID proceed!
Demolition of
the "old
building" began
on March 8,
1954.
02-13-54
Conferred with
possible tenant
for first floor.
03-01-54
Ordered Wrecking
Permit from City
of Smyrna.
03-03-54
Building Loan
Approved.
03-03-54
Members met and
began moving
furniture and
fixtures out of
the Lodge. Gas
cut off.
03-06-54
Grand Lodge
issued
Dispensation to
hold meetings at
the Smyrna
Elementary
School.
03-06-54
Made last
pictures of "old
Building"
(Pictures are
hung in the
Lodge).
03-06-54
Kennesaw Lodge
offered Brethren
their Hall while
we were under
construction.
03-08-54
Wreckers removed
windows and
casings.
03-12-54
Roof removed.
03-13-54
Ceiling beams
down.
03-16-54
Walls coming
down.
03-20-54
Wreckers
finished!
03-23-54
Old brick sold
by the Lodge as
mementos. The
brick had been
handmade by
slaves and still
had the
handprints.
03-24-54
Bull-Dozer
leveled lot.
03-26-54
Excavation for
basement began.
04-01-54
Trenches for
footings dug.
04-03-54
Paid Wreckers -
$500. Check No.
1840.
05-10-54
Loan Papers
signed by
Building
Committee.
(McGehee, White
and Camp).
05-17-54
"Wheel-Barrow
Brigade" -
moving dirt so
that beams could
be set at
basement level.
05-25-54
Beams for second
floor - raised.
06-14-54
Building
Committee
(Kreeger, Bailey
and Camp) met
with City
Council
regarding
sidewalks.
06-28-54
Concrete for
second floor
poured. Walls
began.
07-01-54
Aluminum ceiling
for Post Office
ordered.
08-04-54
Building
Committee
ordered exhaust
fans and coping
for windows and
top ledge of
building,
09-18-54
First meeting in
the new Hall!
Met on raw
concrete and
unfinished
interior, but it
was WONDERFUL!
09-28-55
Duct work for
Air Conditioning
and Heating
Installed.
11-14-55
Ceiling
installed.
11-27-55
Furnace
delivered.
12-03-55
Heat first
turned on. SURE
FEELS GOOD!
02-21-56
Decided to hold
"Called
Communication"
to ask donations
from members to
finish interior.
03-19-56
Called
Communication.
Herman Talmadge,
speaker. Needed
$7,500.00 to
complete
interior, and
$6,610.00 was
pledged!
03-19-56
Started
Plastering
Walls.
04-02-56
Ceramic tile in
rest rooms
installed.
04-04-56
Carpentry work
on risers
completed.
04-05-56
Tile laid in
front lobby.
04-22-56
Washed windows
and put down
base boards and
mold.
04-25-56
Tile installed
on risers.
05-04-56
Beautiful red
carpet laid!
05-05-56
Red Plush seats
installed! (This
completed the
interior work
asked for at
Called
Communication).
07-16-56
Officers chairs
ordered from
Roswell firm.
08-01-56
Screens
delivered and
installed by the
Brethren.
The preceding
chronology of
the construction
was compiled by
Leslie M, Camp,
Secretary of
Nelms Lodge,
1960. What else happened in the meantime?
The Lodge had a
softball team in
1953. The Lodge
met with
Kennesaw Lodge
#33 while the
new building was
under
construction.
The Order of the
Eastern Star met
in Smyrna
Schools' old
building. 
Over the years,
Nelms Lodge has
been the home of
a Lodge of Free
and Accepted
Masons, two
chapters of the
Order of the
Eastern Star
(Smyrna Chapter
and Jonquil
Chapter), the
Order of Demolay
(a fine
fraternity of
young men who
have gone on to
become community
and business
leaders), the
Order of Rainbow
Girls (among the
finest young
women who
matured as
credits to
Smyrna and the
world), Oakdale
Lodge of Free
and Accepted
Masons, York
Rite Chapter of
Royal Arch
Masons #160 and
York Rite
Council #60.
Together with
Brethren from
adjacent lodges,
Nelms Brethren
formed Nelms
Fellowcraft Club
in 1958, and
remained active
for many years,
visiting lodges
throughout the
southeast.
When
constructed,
Nelms Lodge was
the center of
the Smyrna
community which
spanned one-half
mile in all
directions. The
building
remained the
center of Smyrna
with the city
limits having
expanded to one
mile in any
direction. 
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Copyright 2008-2011. Nelms Lodge 323 Free and Accepted Masons. All Rights Reserved.