Rising Sun #39

Rising Sun #39 was instituted on June 13, 1822 by dispensation of the M.W. Joshua Darling, Grand Master of New Hampshire Grand Lodge, the 39th lodge in the State of New Hampshire. The original town was then known as Dunstable, it being separated from Dunstable Mass. Dunstable was a small outpost, with but one store, several Inns, and a few Saw Mills. The first lodge meetings were held in the private residence of John Hunt. Lodge meetings moved to other buildings as Nashua grew, notably The Nashua Literary Institution, the Hunt building, and the Nutt Building. In 1889, Rising Sun, along with other Masonic bodies raise capital to build the current Masonic Temple.

From 1822 to 1837, the Lodge met on Wednesday afternoons. From 1837 till 1964 Rising Sun was a "Moon Lodge" meeting on the Wednesday night closest to the full moon, the practical Yankees knowing that they and their horses could navigate home by the light of the Full Moon.

Rising Sun has performed many cornerstone layings and dedications in Nashua. These include; the Olive Street Church in Nashua Village, the Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church, the old Nashua Court House, the current Masonic Temple, and the General John Stark monument in Manchester.

Rising Sun remains active in community affairs. It has held Memorial Mass of Thanksgiving with the Nashua Council Knights of Columbus, has dedicated monuments to Korean War veterans at City Hall, has marched in Veteran's Day and Memorial Day parades. It also helps in sponsoring and supporting Neighbor to Neighbor Clinics, and contributes to the soup kitchens and shelters in Nashua and surrounding communities.