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The first by-laws for the government of Unity Lodge were drawn up and adopted at a Special Communication on October 12, 1870. These by-laws were a direct copy of the Grand Lodge Digest. These by-laws were revised and adopted on March 4, 1876.
The Lodge celebrated the 100 year Centennial of Masons in Front Royal on June 23, 1899 with Geo. W. Forsythe, W. M. presiding, C. W. Trenary, Senior Warden, H. M. Kearns, Junior Warden, Oder Harrell, Senior Deacon and Wm. R. Buck, Secretary. After the business of the Lodge was over and the Lodge closed, the public was admitted to the Lodge room to hear the Commemoration Address by Bro. F. P. Berkely and to witness the unveiling of the plaque or tablet which now hangs on the wall of the Lodge room just south of the Junior Warden’s station. The Tablet reads–Chester Lodge No. 61, John Hickman, W. M. Charter December 11, 1799. This tablet is erected to commemorate the One Hundreth Anniversary of the establishment of Free Masonry in Front Royal, G. W. Forsythe, W. M., Unity Lodge No. 146, June 23, 1899.
The by-laws were again revised October 3, 1919. Each time the by-laws were revised they became more and more realistic and met the current needs of the Lodge, being specific in nature instead of general.
The Lodge participated in the laying of the Cornerstone of the R.M.A. Memorial Gateway on May 14, 1923 with L.B. Cary, W. M. presiding, J. P. Borden, Senior Warden, A. N. Carroll, Junior Warden, Thos. MacNamara, Senior Deacon, J. H. Shiner, Junior Deacon, W. C. Deming, Secretary, A. W. Berryman, Tiler, H. W. Shannon, Chaplain. Grand Officers present were Grand Junior Deacon R. W. John T. Cochran; D. D. G. M. to District No. 3 Rt. Wor. L. H. Morgan.
The cornerstone of the Randolph Macon Academy was layed by the Lodge on September 1, 1927 with Jas. H. Shiner, W. M. Presiding, L. C. Willey, Senior Warden and E. Barr Samsell, Junior Warden, Geo. N. Buck, Treasurer, P. M. Shirey, Secretary protem and H. W. Shannon, Chaplain. The cornerstone was layed in accordance with Masonic customs.
The by-laws were again amended and re-written on September 8, 1933. The committee on revisions were P. M. Shirey, J. L. Borden and J. A. Shiner. These were the first set of by-laws that definitely covered the growing needs of a Lodge in the fast moving action towards acquiring a Lodge building of their own.
The by-laws were again revised and rewritten on May 13, 1949. P. M. Shirey, J. L. Borden and W. W. Messick were the committee. Not much change in laws but it specified annual dues and meeting time and dates.
The by-laws were revised on June 8, 1956 which covered the final needs of the Lodge and specified the duties of the Trustees and at the same time raised the membership fees and dues as well as the initiation fee that were felt necessary, due to increased cost of running the Lodge building.
The above was intended as a brief history of the activities of the Lodge since its inception in 1870. It was presented in hope that it would be of interest and give each a brief outline of what has taken place, the struggle of the Lodge for existence until we reached the comfortable position which we now enjoy.
Unity Lodge No. 146 