July 5, 2024
Brethren:
Pursuant to Section 2.85 of the Virginia Methodical Digest, and, Article VIII of the By-Laws of Unity Lodge No 146, a proposed amendment was submitted in writing, and read at the July 3, 2024 Stated Meeting, and in accordance therewith was ordered held over for the required four week period so that the membership may be further notified that a vote on said amendment would take place at the August Stated Meeting held on August 7, 2024.
1. The first amendment is to Article 3 regarding “Fees for Degrees,” and is amended by deleting the existing closing sentence which currently reads: “A non-refundable Criminal Background Check fee shall also accompany the petition, the cost of which shall be determined by the Office of the Grand Secretary.” This sentence is proposed to be replaced by the following, new language: “plus the Grand Lodge Conferral fee for the Degree of Master Mason.”
The purpose of this amendment is to memorialize the fact that the Grand Lodge is no longer charging the Criminal Background check through the lodges, but rather the fee is being charged by the entity performing the background check, AND, to incorporate the recent Grand Lodge revisions to the Grand Lodge Conferral fee for the Degree of Master Mason.
2. The second amendment is to Article VI which currently provides for a “four and 50/100s (4.50) dollars” monthly stipend to the Tiler.
After careful research it has been found that this provision has never been exercised and no tiler has ever received the allowed stipend. Recognizing that this amount is “de minimis” and is an artifact the section has been amended to read: “The Tiler shall not receive any compensation.”
As proposed these amendments, if approved by the requisite “two-thirds majority of those present” at the August State Meeting, would be effective at either the approval of the Grand Lodge of the Proposed Revised By-Laws, or January 1, 2025, whichever is earliest.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Kevin Paul Walek, Secretary
Unity No. 146
Unity Lodge No. 146 