Committees, and a program for the Cornerstone Laying by Unity Lodge No. 146, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. Also the name of the Grand Master, the names of the Officers and Members of Unity Lodge, a ticket to the dinner for visiting Brethren, 50, 25, and 10 cent coins, one penny, same being the wages of a Worthy Craftsmen. This event must have been very impressive since at its next meeting the Lodge received an invitation from Cassia Lodge No. 142 to assist in laying the cornerstone for another Methodist Church. This invitation was accepted. This, in turn, was followed by a like invitation from Spurmont Lodge No. 98 which was also approved.
At the final meeting in December 1905, Brother x. x. xxxxxxxx was appointed as a committee of one to gather together all the important Books and Papers of the Lodge, and to place them in a Bank vault for safe keeping.
In May 1907, the fee for the three degrees of Masonry were raised from $20.00 to $25.00. By motion, $10.00 of each such fee was to be placed in a sinking fund. This was at a later meeting ordered to be placed in a fund created for the purpose of purchasing or erecting a building to be used as a Masonic Temple.
Beginning in 1904, the election of Officers was first held in December instead of in June as had been the custom up until that time. The last prior election having been held in June of 1903, those so elected continued in office for eighteen months instead of the usual twelve or one year.
In 1909, Brother x. x. xxxxxxxx was ordered to purchase a bolt of corset jean and tape for aprons. During this year, two men were made Master Masons who in the course of their Masonic lives have had a lasting influence on the development of the Craft in Front Royal and its environs. No one who has been privileged to know either Worshipful Brother x. x. xxxxxxxx or Worshipful Brother x. x. xxxxxxxx, can be unaware of the manner in which each has exemplified the principles of Free Masonry.
About 1908, the Lodge became interested in real estate. On June 17th of that year, it purchased the Boyd property, a lot located on the north side of East Main Street across from the old Murphy Theatre, and an architect was employed to draw plans for a Masonic Temple. Soon after this, the school building together with the rooms on the third floor occupied by the four secret societies was sold at public auction, the Odd Fellows becoming the new owner. They now refused to rent to Unity Lodge and arrangements were made with x. x. xxxxxxxx for the use of a room in the Murphy Block, and the Masonic Lodge immediately moved into its new quarters, holding its first meeting there on the 16th of September 1910. The Front Royal Masonic Temple Corporation was formed in December 1909, to handle the real property and proposed building operations of the Lodge. The Boyd property was now offered for sale and the Cass Rust lot on Royal Avenue between the Baptist Church as it was at that time and the present Town Hall and Fire Department, was bought, but apparently all thought of soon building a temple was shelved.
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Unity Lodge No. 146 