Extracts from the Minutes of the first regular Meeting:
“The first regular meeting was held in this place on Tuesday, August 21st, 1866.
It was regularly moved and seconded that the By-Laws and Constitution of Unity Lodge be adopted,
until the Lodge forms a code of laws. (passed)
It was decided that the sum of Twenty ($20.00) Dollars be the fee for a person applying for admission in this Lodge.
Four ($4.00) Dollars to be handed in with the proposition and the remaining Sixteen ($16.00) Dollars on the night of balloting.
If the candidate has taken his E.A. Degree elsewhere, then Fourteen ($14.00) Dollars to be paid
and if he has taken his E.A. and F. C. Degrees, then Eight ($8.00) Dollars to be paid on said night.”
“Applications for membership were read from Fobert Dawson, David McKay and James Ross.”
You will note that the Lodge ‘In this place’.
I have learned from V.W. Bro. Robert Fiendel that the first meetings of the Lodge were held in a room over Durling’s Carriage Factory (Where Sweeney’s Funeral Home is now located).
The meetings were held here from August 1866 to August 1868.
The next meeting was held on September 11th.
The E.A. Degree was conferred on Robert Dawson, David McKay and James Ross.
Applications for membership were received at practically every meeting,
so that during the time the Lodge was under the Provincial Grand Lodge’s Dispensation,
from August 15th, 1866 to June 24th, 1868, they Initiated, Passed and Raised Twenty-six new members,
thus bringing the total membership to Thirty-nine (39).
On December 11th, 1866, all Officers were re-elected except the Tyler.
On May 28th, 1867, a letter was received from St. Andrew’s Lodge at Halifax, regarding formation of a Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia.
June 19th, 1867, Emergent Meeting to discuss the Grand Lodge question.
A motion by Bro. Dawson and Bro. Owen — ‘That we, as a Lodge, sign the Memorial with Grand Lodge under consideration with certain amended words as now made.’
July 23rd, 1867, Bro. Potts, a member of Athol Lodge at Halifax, under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia,
(Recently organized) was not admitted, the said Grand Lodge being declared Clandestine.
On December, 1867, the election of Officers took place. Officers elected were as follows:
| W. H. Owen, W.M. |
| Robert Dawson, Treasurer |
| John Andrews, S.W. |
| D. McKay, Secretary |
| James Buckmaster, J.W. |
| Charles Chase, S.D. |
| Agustus Freeman, S.S. |
| James Starratt, J.D. |
| Stephen Benjamin, J.S. |