WHITE ROSE 43 - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

FAIRFAX CHAPTER MARKSITS PROUD CENTENARY . . .WHEN Fairfax Chapter No 3255 celebrated its centenary at theMasonic Hall, Westbourne House, Otley, last November, one ofthe highlights was an Oration by Provincial Third Grand Principal,E Comp The Rev Frank A Chappell.E Comp Chappell traced the history of the Fairfax family fromthe early 16th century, revealing how Sir William Fairfax metIsabel Thwaites: “an orphan, the daughter and heiress ofThomas Thwaites, of Denton and Askwith, just up the road fromhere and also of estates in the city of York, Bishophill and DavyHall.“Isabel was under the guardianship of the Abbess of theCistercian nunnery at Appleton, near York. In the course ofhunting and visiting friends in the area, young Isabel had metand fallen in love with William Fairfax. The Abbess, who hopedIsabel would take vows and that her wealth might top up theConvent’s finances, took a jaundiced view of Isabel Thwaites’behaviour and confined her to the nunnery.“Thomas Fairfax took the matter into his own hands; gathereda small band of friends together; forced entry into the Nunneryand carried off Isabel in triumph – they were married in BoltonPercy Church in 1518.E Comp Chappell, continued: “Companions, it is worthremembering that had it not been for another great love affairsome 2,500 years earlier, between King David and Bathsheba,there might have been no King Solomon and no Freemasonryas we know it today; three love affairs then; 1910 - the Foundersof this Chapter in love with the Holy Royal Arch; 1518 WilliamFairfax in love with Isabel Thwaites, the rich heiress; and Davidand Bathsheba.“In 1759; when Charles Gregory Fairfax, the 9th ViscountFairfax acquired some property in York, that is now known asFairfax House, he employed a Yorkshire Architect, John Carr, whoproduced a classic Georgian House in Castlegate, the lanewhich runs between Cliffords’ Tower and the Jorvik centre in York.In fact it is opposite the Castlegate Masonic Hall,which is also a fine architectural feature of the area.“Within 100 years, as the Fairfax family moved on, the Fairfax’smagnificent mansion became derelict; becoming a billiard halland a Cinema in the 1920s. The more recent history isreminiscent of our Chapter ritual. There was no sign ofZerubbabel, Haggai, and Joshua, not of any Sojourners; but YorkCity Council, the York City Trust, and Noel Terry, the chocolatierfamous for his Chocolate Orange came together in the 1980sand restored Fairfax House to its original glory, even surpassingperhaps, that of the original house.“One of the great things that the Holy Royal Arch teaches usis not to lose heart; that what seems desolate and forlorn, evenimpossible, can be rebuilt; that glory can emerge anew out ofruins; when people care, when they have charity and love thengreat things can happen. ”Fairfax Chapter, founded at Guiseley in July 1910, welcomedmembers and visitors totalling 100 Companions, with the M EGrand Superintendent, John K Clayton, heading a ProvincialDelegation.E Comp Michael T George Powell read a short history of theChapter and also a letter from HM the Queen, expressing herbest wishes and congratulations.E Comp John Rushworth, Provincial Scribe E, read theCentenary Charter before it was presented to the First Principal,visit www.masonicswords.co.ukto view our current stock & purchase yourantique sword with a little history.12OLICANA CHAPTER No.1522 Meeting on the 1st Mon in Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb and March Installation last Mon in AprilCunliffe Road, Ilkley LS29 9DZ PROUD SUPPORTERS OF THIS PAGE OF THE WHITE ROSE MASONIC NEWS.