Squaring the Circle

Squaring the Circle

A businessman is striking out for charity by walking the entire route of the London Underground Circle Line - above ground.

Paul Moriarty, from Holbury near Southampton, believes it will take eight hours to complete the distance.

The 43-year-old is originally from London and used to walk to work during Tube strikes so knows the area well.

He will set out from Liverpool Street early on Saturday, August 29, then complete the circle, stopping at every station on the way.

Although there are 17 miles of track, the journey above ground is about 23 miles and with the roads not following the exact route, Paul will be zig-zagging through the streets.

He is raising funds for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), a charity funded by Freemasons that aims to relieve poverty and advance education for children and young people.

It supports young people with exceptional talents and those who need financial assistance in order to embrace life-changing opportunities.

The charity awards grants to both national and local children's charities and provides support to its separate but subsidiary charity Lifelites.

Freemason Paul said: “I came up with the idea in the pub and people have held me to it. I’ve even volunteered my father who will be a witness.

“It doesn’t sound as if it’s very far but the route above ground is about 23 miles and it will take me all day.

“Originally I thought of doing the Central Line, but that would mean getting on a motorway!

“People have been very generous and I have already exceeded my target of £500.”

Paul chose the RMTGB because his Masonic province of Hampshire and Isle of Wight is currently raising money for the charity in a six-year campaign known as a ‘festival’.

It concludes next year and it is expected that millions will be raised.

The Circle Line – coloured yellow on maps - serves 36 stations, including most of London's main line terminals.

According to research carried out by Dr Wayne Osborne, a GP for website Treated.com, Paul will burn at least 1,163 calories during the walk.

You can donate here: https://www.facebook.com/HampshireMasons/photos/a.348928248529987.82500.176887755734038/846292002126940/?type=1&theater

Mason's pedal power

From the Portsmouth News...

George Wilkinson cycled across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, raising more than �3,000

PLUCKY George Wilkinson cycled the length and breadth of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to raise money for charity.

The 48-year-old spent five days in the saddle travelling to every Freemasons’ hall in the county.

These included the ones in Bournemouth because the Masonic province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight follows the pre-
1974 boundary changes.

In total George, from Portchester, visited 38 lodge halls, covering well more than 300 miles.

So far he has raised more than £3,000, including a gift-aid, for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), a charity funded by the Freemasons, which aims to relieve poverty and advance education for children and young people.

It supports young people with exceptional talents and those who need financial assistance in order to embrace life-changing opportunities.

The charity awards grants to both national and local children’s charities and provides support to its separate but subsidiary charity Lifelites.

Freemason George chose the RMTGB because his Masonic province is currently raising money for the charity in a five-year campaign known as a ‘festival’.

It concludes next year and is expected that millions of pounds will be raised.

George, who served in the Royal Navy and now works in IT, said: ‘Although the distance doesn’t seem that far it was difficult terrain with plenty of hills, especially on the Isle of Wight and the South Downs.

‘It took me five days to complete and something of interest happened on every one of them.

‘The hardest part was locating all the Masonic halls, the one in Portsmouth took me half an hour to find.

‘And approaching Petersfield I had to carry my bike through the Queen Elizabeth Country Park due to the rough terrain, after taking a wrong turning – which wasn’t part of my training.’

Despite George completing his challenge his is still collecting money.

To donate visit: www.justgiving.com/George-Wilkinson2
.

Liverpool jug for sale

Hartley's Auctions are selling this Masonic jug which dates from c.1790. It includes Masonic verse and has an estimate of about £150.

The saleroom is in Ilkley and the jug is from Liverpool.

Live by the square - no pressure

This barometer from 1820 with Masonic symbols is going under the hammer at Fryer and Brown with an estimate of  £250-350.

The catalogue description reads: A Regency Giobbo mercurial wheel barometer, c1820, 25cm diameter dial with Masonic symbols, calibrated from 28-31, with spirit level below, circular mirror above, the top with thermometer and hygrometer, 104cm max. approx.

UKIP + Mason = conspiracy theory (yawn)

An interesting tale from the Wisbech Standard...

UKIP's Paul Bullen,

A UKIP county councillor opposed to declaring membership of the Freemasons says the organisation is “simply a club whose members meet for dinner and who raise money for charity”.

1

Masonic logo

Councillor Paul Bullen, UKIP group leader on the county council, said: “Where will this end? British Freemasonry is simply a club whose members meet for dinner and who raise money for charity as do the Rotary Club and the Lions. Why is Freemasonry being singled out in this manner?

“And, whilst we’re at it, should we not similarly include membership of the Round Table, the Royal Order of Associated Buffaloes, the Freemen’s Society, the Inner Wheel, Business and Professional Women, and, perhaps, the National Trust?”

Cllr Bullen said the motion from council leader Steve Count –discussed last month and now going to the constitution and ethics committee- is discriminatory and breaches Human Rights legislation.

Cllr Count’s motion called for the register of interests to reflect membership of a lodge. He also wants councillors and officers to declare if their wives or partners – including those in a civil partnership- belong to the Freemasons.

Steve Count

Cllr Count said: “The Freemasons themselves encourage openness and transparency. However simply passing on this knowledge on its own has done little to allay the electorate’s fears, whether real or unjustified.

“I have therefore decided a more proactive approach to increase transparency would be a good idea”

Cllr Count said he was not a mason “but I have spoken to many people who are and see no reason to make a secret of the fact.”

Freemasons

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FACT FILE

The United Grand Lodge of England is the governing body of Freemasonry.

It says it admits people of all political and religious persuasions and claims to take “no account of social status. It is entirely apolitical and will never express a view on any matter of political, public or social policy whatsoever”.

But it claims that despite all this the Freemasons, particularly in relation to public service, continue to be subjected institutionalised discrimination.

The United Grand Lodge of England likens the potential outcome of Cllr Count’s motion to the actions of regimes such as Hitler in Germany, Franco in Spain, Mussolini in Italy and Stalin’s Soviet Union.

It points out: “The suppression of Freemasonry in those countries began with a seemingly innocuous request from the ‘authorities’ for a list of Freemasons in public service – the police, judiciary, civil service, etc.”

“The Gestapo had a special section to ‘deal’ with Freemasons. Many Freemasons were tortured and executed but, unlike other persecuted groups, the Freemasons are seldom mentioned. “

FACT FILE

A letter sent to councillors claims the issue of Freemason membership and the “erroneous perception and muddled thinking” has been tackled by European Law.

Sue Henderson of the United Grand Lodge of England, said: “ The same precautions relating to privacy and security relate to publishing lists of members of Freemasonry, Rotary, golf clubs, gyms, – all of which are sensibly covered by the Data Protection Laws.

“It is precisely this situation of discrimination based on erroneous perception or muddled thinking in relation to Freemasonry that has been specifically addressed by European Law”

She said: “Freemasons only object to membership of being singled out as an activity warranting disclosure, as this places an unfounded slur on the organisation in the eyes of all who see such a requirement listed.

“Our members will, of course, like people involved in any other social activity, voluntarily disclose their membership whenever there is a possibility it could reasonably be perceived as a relevant interest.”