I received an email today from one of the subscribers to detroitno2.com, Lux Gnosis with some links to some interesting articles that may shed some light on the final resting place of one of Masonry’s primaries, St. John the Baptist. There have been other claims to his remains by other countries around the Mediterranean, so this isn’t yet conclusive, though there seems to be many indicators that the find is indeed authentic. It was located on a Bulgarian island in the Black Sea.

Read More At:

• St. John the Baptist’s Bones Found In Bulgarian Monastery
• John The Baptist’s Bones Found
• Euphoria over St. John the Baptist Archaeology Find

Lodge 13 have in their archives a old brass square that was found under the foundations of Baals Bridge. This Square dated 1507 is reputed to be one of the earliest Masonic items in the world.

The old brass square, known as the Baal’s Bridge Square, was recovered from the foundations of Baal’s Bridge in Limerick when the bridge was being rebuilt in 1830. It is inscribed “I WILL STRIVE TO LIVE WITH LOVE AND CARE UPON THE LEVEL BY THE SQUARE” and bears the date, 1507.  You can also see a heart in the center.

I think this is really exciting.  Of course one can say this is not proof by any measure of the official existence of Freemasonry prior to the U.G.L.E. constituting itself in 1717, it may just be an early example of how some measure of ethical symbolism was associated on occasion with the implements of stone masonry.

However with enough other empirical evidence around supporting the existence of Freemasonry deep into history, I think that this artifact is tied to Freemasonry.  The concepts presented in the inscription upon it are not foreign to any Mason.  The inscription is evidence that people, some obviously who were stone masons, were discussing philosophical concepts and that those concepts were being allegorically applied to the working tools of stone masons.

Is this evidence that Freemasonry is founded in the structures of laboring masons in medieval Europe?  Or is this evidence of the beginnings of a new society during a period of meshing between the fallouts of the Order of Knights Templar in hiding bringing their teachings and concepts of life to a layman’s trade?

Really the speculation can go anywhere.  I don’t know if you can feel hot or cold about this artifact pointing to evidence of ancient practicing Freemasons, but I would say it’s definitely warm.

This ancient Square, carefully treasured by Lodge 13 is recorded as being presented to Brother Michael Furnell,Provincial Grand Master, by Brother James Pain, (referred to as the Provincial Grand Architect).

In the Freemasons’ Quarterly Review, 1842, p. 288, Bro. Furnell, under the date of 27th. August, 1842, printed a short note on this relic of antiquity, accompanying which is a facsimile sketch. He says that Bro. Pain, in 1830, had been contractor for re-building Baals Bridge in Limerick, and on taking down the old structure, he discovered under the foundation stone at the English town side, this old brass square, much eaten away. In the facsimile sketch, Bro, Furnell puts the date as 1517, which is a mistake, as the square bears the date 1507. A heart appears in each angle.

In the book by H. F. Berry, Assistant Keeper of the Irish Records, “The Marencourt Cup and Ancient Square.” dated 1905, Bro. Berry records that “Ball’s (or Baals) Bridge is a beautiful structure, of a single arch, built in 1831, to replace an ancient bridge of the same name, which consisted of four arches, with a range of houses on its west side. The date of the erection of this ancient structure has not been ascertained, but possibly the old square, dated 1507, may have been placed, under the foundation stone in that year. In any case, Bro. Furnell informs us that the old bridge is mentioned in records of 1558.

In a most interesting and valuable paper on a ” Diary of the Siege of Limerick Castle, 1642,” Journal, R.S.A.I., 1904, p. 163, Mr. M. J. McEnery, M.R.I.A., reproduces a facsimile of a Map of Limerick, taken from Speed’s Map of Munster, 1610, which shows the old bridge, called in the reference the Thye bridge ; also portion of the city of Limerick, cir. 1590, from Mr. T. J. Westropp’s copy of a map of Limerick in the Library, Trinity College, Dublin, wherein the same bridge is shown, and called in the reference the Tide bridge.

James Pain, a distinguished architect, was born at Isleworth in 1779. He and his brother, George R, Pain, entered into partnership, subsequently settling in Ireland, where James resided in Limerick and George in Cork. They designed and built a number of churches and glebe houses. Mitchelstown Castle, the magnificent seat of the Earls of Kingston, was the largest and best of their designs. They were also architects of Cork Court-house and the County Gaol, both very striking erections, and of Dromoland Castle, the seat of Lord Inchiquin. James Pain died in Limerick 13th. December, 1877, in his 98th year, and was buried in the cathedral church of St. Mary in that city.”

It is lucky that this artifact was found when taking apart the old bridge.  I wonder what kind of artifacts and treasures are floating around the Detroit Masonic Temple that we don’t know about.