Some New Facts About the Baal's Bridge Square
By Bro. J. Hugo Tatsch, The Builder Magazine, 1929.
The interesting story communicated by Bro. Crossle, of Dublin, Ireland, in the December, 1929, issue of THE BUILDER is one holding much fascination for the antiquarians of the Craft. It appealed especially to me because I have in my possession some interesting material relating thereto, this having come into my possession during the winter of 1923-24 when I purchased an old Masonic volume which had been advertised in England as a scrapbook containing letters from prominent Masons of the last century, among them several from William James Hughan, the eminent English Masonic historian.
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The book turned out to be the By-Laws of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the North & East Ridtngs of Yorkshire, printed at Kingston-upon-Hull, 1868, and formerly the property of Bro. John Pearson Bell, M. D., Deputy Provincial Grand Master. In fact, it was his working copy, for it also contains numerous annotations in his handwriting, and addenda to his Short History of the Provincial Grand Lodge which forms part of the work.
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I shall not dwell upon the other valuable letters I found in the volume; let it suffice to say that Bro. Bell was interested in the Old Brass Square of Limerick, and had in the book not only a photograph of Bro. James Pain, the discoverer of the Square in 1830, but also several letters from him, as well as a number from Bro. Fred W. Furnell. A reproduction of the photographs accompany this article; and extracts from the letters as they illustrate the story.
The first item in the series of notes is a cutting from the Limerick Southern Chronicle, Clare and Tipperary Advertiser, issue of Saturday, September 25, 1869. On the margin is a memorandum in Bro. Bell's handwriting, "Sent a sketch of this Square and letter to Editor a few days before this article [appeared]. J.P.B."
MASONIC RELIC
We have received from a worthy Brother, a facsimile sketch, of a very antique brass square, discovered under the foundation stone of the Old Baal's Bridge, in this city, with the words inscribed thereon:
MASONIC RELIC
We have received from a worthy Brother, a facsimile sketch, of a very antique brass square, discovered under the foundation stone of the Old Baal's Bridge, in this city, with the words inscribed thereon:
"I will strive to live with love and care,
"Upon the level, by the square."
"Upon the level, by the square."
Brother James Pain, architect and engineer, of this city, contracted in the year 1830, to re-build Baal's Bridge on taking down the old one, the period of erection of which is unknown though noticed in the records in 1558 at the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth. Bro Pain discovered under the foundation stone at the Englishtown side, this old brass plate much eaten away. The shape, size, and formation of the engraving on both sides were easily traced. There are two holes in each square for the purpose of suspension to the collar, and a representation of a heart in both angles. The year 1317 is engraved on one of the squares, the most illegible character is the figure 3, which might be 5, but history proves it must have been before 1558.
[The worthy Brother, who has favoured us with the above interesting sketch, has had it in his possession for the last 20 years.]
Further clues to the Square are given in other notes added to the cutting, thus:
[The worthy Brother, who has favoured us with the above interesting sketch, has had it in his possession for the last 20 years.]
Further clues to the Square are given in other notes added to the cutting, thus:
Memo. Dec. 3rd, 1870. Up to this time no information of the above Square has been obtained. Wrote this day & enclosed sketch of Square to the W. Master, Limerick Lodge of Freemasons, Limerick.
Bro. Bell's letter to Limerick brought a reply dated December 10, 1870, from George W. Bassett, P. M., Worshipful Master of Lodge 73, Limerick, and P. K., Royal Arch Chapter, in which he conveys the information that Bro. James Pain was alive and "comparatively well, for he is an old & worthy Brother, now nearly 80 yrs of age." A letter of Bro. Pain's was enclosed, and the information was given that "I made it my business to see Mr. Furnell alluded to in Mr. Pain's letter and he promises to look through his late uncle's relics to find the Brass Square, but said he never saw it and I expect it will be difficult to search it up."
The letter from Bro. Pain forwarded by Bro. Bassett reads:
34 George Street,
Limerick, Dec. 6, 1870.
Dear Sir and Bro. Bassett:
In reply to your favor of yesterday's date with the sketch of the Old Brass Square enclosed, I beg to say I have a perfect recollection of the Square being found and given to me by the workmen - and I think I gave the Square to the late Brother Michael Furnell who I recollect thought much of it. It may possibly be found among his effects. I think it would be well if you inquired of the late Bro. Michael Furnell's nephew if the Square has been since met with. I regret the matter has never until now, been brought to my recollection and am sorry I cannot speak more about it.
Yours, Dr. Sir and Bro.,
G. W. Bassett. Esq
JAMES PAIN.
Limerick, Dec. 6, 1870.
Dear Sir and Bro. Bassett:
In reply to your favor of yesterday's date with the sketch of the Old Brass Square enclosed, I beg to say I have a perfect recollection of the Square being found and given to me by the workmen - and I think I gave the Square to the late Brother Michael Furnell who I recollect thought much of it. It may possibly be found among his effects. I think it would be well if you inquired of the late Bro. Michael Furnell's nephew if the Square has been since met with. I regret the matter has never until now, been brought to my recollection and am sorry I cannot speak more about it.
Yours, Dr. Sir and Bro.,
G. W. Bassett. Esq
JAMES PAIN.
This was the beginning of a correspondence which lasted for several years. Bro. Bell wrote to Bro. Pain at once, and received this reply:
34 George Street,
Limerick, Dec. 17, 1870.
Dear Sir and Brother:
I beg to return you thanks for your kind letter of the 13th inst and its accomponents for which I am obliged. With respect to the brass square, it was found as observed on my removing old Baal's Bridge at Limerick previous to my erecting the present Bridge. I have no perfect recollection of the distress on it, but perfectly recollect talking with the late Br. M. Furnell (who was the Provincial Master for North Munster) on the difficulty of making out the date, he * * * much value for it, and 2nd, it was he thought the oldest document of the Craft he had ever seen. Mr. Bassett has not received any additional information from M. Furnell's nephew. When I next meet him I will have some talk with him on the subject and will let you know if I hear anything of it - since I gave it to his uncle. I am thank God in perfect health at 88, but a little weak in the frame from an illness I suffered three years ago when from weakness I lost my speech and could not even write my name. Please let this be an excuse for the improper formation of my note.
I beg to subscribe myself, Dear Sir and Brother,
Yours fraternally,
J. P. Bell, Esq.
Limerick, Dec. 17, 1870.
Dear Sir and Brother:
I beg to return you thanks for your kind letter of the 13th inst and its accomponents for which I am obliged. With respect to the brass square, it was found as observed on my removing old Baal's Bridge at Limerick previous to my erecting the present Bridge. I have no perfect recollection of the distress on it, but perfectly recollect talking with the late Br. M. Furnell (who was the Provincial Master for North Munster) on the difficulty of making out the date, he * * * much value for it, and 2nd, it was he thought the oldest document of the Craft he had ever seen. Mr. Bassett has not received any additional information from M. Furnell's nephew. When I next meet him I will have some talk with him on the subject and will let you know if I hear anything of it - since I gave it to his uncle. I am thank God in perfect health at 88, but a little weak in the frame from an illness I suffered three years ago when from weakness I lost my speech and could not even write my name. Please let this be an excuse for the improper formation of my note.
I beg to subscribe myself, Dear Sir and Brother,
Yours fraternally,
J. P. Bell, Esq.
A letter dated January 4, 1871, written by Bro. Pain speaks interestingly of his membership in Lodge No. 13, "to whom the late Bro. Furnell and myself were and are old companions. I have not seen his nephew since * * * but will do so and endeavour to get some additional intelligence of the Brass Square. We have belonging to 13 an Old Chest crammed with Papers and other stuff, I have * * * to be carefully searched to see if I can find aught related to it; as the late Brother Michael Furnell was for many years Grand Master of the Province of Munster."
The next letter brings good news. It was written January 15 or 18, 1871, and states that Bro. Pain had visited lodge the day before, and there met Bro. Michael Furnell, apparently a son of the late Provincial Grand Master to whom the Square had been given by Bro. Pain in 1830. While he remembered the article perfectly, he did not know what had become of it, but referred Bro. Pain to his cousin, Frederick Furnell, of Castle Connell in the County of Limerick. The letter goes on to say:
"But on yesterday evening, the two cousins, together, called on me. Mr. Frederick Furnell said he has the Square and he had it from his uncle, the late Michael Furnell. He also said that he would, in a day or so, write to you fully about it."
Some of the correspondence is apparently missing; but in a letter of February 8, 1871, Bro. Fred W. Furnell acknowledges one of January 19th from Bro. Bell, and says in part:
"I enclose a rough uncorrected sketch of Ball's Bridge, compiled from Lenihan's History of Limerick. The date of the Square is undoubtedly 1517. How it got imbedded in the masonry of this old bridge no one can tell. I can only account for it by supposing that at some period after 1517 or about that time that that portion of the Bridge was being repaired or rebuilt and some worthy Mason put it in the place where it was found. I shall send you a copy of a sketch of Ball's Bridge taken just before Messrs. Paine commenced taking it down as soon as I can."
The same letter and subsequent correspondence indicate that Bro. Bell supplied Bro. Furnell with information about Freemasonry in earlier centuries. Reference is made to some tracing boards of Knight Templar interest, and also to a search for Mason's marks on the stones of a nearby cathedral founded in 1194; but none had been found up to that time. Apparently the copies of the tracing boards were made for Bro. William James Hughan, as they were sent for his acceptance.
The correspondence with Bro. Furnell ceased; at any rate, there are no more letters from him about the Square. However, there are some more from Bro. Pain, which become increasingly difficult to read, because of the good old brother's advancing years - ninety-one, far beyond the allotted three score and ten. One such letter gives us a hint why there are no more letters from the Furnells - there is a reference in 1873 to "the unfortunate death of Bro. Doctor Furnell." Through it the Square came into possession of Captain Michael Furnell, also a member of Lodge No. 13. He brought it to the Lodge, "by whom it has been glazed and placed in the Lodge as an ancient memento of the Order, for which we have certainly to thank you," concluded Bro. Pain.
The last letter from Bro. Pain is dated August 1, 1875. Bro. Bell was still persistent in his search for information, having written again to Bro. George W. Bassett. He sent his son to see Bro. Pain, who apparently had the subject of the Old Square close to his heart. He gives further details:
"I now write to you to account in the best way I can how the Furnells became acquainted with the Old Square. I was standing on the foundations of the Old Bridge, overseeing some labourers I had on the work. One of the labourers came to me: "See, Sir, what we have found among the stones of the Bridge we are taking up." I took it from him and kept it for some days I then showed it to the late M. Furnell. He was then P. Gr. Master of the Freemasons of North Munster. He was much pleased with it, and spoke of it as a very extraordinary thing He asked me for it and I gave it to him. At his death it was left to his nephew, Doctor Furnell, with whom you have a correspondence respecting it. The Doctor was shortly after unfortunately drowned. The Square then fell into the hands of his cousin, Capt. Furnell, a member of the Lodge. * * * His wife presented the Old Square to Lodge 13, of which the Rev. Anderson Ware was Wor. Master. I have this morning in company with the Lodge Tyler seen the Old Square, neatly framed and glazed with a compliment of Mr. Furnell. * * * The date of it is J5J7 or 5557. The third figure of it is so disfigured that we cannot tell what it is."
Readers of the article published last month will recall that there is question as to the date, being either 1507 or 1517. The newspaper cutting quoted has 1317, attributing the greatest illegibility to the figure " 3, " rather than to the third figure as has been done by others. No doubt the date is 1517, for both the first and third figures look alike, that is to say, like the letter "J." having a loop at the bottom. None of the brethren mentioned in this correspondence ever wrote of the third figure as "0" - all were agreed that it is a figure "1."
Bro. William James Hughan took more than a passing interest in the Old Square, as is witnessed by his action in sending a brief item about it to the "Freemason" of London, in which it appeared January 3, 1874. There is a memorandum to that effect in Bro. Bell's scrapbook, with the additional statement that "Not long before that date I had shown the sketch and correspondence to Bro. Hughan, when I saw him in London."
Reference is made in Bro. Crossle's article to the sketch of the Bridge. He is right in his surmise that it was made by some member of the Pain family, as Bro. James Pain, in his last letter, says: "This engraving [referring to the one in Limerick Lodge, accompanying the Square] is from a sketch of my Brother's, the late G. R. Pain, made by him a few days before I removed them [the stones] to build the present Bridge of a single arch. "
There is a confliet in the two statements by Brother Pain as to who presented the Square to the Lodge, but this is a detail of no great importance. The main thing is that the Square has been preserved. His statement in 1875 that he gave the Square to Bro. Michael Furnell at the time it was found is at variance with the latter's own letter to the "Freemason's Quarterly Magazine" in 1842, where he submits a sketch of "a very antique brass square presented to me this day by Brother Pain, Provincial Grand Architect."
A word about Brothers Furnell and Pain. The former is well known to collectors of Masonic bookplates because he had four variants of an attractive design, altered as the years went on through his advancement in Freemasonry. The whole story is told in Masonic Bookplates, page 130, a work produced by the collaboration of Bro. Winward Prescott and the present writer in 1928. Briefly, Bro. Furnell was born in 1794, and served as Deputy Lieutenant High Sheriff and Magistrate of the County of Clare. He was Provincial Grand Master of North Munster, 1842, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33d, A. A. S. R.
Bro. Pain's history is told by Bro. Henry F. Berry in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, 1905, page 19:
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 Courthouse and the County Gaol, both very striking erections, and of Dromoland Castle, the seat of Lord Inehiquin. 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.
To this can be added that Bro. Pain was evidently made a Mason September 7, 1813, according to a notation on the back of the photograph in my possession, which was sent to Bro. Bell during the exchange of correspondence quoted herein.
The next letter brings good news. It was written January 15 or 18, 1871, and states that Bro. Pain had visited lodge the day before, and there met Bro. Michael Furnell, apparently a son of the late Provincial Grand Master to whom the Square had been given by Bro. Pain in 1830. While he remembered the article perfectly, he did not know what had become of it, but referred Bro. Pain to his cousin, Frederick Furnell, of Castle Connell in the County of Limerick. The letter goes on to say:
"But on yesterday evening, the two cousins, together, called on me. Mr. Frederick Furnell said he has the Square and he had it from his uncle, the late Michael Furnell. He also said that he would, in a day or so, write to you fully about it."
Some of the correspondence is apparently missing; but in a letter of February 8, 1871, Bro. Fred W. Furnell acknowledges one of January 19th from Bro. Bell, and says in part:
"I enclose a rough uncorrected sketch of Ball's Bridge, compiled from Lenihan's History of Limerick. The date of the Square is undoubtedly 1517. How it got imbedded in the masonry of this old bridge no one can tell. I can only account for it by supposing that at some period after 1517 or about that time that that portion of the Bridge was being repaired or rebuilt and some worthy Mason put it in the place where it was found. I shall send you a copy of a sketch of Ball's Bridge taken just before Messrs. Paine commenced taking it down as soon as I can."
The same letter and subsequent correspondence indicate that Bro. Bell supplied Bro. Furnell with information about Freemasonry in earlier centuries. Reference is made to some tracing boards of Knight Templar interest, and also to a search for Mason's marks on the stones of a nearby cathedral founded in 1194; but none had been found up to that time. Apparently the copies of the tracing boards were made for Bro. William James Hughan, as they were sent for his acceptance.
The correspondence with Bro. Furnell ceased; at any rate, there are no more letters from him about the Square. However, there are some more from Bro. Pain, which become increasingly difficult to read, because of the good old brother's advancing years - ninety-one, far beyond the allotted three score and ten. One such letter gives us a hint why there are no more letters from the Furnells - there is a reference in 1873 to "the unfortunate death of Bro. Doctor Furnell." Through it the Square came into possession of Captain Michael Furnell, also a member of Lodge No. 13. He brought it to the Lodge, "by whom it has been glazed and placed in the Lodge as an ancient memento of the Order, for which we have certainly to thank you," concluded Bro. Pain.
The last letter from Bro. Pain is dated August 1, 1875. Bro. Bell was still persistent in his search for information, having written again to Bro. George W. Bassett. He sent his son to see Bro. Pain, who apparently had the subject of the Old Square close to his heart. He gives further details:
"I now write to you to account in the best way I can how the Furnells became acquainted with the Old Square. I was standing on the foundations of the Old Bridge, overseeing some labourers I had on the work. One of the labourers came to me: "See, Sir, what we have found among the stones of the Bridge we are taking up." I took it from him and kept it for some days I then showed it to the late M. Furnell. He was then P. Gr. Master of the Freemasons of North Munster. He was much pleased with it, and spoke of it as a very extraordinary thing He asked me for it and I gave it to him. At his death it was left to his nephew, Doctor Furnell, with whom you have a correspondence respecting it. The Doctor was shortly after unfortunately drowned. The Square then fell into the hands of his cousin, Capt. Furnell, a member of the Lodge. * * * His wife presented the Old Square to Lodge 13, of which the Rev. Anderson Ware was Wor. Master. I have this morning in company with the Lodge Tyler seen the Old Square, neatly framed and glazed with a compliment of Mr. Furnell. * * * The date of it is J5J7 or 5557. The third figure of it is so disfigured that we cannot tell what it is."
Readers of the article published last month will recall that there is question as to the date, being either 1507 or 1517. The newspaper cutting quoted has 1317, attributing the greatest illegibility to the figure " 3, " rather than to the third figure as has been done by others. No doubt the date is 1517, for both the first and third figures look alike, that is to say, like the letter "J." having a loop at the bottom. None of the brethren mentioned in this correspondence ever wrote of the third figure as "0" - all were agreed that it is a figure "1."
Bro. William James Hughan took more than a passing interest in the Old Square, as is witnessed by his action in sending a brief item about it to the "Freemason" of London, in which it appeared January 3, 1874. There is a memorandum to that effect in Bro. Bell's scrapbook, with the additional statement that "Not long before that date I had shown the sketch and correspondence to Bro. Hughan, when I saw him in London."
Reference is made in Bro. Crossle's article to the sketch of the Bridge. He is right in his surmise that it was made by some member of the Pain family, as Bro. James Pain, in his last letter, says: "This engraving [referring to the one in Limerick Lodge, accompanying the Square] is from a sketch of my Brother's, the late G. R. Pain, made by him a few days before I removed them [the stones] to build the present Bridge of a single arch. "
There is a confliet in the two statements by Brother Pain as to who presented the Square to the Lodge, but this is a detail of no great importance. The main thing is that the Square has been preserved. His statement in 1875 that he gave the Square to Bro. Michael Furnell at the time it was found is at variance with the latter's own letter to the "Freemason's Quarterly Magazine" in 1842, where he submits a sketch of "a very antique brass square presented to me this day by Brother Pain, Provincial Grand Architect."
A word about Brothers Furnell and Pain. The former is well known to collectors of Masonic bookplates because he had four variants of an attractive design, altered as the years went on through his advancement in Freemasonry. The whole story is told in Masonic Bookplates, page 130, a work produced by the collaboration of Bro. Winward Prescott and the present writer in 1928. Briefly, Bro. Furnell was born in 1794, and served as Deputy Lieutenant High Sheriff and Magistrate of the County of Clare. He was Provincial Grand Master of North Munster, 1842, and Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33d, A. A. S. R.
Bro. Pain's history is told by Bro. Henry F. Berry in Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, 1905, page 19:
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 Courthouse and the County Gaol, both very striking erections, and of Dromoland Castle, the seat of Lord Inehiquin. 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.
To this can be added that Bro. Pain was evidently made a Mason September 7, 1813, according to a notation on the back of the photograph in my possession, which was sent to Bro. Bell during the exchange of correspondence quoted herein.