Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

Masonic Royal Arch Mark Medal for David Child
1805
Maker not marked
USA: Massachusetts
Silver
Overall: 4"h x 2-5/16"w x .036"d; overall: 10.2 x 5.8 cm; weight: 34.9 g
Museum Purchase with the assistance of the Kane Lodge Foundation
2005.023

Silver Masonic Royal Arch Mark Medal. Double-sided openwork shape with compasses and quadrant, as well as outer "arms." At center is a circle with five triangular points along the outer edge. The engraving on both sides of the circle is the same. At center is a five-point star with G in the middle and a symbol inside each star point: all-seeing eye, column, acacia, cross, anchor. Around the star are glory rays and initials "W S B H F." A square is drawn around the star. Around the square is engraved "Mark Lodge Groton Mass." Letters are engraved around the outer circular border, "HTWSSTKS." Engraved on one side at the top of the outer "arms" is "Industria Omnia Vincit [Industry Conquers All]." Engraved at the top on the other side is "The Property of David Child." Engraved on this side on the quadrant is "5805."

David Child of Groton, Massachusetts, joined St. Paul's Lodge in 1804, earning the Mark Master degree the following year. He chose an arrangement of Masonic symbols and the motto "Industria Omnia Vincit" [Industry Overcomes All Things] as his special sign. Unlike jewels of office, which belonged to the lodge, mark medals were owned by the men who commissioned and wore them. David Child underscored this fact with an inscription, "The Property of David Child."