GOLD MEDAL

52 cards and 1 joker made by Chas Goodall & Son between 1897 and 1921. Dated by the Ace design. The set was made for Toye & Co Masonic Depot. The cards are in a paper wrap with a blank back. There are some letters in circles on the card: HTWSSTKS. This is an acronym with connections to the Masonic Temple, specifically Royal Arch Masons. The letters stand for, “Hiram, Tyrian, Widow’s Son, Sent to King Solomon.” All third degree Freemasons study the story of a man named Hiram Abiff (a.k.a. Hiram the Widow’s Son.) According to legend, Hiram was chief architect for the Temple of King Solomon. When bad guys tried to squeeze the secret masonic passwords out of Hiram, he valiantly refused to tell them. As a result, the bad guys killed poor Hiram. In Masonic teachings, Hiram’s story is held up as an example of loyalty.