Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1893-04-05
0NCLE SANS GREAT SEAL.
ITS TRUE HISTORY AS PREPARED
BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT..
II Is Contained in Massive Mahog-
any Box and is Carefully Guard
cd by the Clerks.

II Is Contained in a Massive Mahog-
any Box and is Carefully Qua I'd
cd by the Clerks.
TllE great seal of the United
States, which is contained in a
/ massive mahogany box in the
State Department and carefully
guarded by the clerks, whose duties are
to see that its impress is properly affixed
to State papers, is Of much interest to
visitors to the department, but its true
history was never written until few
months ago, when, under orders from
the Cabinet, an account OF it was pre-
pared by one Of the historians of the de.
partment and printed at the Govern.
ments expense for distribution among
State libraries and prominent persons.
The pamphlet was prepared with all the
care that its Importance carried, bound
in rich covering, with the stamp of the
seal imprinted upon the outside. 1t tells
that the final attempt to perfect a seal
was made by order of the Continental
Congress, which appointed committee,
consisting of Thomas Jefferson, John
Adams aud Benjamin Franklin, who
were told to go ahead and prepare de.
vice for the National seal and coat of
arms. After several months labor the
committee suggested a design most
elaborate in execution, but which did
not meet with very general approval.
This device represented Pharoah sitting
in an open chariot, with crown on his
head aud a sword in his hand, passing
through the waters Of the Red Sea in
pursuit of the Israelites. Rays from a
pillar of fire in cloud, expressive of the
Divine presence and command, beamed
upon Moses, VINO stood on the shore and
extended a hand over the sea, which
caused it to overwhem Pharoah. Under.
neatn was the motto, "Rebellion to ty-
rants is obedience to God"
Later on another attempt was made to
arrange device by u second committee,
which resulted in one not quite so Ella
borate and pretentious. This design
contained constellation Of thirteen stars,
with the same number of alte rnate stripes.
This, too, met with disapproval, and the
matter was let alone for some years.
Then, after some experiments, device
was submitted that suited, and was
adopted on June 90, 1882. The first
seal was cut out of brass, and was first
used upon the commission granting full
power and authority to Washington to
arrange with the British for an exchange
of prisoners. This device was in use for
fifty years, and varies little from the pres
ent seal except in detail of execution.
The second seal was cut in Philsdel-
phiain 1871, and, by some mistake, seven
OF the thirteen arrows which it should
have had were left out. The present seal
was ms de by Tiffany in 1885 by order Of
Secretary Frey!inghuysen after the de-
sign had been passed upon by commit.
tee of historical scholars and authorities
on heraldry. 1t is not true, as generally
supposed, that the seal is affixed to all
appointments made by the President, a:
its impress is put only upon commissions
of Cabinet officers, ceremonious commu
nications from the President to heads of
foreign Governments, conventions, treat
ie', aud formal agreements of the Pres.
dent with foreign powers, pardons, or
communications of sentence, warrants aud
miscellaneous commissions of civil Of.
icers, whose appointments are not now
especially directed to be signed under Il
different seal. All treaties to which the
seal is affixed have the impression made
also With wax wafer, with red, white
and blue cord running through it. The
treaties arc then packed in boxes Of
highly polished and expensive woods, to
be sent to the country negotiating them
with us. The treaties of some foreign
Governments have been sent in boxes of
gold and silver, richly ornamented, in
some instances, with valuable stones.
These boxes are carefully stored in the
archicves of the Experimentation York