The Washington times., 1901-11-03

The Great Seal of the United States
has been seen by comparatively few
persons. 1t is ordinarily kept, with its
die and press, in a strong wooden box
in the State Department. The keys of
this box are held by an employe of the
State Department, who is known as
the keeper of the great seal, a position
which was held by George Barth, who
died last year, for forty-six years, the
seal having been entrusted TO him by
Daniel Webster when the latter was
Secretary of State.
The great seal is placed upon com
missions of the Cabinet and Of diplo-
matte and consular officers, ceremoni-
Gus communications from the President
to foreign Governments, pardons and
combinations of sentence by the Chief
Executive, eXequaturs. eXtradition
warrants upon other countries, and
commissions of civil officers appointed
by the President, whose commissions
are not signed under a different seal.
The present is the third seal that
has been used since the foundation of
fany, the famous New York jeweler,
the design being substantially the same
as that employed in the previous seal
The heraldic description of the seal is
as follows:
Arms: On field chevrons composed
of seven pieces on one side and six on
the other, Joined together at the top
in such wise that each of the six bears
against or is supported by and supports
two of the opposite side, the pieces of
the chevrons on each side alternate red
and white. The shield borne on the
breast of an American eagle, on the
wing and rising proper. In the dexter
talon of the eagle an olive branch and
in the sinister a bundle of arrows. Over
the head Of the eagle a constellation of
stars surrounded with bright rays and,
at little distance, clouds. In the bill
of the eagle a scroll with the words
"E Pluribus Unum.''
The design for the reverse, which has
never been executed, is pyramid un-
finished. In the zenith an eye in tri-
angle surmounted with a glory, proper.
Over the eye these words, "Annuit
Coeptis." On the base of the pyramid
the numerical letters, "MDCCLXXVI,"
and underneath these words. "Novus
Ordo Seclorum."
The words "Annuit coeptis novus
ordo seclorum have commonly been
taken as one motto, meaning the new
series of ages is favorable to our un-
dertakings;" but, from the remarks
and explanation" accompanying the
description Of the seal as finally adopt
ed, some authorities have inferred that
the intention was to have two notices
-"Annuit coeptis." meaning 1T (the
eye of Providence) is favorable to our
undertakings" and ''Noyus ordo sec
lorum," nearing simply "a new order
of centuries"
1t is said that this motto was prob
ably adopted from two passages in Vir-
gil: "Andacibus annue coeptis" tFavor
my daring undertaking.. and "Magnus
ab integro seclorum nascitur ordo" (the
great series of ages begins anew. The
former is found in the Aenid, book 8,
verse 625 (also in the Georges. 1, 40),
and the latter in the fourth eclogue,
fifth verse. Although the form "seclo-
rum" was adopted, the more approved
form is 'saeclorum," the word being
spelled, with the "ae" in all or nearly
all the best modern editions of Latin
authors
The pyramid signifies strength and
duration; the eye over it as well as the
motto, allude to the many signal in
Propositions of Providence in favor Of
the American cause. The date under
meath is that of the Declaration of In
dependence, and the words under it
signify the beginning of the new
American era. which commences from
that date.
In many countries at the present day,
the authenticity of a treaty with an
other Power is attested by large pen
dant wax seal, the cords which run
through the paper OF the treaty being
carried through the wax. AS the wax
would otherwise be certain to break
and the cords become detached, metal
box-usuaIly of gold or silver-is used
to contain the wax impression. The
seal of the United States was thus at
tached to treaties up to 1863. when
the practice was finally abandoned;
and the impression upon the paper it
self, with a thin white wafer, is used
upon treaties, as well as upon all other
documents to which the seal is affixed.
The seal now in use was cut in 1885,
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen being the
Secretary of State.
The Presidents seal resembles the
great seal closely in design. 1t is used
in sealing envelopes containing commu-
uications from the President to Con-
gress In addition to the Senate and
House Of Representatives, each depart
ment of the Government has its indi-
yidual seal. The Department of State
has a seal much like that Of the United
States, with thirteen stars placed on
the chief of the shield. The seal of the
Agricultural Department contains a
sheath of wheat The Postoffice De
partment has as its device a mounted
mail carrier or post rider" design
used by Franklin. The eagle appears
on the seals Of the Departments Of In
terror and Justice, and ii is combined
with an anchor and ship on that Of
the Navy. The War Department has a
group of military flags and cap of
liberty between a spear and musket,
and above these a serpent The seal of
the Treasury Department appears on
all paper currency. and is quite heral-
die in character.
THE AMERICAN NEWSPAPER.
An English Observer Had Amusing
Journalistic Experiences Here.