The Washington times., 1902-08-31

on gold, as symbols representing Eng
| land. Scotland. Ireland, France, Ger
many, and Holland. the countries whence
the American States were chiefly peo-
pied This shield was supported on
either side by a female figure-the God
dess of Liberty at the right aud the
/ Goddess of Justice at the left-with.
motto, "E Pluribus Unum," below. and
the whole encircled by a red border
| bearing thirteen small shields, labeled
with the initial letters OF the thirteen
original States, and surmounted by a
crest consisting OF the Eye of Provi-
! dence" looking out from a radiant tri-
angle AS an outer border was the leg
| end, in Roman capital letters, Seal OF
| the United States OF America.
| MDCCLXXVI."
This design failed in acceptance, but
/ it VIII be Observed that two of its
most important features were retained
| in the design finally adopted-the motto
'E Plurihus Unum' on the face side
and the Eve = evidence" in the tri-
angle on the reverse side. The mat
| ter was referred tc a new committee OF
three less distinguished members.
Messrs. Lowell of Massachusetts, Scott
of Virginia, and Houstoun of Georgia.
They reported on May 10. 1880 de-
E. vice containing thirteen alternate red
and white stripes. placed diagonally
across a she'll surmounted by thirteen
stars These two features. it may be
remarked, were also preserved in the
| final design, hut the device as pro-
| posed was not accepted.
third committee was thereupon ap-
pointed. consisting of Messrs. Middle
ton and Rutledge of South Carolina. and
Boudinot of New Jersey, and later Ar
thur Lee OF Virginia was added. These
gentlemen. making but slow progress.
called to their aid William Barton, an
ingenious and cultivated citizen OF Phil
adelphia. familiar with the mysteries or
heraldry. and within a short time hc
submitted new design. For the re
verse he suggested 4 pyramid of thir-
teen layers, typifying the thirteen
States, and this idea was preserved in
he final design. Charles Thomson. the
secretary of Congress. then Submitte
a design of his own which included Il
wide winged American eagle with 4
shield on its breast and bearing in its
right talon an olive branch, in its left
bundle of thirteen arrows. Above
the bird he Grew a constellation or
thirteen stars, and in the eagles beak
he placed scroll with the words "E
Plurihus Unum.' For the reverse side
he approved Barton's idea of an un-
finished pyramid. and suggested the ad-
dition of an eye above it in radiant
triangle. as pictured by Messrs. Frank
I'm. Adams, and Jefferson. He proposed
besides an inscription to 5urmount it.
eading "Annuit Coeptis." and in in
scription below. "MDCCLXXVI. Novus
Ords Seclorum.''
These were long strides toward the de-
sired consummation. The Latin phrases.
''Annuit Coeptis,' meaning 1t (the eye
OF providence) favors our undertakings.
and "Novus Ordo Seclorum,' meaning
"a new order of the centuries has pe-
gun" were doubtless inspired by pas
sages in the Georges aud Eclogues Of
Virgil. Mr. Barton in turn proceeded to
revise Mr.. Thomsons plans in some
minor particulars. and the seal as de-
cided upon was at last in shape.
The reverse side of the seal was not
cut in 1882, when the face was engraved.