Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-25
THEGREAT SEAL
OF STATE Is
WORN OUT
Philadelphia Press.

EnllaQGlplla ETGec-
WW WASHINGTON. D. c.. Aug. la
N new and interesting piece Of
wv office furniture Is about to be
provided the department Of
state. II IS nothing less than freshly cut
great seal OF the United States" and is
being made to replace the old one which
Is now so worn by excessive use that 1t Is
no longer capable OF making the proper
impression upon the important papers 20
which such a seal must be attached On
the recommendation of Secretary Hay,
official custodian Of this powerful imple-
ment. congress lately made provision for
the recruiting 20 the extent OF Sl.@o, and
the work Is already under way.
In the history OF this country the United
States government has heretofore used
only three great seals. new one OF the
same general pattern as its predecessor
having been cut as each existing one be-
came worn out. These three were cut, re-
spectively. IN the years 17S2. ISL and ISIS.
Philadelphia has the honor OF being the
scene Of the first great seals birth. II
was cut there in 17S2 in conformity with
the provisions OF the act Of congress OF
June % Of that year. The result OF no
end OF study. experiment and revision.
and was finally based upon designs pre-
pared partly by Charles Thomson. secre-
tary Of congress. and William Barton, OF
Philadelphia The report made TO congress
BY Secretary Thomson and adopted OFF,
ciaIly BY that body reads as follows:
The device for an armorial achieve
ment and reverse Of the great seal for
the United States in congress assembled,
Is as follows:
Arms. Pathways upright stripes on
SHELBY OF thirteen pieces. argent (silver)
and gules (red); the escutcheOn on the
breast OF the American eagle displayed
IL hnnHfnrr in hfc
dexter talon an olive branch. and in his
sinister a bundle Of thirteen arrows, all
proper. and in his beak a scroll inscribed
with this motto. Z Pluribus Unum-
For the crest over the head OF the
eagle. which appears above the escutch-
con. a glory. or CgOld) breaking through
q cloud proper and surrounding thirteen
stars forming q constellation argent
(silverl. on an azure Cblue) field
Reverse. A pyramid unfinished.
In the zenith. an eye in a triangle. sur
rounded with a glory proper. over the
eyes these words. 'Annuit Coeptis. On the
base Of IN pyramid the numerical letters
'MDCCLXxvI' And underneath the fol-
lowing motto. 'Novus Ordo Seclorum.' "
What the Symbols Mean.
Accompanying this report. and forming
q part OF IL. was an Interpretation OF the
-~mbols used. as follows:
The escutcheOn IS composed OF the chief
upper part Of shield and pale Cperpen-
dIcuIar stripes), the two most honorable
Ordinaries. The two pieces paly Cstripes)
represent the several states all Joined in
one solid compact entire. supporting a
chief which unites the whole and repre-
sents congress. The motto alludes to this
union. The pales On the arms are kept
closely united by the chief. and the chief
depends on that union and the strength
resulting from II for its support. 10 de-
note the cOnfederacy Of the United States
OF America and the preservation Of their
union through congress.
The colors Of the pales are those used
IN the flag Of the United States OF Ameri-
ca: White signifies purity and innocence.
red hardness and val0r. and blue. the coll
or OF the chief. signifies vigilance. perse-
verauce and justice The olive branch and
ARROWS denote the power OF peace and
war. which Is exclusively vested I'm con-
grsss. The constellation denotes a new
state taking its place and rank among
other sovereign powers The escutcheon
IS borne on the breast OF an American
eagle without any other supporters. to
denote that the United States ought to
rely on their own virtue.
Reverse: The pyramid signifies strength
and duration The eye over IL and the
motto allude 20 the many signal interposi-
fious Of Providence in favor OF the Amer
fcan cause The date underneath is that
OF the Declaration Of Independence. and
the words under Il signify the beginning
OF the new American era. which COM
uences from that date"
II was William Barton. OF Philadelphia,
who was the court Of appeal I'm the de-
signing Of the seal. He was familiar with
the mysteries OF heraldry and within a
short time he submitted a pyramid OF
thirteen layers. IMPLYING the thirteen
states. and this idea was preserved I'm
the final design.
Thomson's Design.
Carl Thomson, secretary OF congress.
then submitted design Of his own. This
included a wide-winged American eagle
with q shield on its breast and bearing
tn its right talon an olive branch. in it's
left a bundle OF thirteen arrows. Above
the bird was a constellation Of thirteen