Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-14

letter written by Charles Thomson,
Secretary of the Continental Congress,
who designed our coat of arms in its
entirety. Concerning the reverse side,
Thomson writes
THE uncompleted Pyramid signi-
fies growing strength and duration.
The eye over ii and the motto allude
to the signal interpretations of Provi-
dence in favor of the American cause.
The date underneath is that of the
Declaration of Independence and the
words under it signify the beginning
of the New American era which COM
mences from that date.
In going through these same ar
chves this twentieth century coat of
arms maker discovered why the re-
verse side of the shield is so little
known. 1t seems that Immediately af-
ter Congress had adopted in an avail
'anche of adverse criticism began to
pour in from artists and public men
all over the country. The tenor of
these complaints was that the design
was mot like that of a great nation"
Complaints of this sort continued for
many years. during which time il was
thought wise not to offend the aesthe-
tic sense of the public by using the
objectionable side. So gradually the
whole thing came to be forgotten. and
eventually Congress quietly decided
that since it had been kept in the dark
up To that time, it would be wise to
keep it so.
Uncle Sans coat of arms maker had
been studying heraldry for many
years before it became necessary for
him to apply his knowledge. His first
call came when Porto Rico was made
q part of the United States. The island
had but ore seal, and this was the
exclusive property of the city of San
Juan. Spain never granted coats of
arms to provinces-only to important
sea-coast cities.
There were a number of reasons why
the San Juan seal would not do. It's
design included a rock in the sea, the
lamb of st. John and the royal crown
of Spain. unquestionably 1t was strik-
ing-but the lamb of st. John was a
symbol Of the Roman Catholic church
(and Uncle Sam is strictly nonsecta-
RAM, while the crown was a symbol
Of the royalty that the Constitution
of the United States particularly abb
hors 1t was up to the Government to
get a new seal-and so they called in
Mr.. Hunt.
| The latter studied the history of Por-
to Rico for nearly a year. He drew
many hundred designs. Finally he hit
upon a shield containing a rock in the
! sea- chief-which is the upper Sec
| ton Of the shield-of stripes like those
| in the American coat of arms; crest
| of the Santa Maria. Columbus's flag
ship. and motto. "Proespera Lux Or
| itur"-which is to say AN suspicious
| light breaks.
The rock in the sea was given the
general lines of Porto Rico. The cor
| bel was shown under full sail with
the Spanish standard flying from the
peak. and laid upon the American
| 'pales" or stripes of the design were
| the familiar laurel and the wand of
| Mercury with its winged head and
coiling serpents. The last two fea-
lures lack the special significance that
Mr.. Hunt holds so important, but he
explains that they were needed te
sort of fill out the design
When the Porta Riean coat of arms
was finally drawn up an exquisitelS
tinted copy was made by q noted New
York artist and sent to the islands
with the compliments of the STATE
Department. ION approval" The ma
tiyes were pleased. but recently they
decided TO abandon Uncle Sans design
and go back to the old shield of San
Juan.
The Philippine coats of arms, nov
in use, was designed by Mr.. Hunt a
the specific request of President Taft
then Governor of the islands. and tn
: seal of the Department of Commerc
and Labor was designed by him a
the request OF Secretary Cortelyou
. the first head of that department.
The new coat Of arms Of the Pana