Evening star., 1948-03-22
- In God We Trust
Theodore Roosevels Attempt Remove Motto from Coins
Brought Storm of Protest That Restored It
By James Waldo Fsscceft

Following the Supreme Courts recent de-
cision In the Champaign, Ill, religious ed,lca-
tion case several letters were received by The
Star from readers inquiring about the motto
"1n God We Trust on the coins Of the United
States.
Mrs Nellie Tayloe Ross, Director of the Mint,
also reports that she has received many In
quiries as to why and how the familiar words
appear even on pennies Treasury Department
records show that the hrst suggestion for the
inscription came from the Rev. M r. Watkin-
son, of Ridleyville, Pa, who on November Is,
1861, wrote to Secretary Salmon p Chase: "You
are probably Christian What If our Republic
were now shattered beyond reconstruction?
Would not the antiquaries OF succeeding cen
turies rightly reason from our past that We
were q heather Nation7"
Mr.. Watkinson proposed . coin displaying
"the allseeing eye" on the reverse Of the Great
Seal Of the United States crowned with =
halo" and the American nag bearing in its
neld stars equal to the number Of the States
united" and the words "God, liberty, law"
This. the clergyman said, would make q
beautiful coin, to which no possible citizen
could object" and which would relieve us from
the ignominy OF heathenism" and place us
openly under the Divine protection We have
personally Claimed.
Secretary Chase Approved.
Secretary Chase agreed with the idea If
not the details and, on November 20 1861,
wrote to James Pollock Director Of the Mint,
Philadelphia: mo nation can be strong except
In the strength OF God, or safe except in His
defense. The trust of our people In God
should be declared in our national coins.
You will cause a device to be prepared without
unnecessary delay with = motto expressing ip
the fewest and tersest words possible this ma
tonal recognition"
But law Of January 1s, 1887, "prescribed
the naostoss and devices that should be placed
upon the coins Of the United States, 70 that
nothing could BE- done without legislation"
However. Mr.. Pollock IN December Of 1858
submitted designs for new one, two and three
cent pieces to bear either "Our country, our
God" Or God, our Trust" and Secretary Of
the Treasury Chase replied under date Of De-
cen1ber the same year: Il approve your mot
toes, only suggesting that on that with the
Washington diverse the motto should begin
with the word "Our," 80 as to read: Our God
and our country and on that with the shield.
1t should be changed 20 as to read: In God
we trust"
An Act Of April ~, 1864, altered the COM
position Of the one-cent piece and authorized
the coinage OF the two-cent piece, "the devices
OF which were to be nxed by the Director Of
the Mint" with the approval Of his chief.
Motto First Used on Bronze Piece.
1T was upon the two-cent bronze piece says
Mrs. Ross, that the motto In God We trust
nrst appeared"
The Act Of March 3, 1865, stipulated that
II should be lawful -. to place the motto
In God We Trust on coins a. shall admit
OF the inscription thereon" This legislation
dictated its use on the double eagle. the
eagle and the half eagle. the dollar the half
and the quarter dollars Of 1866. The coinage
Act Of February IL, 1873. provided that the
Secretary Of the Treasury may cause the mot