One Dollar Bill To Be De-Mystified /The Great Seal of the United States
Title: One dollar bill to be de-mystified
Source: IOL
URL Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_ ... _id=nw20080212110944577C195746
Published: Feb 14, 2008
Author: UnKnown
Post Date: 2008-02-14 06:38:21 by noone222
Keywords: None
Views: 528
Comments: 12
Washington - Conspiracy theorists take note: The myths surrounding one of America's oldest and most enduring national symbols are about to be debunked...if you believe the government, that is.
The keepers of the Great Seal of the United States, the emblem on the back of the US$1 bill, want you to know what it is not. It is not a sign that Freemasons run the country, it has nothing to do with the occult, and it does not contain clues to a fabulous hidden treasure. It is rather the nation's stamp of authority, sovereignty and power, gracing cash and embossing the most important of documents from its home at the State Department, which has held it since the days of Thomas Jefferson, the first secretary of state. Not that the Seal's symbols - the all-seeing eye, the unfinished pyramid, the Latin phrases, the bald eagle clutching an olive branch and arrows and the number 13 - aren't powerful. The Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a perennial favorite of conspiracy theorists They are, historians say. Yet their meanings have been misidentified, misunderstood and misrepresented almost since the Continental Congress first commissioned the Seal in 1776. It would be another six years before the original design was approved and another 128 before it evolved into its current form. Along the way, a movement to decipher the Seal's meaning with ancient Egyptian, mystical and otherwise other worldly explanations has gained currency. The Internet age has seen an explosion in such conspiracy theories, many which have now been ingrained in public consciousness through the popular "National Treasure" movie franchise that serves up a combination of Masonic lore and historical myths in blockbuster Hollywood fashion. Among them: That the Seal proves the domination of the United States by a powerful, quasi-religious cult. The Ancient Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is a perennial favourite of conspiracy theorists as some Founding Fathers were Masons and the Seal uses several Masonic symbols. All rubbish, according to historians That the Seal draws on Satanism or polytheistic ritual to promote a universal new world order under which Earth would be ruled by a single omnipotent government. That repeated references to 13 - the number of steps in the unfinished pyramid, stars in the constellation over the eagle's head, arrows in the eagle's claw, stripes on the eagle's shield, letters in the phrase "Annuit Coeptis" - demonstrate the power of 13 American families. That there are two seals: one in which the eagle's head faces the arrows for times of war and another in which the eagle's head faces the olive branch for times of peace. All rubbish, according to historians, who say the Seal's symbolism is far less ominous or revelatory than many believe. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Seal's current custodian, will inaugurate a new exhibition to commemorate its 225th birthday and trace the history and evolution of the symbolism. The Seal will remain at the State Department but the interactive exhibit is designed to travel and curators hope it will dispel the rumours and educate Americans about the real meaning of the symbols. Among the highlights: That known Masons like the first U.S. president, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin had no role in designing the final seal, which uses elements of traditional heraldry, such as the unfinished pyramid to symbolise a work in progress, arrows for war and an olive branch for peace. Masons share some of those symbols, but they have never been exclusively the domain of the order. That the phrase "Novus Ordo Seculorum" below the Roman numerals for 1776 at the base of the pyramid translates as "A New Order of the Ages" that began with independence and does not imply the United States will be the linchpin of a sinister "New World Order." That the words "Annuit Coeptis" ("Providence favours") and the eye of providence that hovers over the pyramid refer to unexpected interventions of fate that assisted the colonists in creating a new country. That the references to 13 refer to the number of colonies that formed the original United States. "People are just not aware of the complexity and intent of the symbolism and what our Founding Fathers were trying to do with it," said Priscilla Linn, senior curator at the US Diplomacy Centre. "The hidden treasure in the Seal is the courage and presence of mind of the people who created it and created these values for the whole country." - Sapa-AP freedom4um.com/cgi-bin/readart.cgi **********************************************************************************************
The Great Seal
of the United States
The American bald eagle is the most prominent feature of the Seal of the United States. Across the breast of the eagle is a shield with 13 alternating red and white stripes (the pales) representing the 13 original States. Note that the stripes alternate in opposite fashion from the stripes on our flag. On the seal the stripes begin and end with a white stripe, while on the flag the first and last stripe are red. Across the top of the shield is a blue field (chief) that unites all the stripes into one. The blue chief represents the United States Congress. In his talons the eagle grasps an olive branch representing peace, and 13 arrows representing war. These demonstrate our desire for peace but our willingness to defend with might, the Nation the Seal represents.
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Above the eagle are thirteen stars inside a circular design, representing a "New Constellation", the same constellation referred to in the blue union of the of the United States Flag. In his beak the eagle grasps a flowing ribbon bearing the first MOTTO of the United States: E Pluribus Unum These Latin words are translated "Out of many, One", reminding us that out of many States was born One new Nation. |
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The similarities between the Great Seal and the United States Flag are no accident. Francis Hopkinson of New Jersey is generally credited with the design for our first flag, the Congress Colors of 1775. He was Chairman of the Continental Navy's Middle Department at the time the Flag Resolution was adopted on June 14, 1777 establishing the "Stars and Stripes" flag, and most historians believe that he was responsible for replacing the British Union Jack of the Congress Colors with the 13 stars of the new flag. He is also generally credited with the design for the Seal of the United States. **(Years later Francis Hopkinson sent a petition to the Continental Admiralty Board seeking reward for his services in design of these and other early American symbols. In that letter he asked if "a Quarter Cask of the public wine will not be a proper and reasonable reward for these labours of fancy and a suitable encouragement to future exertions of a like nature." His request was denied because he was considered a "public servant", and was ineligible for payment for such services.) |
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On July 4, 1776, our first Independence Day, the Continental Congress passed a resolution authorizing a committee including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams to research and devise a National Motto as well a seal for their new Nation. On September 9th Congress gave that new Nation a name, calling it the "United States". During that meeting the motto "E Pluribus Unum" was generally accepted as the Nation's motto, though the official vote did not occur until later. Likewise, the adoption of a National Seal would not occur until much later.
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In 1782 Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, introduced this design for the new Seal of the United States. He told the members of Congress:
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Heraldic devices such as our Great Seal have been in use for centuries. Some of the earliest seals were carved into the face of a ring worn by a monarch. Official documents were quickly recognized by the impression of the king's seal in soft wax applied to the document. The OBVERSE FRONT of the Great Seal of the United States authenticates the President's signature on many official documents. The Great Seal die, counter die, press and cabinet that contains them are located in the Exhibit Hall of the Department of State. Nearly 3,000 times a year the Department of State receives official documents ranging from ratification of treaties to communications from the President to officials of foreign governments. When these have been duly signed by the President and counter-signed by the Secretary of State, an officer from the State Department's Presidential Appointments Staff affixes the Great Seal of the United States to authenticate the signatures. |
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The preceding information introduces you to a term that might be new in your study of the Great Seal..."The Obverse Front". The word "Obverse" identifies an object as a COUNTERPART of another object. By referring to something as the OBVERSE you are indicating two things about an object:
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The main feature of the reverse side of the Great Seal is a pyramid representing strength and duration. At the top of the pyramid is an eye and the words "ANNUIT COEPTIS" meaning "He has favored our undertakings". The "HE" refers to GOD, and is in reference to the Founding Father's belief that God had favored our Nation and provided providentially for our success during the struggle for freedom. (During the Revolution, prayer was held daily in the halls of the Continental Congress.) At the base of the pyramid are the Roman numerals for the year 1776, the year of our Nation's birth. The scroll at the bottom contains the words "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM" meaning "A new order of the ages" and referring to the new American era.
The reverse of the Great Seal is NEVER used as a seal for official documents, though it can be found from time to time on some official papers. The reverse of our One Dollar Bills contain images of BOTH the Obverse of the Great Seal of the United States, and the Reverse of the Great Seal.
On July 30, 1956 the words "In God we Trust" were designated as our National Motto (Title 36, Chapter 10, §186).
www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/1st_floor/flag/1bfc_seal.html