A Question on American Symbolism

[Shaihulud]

If you discover all the symbols, it will lead you to a great treasure that will blast your mind !

 

[Alpine Trooper]

The only thing the eye on the bill has to do with the founding fathers is that many of them were freemasons.

I think the occurance of the eye on the American dollar bill is a rather recent experience, not older then 40 or 50 years.

 

[JtheJackal]

From the link no one apparently read:

The Great Seal of the United States is not a Masonic emblem, nor does it contain hidden Masonic symbols.


The details are there for anyone to check, who's willing to rely on historical fact, rather than hysterical fiction.

* Benjamin Franklin was the only Mason on the first design committee, and his suggestions had no Masonic content.
* None of the final designers of the seal were Masons.
* The interpretation of the eye on the seal is subtly different from the interpretation used by Masons.
* The eye in the pyramid is not nor has it ever been a Masonic symbol.

The First Committee

On Independence Day, 1776 a committee was created to design a seal for the new American nation. The committee's members were Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, with Pierre Du Simitiere as artist and consultant[1]. Of the four men involved, only Benjamin Franklin was a Mason, and he contributed nothing of a Masonic nature to the committee's proposed design for a seal.

Du Simitiere, the committee's consultant and a non-Mason, contributed several major design features that made their way into the ultimate design of the seal: 'the shield, E Pluribus Unum, MDCCLXXVI, and the eye of providence in a triangle."[2] The eye of providence on the seal thus can be traced, not to the Masons, but to a non-Mason consultant to the committee.

"The single eye was a well-established artistic convention for an 'omniscient Ubiquitous Deity' in the medallic art of the Renaissance. Du Simitiere, who suggested using the symbol, collected art books and was familiar with the artistic and ornamental devices used in Renaissance art."[3] This was the same cultural iconography that eventually led Masons to add the all-seeing eye to their symbols.

The Second and Third Committees

Congress declined the first committees suggestions as well as those of its 1780 committee. Francis Hopkinson, consultant to the second committee, had several ideas that eventually made it into the seal: "white and red stripes with- in a blue background for the shield, a radiant constellation of thirteen stars, and an olive branch."[4] Hopkinson's greatest contribution to the current seal came from his layout of a 1778 50-dollar colonial note in which he used an unfinished pyramid in the design. The third and last seal committee of 1782 produced a design that finally satisfied Congress. Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress, and William Barton, artist and consultant, borrowed from earlier designs and sketched what at length became the United States Seal.

The misinterpretation of the seal as a Masonic emblem may have been first introduced a century later in 1884. Harvard Professor Eliot Norton wrote that the reverse was 'practically incapable of effective treatment; it can hardly, (however artistically treated by the designer), look otherwise than as a dull emblem of a Masonic fraternity.[5]
Interpreting the Symbol

The "Remarks and Explanations" of Thomson and Barton are the only explanation of the symbols' meaning. Despite what anti-Masons may believe, there's no reason to doubt the interpretation accepted by the Congress.

The Pyramid signified Strength and Duration: The Eye over it & the Motto allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favor of the American cause.[6]

The committees and consultants who designed the great Seal of the United States contained only one Mason, Benjamin Franklin. The only possibly Masonic design element among the very many on the seal is the eye of providence, and the interpretation of it by the designers is different from that used by Masons. The eye on the seal represents an active intervention of God in the affairs of men, while the Masonic symbol stands for a passive awareness by God of the activities of men.

The first "official" use and definition of the all-seeing eye as a Masonic symbol seems to have come in 1797 with The Freemasons Monitor of Thomas Smith Webb -- 14 years after Congress adopted the design for the seal. Here's how Webb explains the symbol.

"[A]nd although our thoughts, words and actions, may be hidden from the eyes of man, yet that All-Seeing Eye, whom the Sun, Moon and Stars obey, and under whose watchful care even comets perform their stupendous revolutions, pervades the inmost recesses of the human heart, will reward us according to our merits."[7]

The Eye in the Pyramid

Besides the subtly different interpretations of the symbol, it is notable that Webb did not describe the eye as being in a triangle. Jeremy Ladd Cross published The True Masonic Chart or Hieroglyphic Monitor in 1819, essentially an illustrated version of Webb's Monitor. In this first "official" depiction of Webb's symbol, Cross had illustrator Amos Doolittle depict the eye surrounded by a semicircular glory.[8]

The all-seeing eye thus appears to be a rather recent addition to Masonic symbolism. It is not found in any of the Gothic Constitutions, written from about 1390 to 1730. The eye -- sometimes in a triangle, sometimes in clouds, but nearly always surrounded by a glory -- was a popular Masonic decorative device in the latter half of the 18th century. Its use as a design element seems to have been an artistic representation of the omniscience of God, rather than some generally accepted Masonic symbol.

Its meaning in all cases, however, was that commonly given it by society at large -- a reminder of the constant presence of God. For example, in 1614 the frontispiece of The History of the World by Walter Raleigh showed an eye in a cloud labeled "Providentia" overlooking a globe. It has not been suggested that Raleigh's story is a Masonic document despite the use of the all-seeing eye.

The eye of Providence was part of the common cultural iconography of the 17th and 18th centuries. When placed in a triangle, the eye went beyond a general representation of God to a strongly Trinitarian statement. It was during this period that Masonic ritual and symbolism evolved; and it is not surprising that many symbols common to and understood by the general society made their way into Masonic ceremonies. Masons may have preferred the triangle because of the frequent use of the number 3 in their ceremonies: three degrees, three original grand masters, three principal officers, and so on. Eventually the all-seeing eye came to be used officially by Masons as a symbol for God, but this happened towards the end of the eighteenth century, after congress had adopted the seal.

A pyramid, whether incomplete or finished, however, has never been a Masonic symbol. It has no generally accepted symbolic meaning, except perhaps permanence or mystery. The combining of the eye of providence overlooking an unfinished pyramid is a uniquely American, not Masonic, icon, and must be interpreted as its designers intended. It has no Masonic context.

Conclusion

It's hard to know what leads some to see Masonic conspiracies behind world events, but once that hypothesis is accepted, any jot and tittle can be misinterpreted as "evidence." The Great Seal of the United States is a classic example of such a misinterpretation, and some Masons are as guilty of the exaggeration as many anti-Masons.

The Great Seal and Masonic symbolism grew out of the same cultural milieu. While the all-seeing eye had been popularized in Masonic designs of the late eighteenth century, it did not achieve any sort of official recognition until Webb's 1797 Monitor. Whatever status the symbol may have had during the design of the Great Seal, it was not adopted or approved or endorsed by any Grand Lodge.

The seal's Eye of Providence and the Mason's All Seeing Eye each express Divine Omnipotence, but they are parallel uses of a shared icon, not a single symbol.

 

[garric]

I can't believe y'all are trying to imply something evil or imperialistic based on US money. You guys sure don't take any breaks on attacking Bush.

 

[aussieboy]

Where did I say that?

 

[happy_Alex]

Its use as a design element seems to have been an artistic representation of the omniscience of God, rather than some generally accepted Masonic symbol.

That's what I said...

 

[The Last Conformist]

I can't believe y'all are trying to imply something evil or imperialistic based on US money. You guys sure don't take any breaks on attacking Bush.

Yeah, because the glorious reign of God Emperor Bush, the poor Americans had to rely on a barter economy in the lack of money.

 

[Tenochtitlan]

I can't believe y'all are trying to imply something evil or imperialistic based on US money. You guys sure don't take any breaks on attacking Bush.

I find it amusing how defensive and surprised you get in every single thread

Calm down

 

[downtown]

I can't believe y'all are trying to imply something evil or imperialistic based on US money. You guys sure don't take any breaks on attacking Bush.

Um...way to jump this up like a million notches.
Nobody is even talking about President Bush. We're talking about the pictures on our money. Maybe you've seen American money before.

 

[.Shane.]

A couple posters have given the correct info, but its more fun to talk about Free Masons, so its gone ignored. I'll just cut/paste this stuff:

The Pyramid:
The Egyptian pyramid is a symbol of strength and duration; the 13 steps indicate the original number of U.S. states; and the 13 steps leading to an unfinished summit indicates future growth of the nation. The eye is known as the "Eye of Providence" and is surrounded by rays of light. According to Webster's New World College Dictionary, "providence" can mean:

1. a looking to, or preparation for, the future; provision.
2. skill or wisdom in management; prudence.
3. a) the care or benevolent guidance of God or nature, b) an instance of this.
4. God, as the guiding power of the universe.

The single eye shows up in Egyptian mythology as the Eye of Horus, an ancient god of the Egyptians. The eye represented wisdom, health and prosperity. Some people think that the "all-seeing eye" is a symbol of Freemasonry, a fraternal organization, and they interpret this as proof that the Founding Fathers believed in Masonic principles and wanted to impose Masonic order on the United States. This essay addresses that rumor.

The Eagle:
* The 1782 secretary of Congress, Charles Thomson, adopted the bald eagle as the prominent feature of the design.
* The shield, or escutcheon, is shown on the breast of the eagle without any support, indicating the self-reliance of the United States. Thirteen red and white stripes appear on the shield, signifying the 13 original states. The red color represents hardiness and valor, and the white represents purity and innocence. These stripes support and unite with the top blue band, which represents Congress. Blue signifies vigilance, perseverance and justice.
* The eagle's talons hold 13 arrows in the right and an olive branch in the left. These symbolize the power of war and peace, respectively. The number of arrows represents the 13 original states.
* The constellation of 13 stars (states) above the eagle's head signifies the United States' rank among other sovereign powers.
* The motto, "E Pluribus Unum," written on the banner held in the eagle's beak, is Latin meaning "Out of many, one," conveying the union of the States.

SOURCE

 

[.Shane.]

You guys sure don't take any breaks on attacking Bush.

And you don't take any breaks from paranoia. I see no attacks on Bush in this thread, unless he's a time-travelling Free Mason from the 1790s. Actually, that would explain a lot.

STOP DRINKING THE KOOL AID!

 

[Chaos_BF1942]

I kinda wondered what the stuff on the Dollar means, I thought it was some Masonic stuff. Kinda sad to hear it doesn't. But oh well.

And you don't take any breaks from paranoia. I see no attacks on Bush in this thread, unless he's a time-travelling Free Mason from the 1790s. Actually, that would explain a lot.

STOP DRINKING THE KOOL AID!

I think he was talking about Steph's post...

Is it true that Bush wants to make a new version of the US great seal without the Olive Branches?

 

[.Shane.]

I think he was talking about Steph's post...

Well, that makes his paranioa even worse! At first I thought he just did a knee-jerk, tourette's like twitch w/out even reading the thread, but now I know he read all 20+ posts and made an over-generalization based on one joke post?

Hey, Kool Aid!

 

[Neonanocyborgasm]

I was looking at the 1 dollar bill the other day and begun searched for symbols. I came across the eagle that had arrows, berries, and an herb held with its feet. What do they symbolize and why is there exactly 13 of each.

Another question is: why does the US flag have exactly 13 flags? What does that symbolize?

Also there is a pyramid and an eye at the peak. I believe that it is called the all-seeing eye. What are they implying?



Note: I counted only after I have read somewhere that there were 13 of each.

There were originally 13 states when the country was first founded. Each state has its own flag.

The eye above the pyramid is the eye of god, who is overseeing the founding of the United States, which is the pyramid below. The caption on this seal indicates that god is satisfied with this creation, because it says "annuit coeptis", which means "he has nodded to what has begun". Below that, it says "novus ordo saeclorum" which means "a new order of the ages". The new order is the United States, that is bringing a government in keeping with the natural, inalienable rights of man that god has endowed. This is an echo of the Declaration of Independence.

 

[Steph]

I think he was talking about Steph's post...

Then we shall wonder if he suffers from an excess of Paranoia, or a serious lack of humour.

 

[garric]

Well, that makes his paranioa even worse! At first I thought he just did a knee-jerk, tourette's like twitch w/out even reading the thread, but now I know he read all 20+ posts and made an over-generalization based on one joke post?

Hey, Kool Aid!

Ironic really.

The Kool Aid metaphor is used against liberals, not people like me. You are inadvertently attacking yourself.

Perhaps -you- should stop drinking the Kool Aid if you trully believe that the American money is somehow an expression of our evil imperialism, and that it holds all of the nefarious secrets of the United States.

 

[blackheart]

Ironic really.

The Kool Aid metaphor is used against liberals, not people like me. You are inadvertently attacking yourself.

Perhaps -you- should stop drinking the Kool Aid if you trully believe that the American money is somehow an expression of our evil imperialism, and that it holds all of the nefarious secrets of the United States.

Garric, think before you start posting. No one even mentioned Bush or "evil American imperialism" until you posted. All the references to "nefarious secrets" are references to the movie National Treasure. Did you even bother to read anything before you posted?

And "people like you" need to stop quipping about liberal this and liberal that at every turn.

 

[The Yankee]

Moderator Action: Cut it out now. These personal attacks must cease NOW.

.Shane. - enjoy three days off on me.
garric, warned for flaming. Your next warning may lead to your next ban.
Please read the forum rules: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=422889

 

[Sims2789]

Not to say I'm a conservative conspiracy hypotheorist, but the all-seeing eye is a Freemason symbol, and many of the Founding Fathers (Including the frist President of the Repiblic, George Washington), were Freemasons.

 

[Dann]

You're wrong. it's the Illuminati.