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Secrets of the Great Seal of the United States Revealed
Fox News ^ | Tuesday, February 12, 2008 | AP

Posted on 02/12/2008 7:18:25 AM PST by Smelly_Fed

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. 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: conspiracy; freemasonry; greatseal; marines; masonic; origins; statedept; symbol; symbols; thomasjefferson; treasury
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To: G.Mason; Smelly_Fed

“Deny”

Exactly.

Conspiracy theorists are people of faith. They believe their pet theory, they have invested an awful lot of time and energy and sense of personal worth into that theory. Cold hard facts are not going to change any of that. Sorry, but that is Human nature. Faith trumps fact :)


41 posted on 02/12/2008 8:07:15 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: Sacajaweau
There is no way you can dissasociate GW and Masonry.

I don't think the article is trying to disassociate George Washington and Freemasonry. It only suggests that GW had little if anything to do with the design of the Great Seal.
42 posted on 02/12/2008 8:08:40 AM PST by Smelly_Fed
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To: null and void

LOL! Nice one!


43 posted on 02/12/2008 8:09:42 AM PST by Vanders9
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To: TLI

Weird it is...

I have wondered why this photo has not stirred some interest on the part of some of the writers who would usually have something to say about this; and, did into it for an explanation from the Hillary...people?

Matter of fact, I have e-mailed a couple dozen writers whose articles are often seen posted here in cyberspace—no takers.
Wondering why there is a hands off on this topic.


44 posted on 02/12/2008 8:12:53 AM PST by gunnyg
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To: wilco200
Haven’t you seen that trick where you fold a $20 bill a certain way and it reveals the twin towers buring?

I personally like the "T!ts of America" trick.

45 posted on 02/12/2008 8:26:13 AM PST by jmc813 (Ron Paul is the only pro-lifer/non-gun grabber left running for President)
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To: Smelly_Fed; Chode; TheLion; AxelPaulsenJr; jimt; Eric in the Ozarks; oldtimer; pt17; ...
Smelly_Fed,mnehrling. Thanks for the PINGS!

Nice of them to let freemasons off the hook after 225 years.

The ruse worked!

Silly humans. ;-)


MASONIC

LIST





Send uglybiker a FReepmail if you would like on/off The Masonic PING List
The List of Ping Lists


46 posted on 02/12/2008 8:45:11 AM PST by uglybiker (I do not suffer from mental illness. In fact, I'm enjoying every minute of it.)
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To: evets

Which did

NOT BEGIN

to be used until about 5 years AFTER the Roswell incident.

The AirForce made itself look very stupid with their contention about the dummies.


47 posted on 02/12/2008 9:05:22 AM PST by Quix (GOD ALONE IS GOD; WORTHY; PAID THE PRICE; IS COMING AGAIN; KNOWS ALL; IS LOVING; IS ALTOGETHER GOOD)
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To: Smelly_Fed

I’m waiting for a call to boycott money.


48 posted on 02/12/2008 9:08:26 AM PST by purpleraine
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To: Smelly_Fed
Unfortunately, we foreigners cannot be so naive:

Mexico

Italy

Interesting the Howard Hunt's testimony.
49 posted on 02/12/2008 9:30:20 AM PST by J Aguilar (Veritas vos liberabit)
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To: uglybiker

I told you they would sucker for it! :-)


50 posted on 02/12/2008 9:37:14 AM PST by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: J Aguilar

That P2 link to Masonry has been debunked so many times - I’d need a super-computer just to list all the ISBN numbers.

I can’t speak to Mexican Masonry - different organization than the one I belong to, first I’ve heard about it.


51 posted on 02/12/2008 10:48:26 AM PST by Smelly_Fed
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To: uglybiker
Thanks for the ping, UB!

52 posted on 02/12/2008 11:03:22 AM PST by bd476
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To: uglybiker

The secret is safe. >:-}


53 posted on 02/12/2008 11:09:46 AM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: Smelly_Fed

February 12, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP)

US Reveals Secrets of National Seal

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 familiar emblem on the back of the $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 our 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.

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 favorite of conspiracy theorists as some Founding Fathers were Masons and the Seal uses several Masonic symbols.

—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 rumors 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 symbolize 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 lynchpin of a sinister ‘’New World Order.’’

—That the words ‘’Annuit Coeptis’’ (’’Providence favors’’) 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 U.S. Diplomacy Center. ‘’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.’’


54 posted on 02/12/2008 11:38:55 AM PST by CutePuppy (If you don't ask the right questions you may not get the right answers)
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To: J Aguilar

Mexico hasn’t liked the masons since Bro. Stephen F. Austin told Santa Anna to stick his bum leg up his arse,and Bro. Sam Houston went ahead, took said leg and performed said operation for Mr. Anna.


55 posted on 02/12/2008 11:44:40 AM PST by MeanWestTexan (Atah kaki metumtam, McCain)
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To: Army Air Corps

It won’t make a bit of difference what the Feds say. There’s no way you can change the thinking of the conspiracy nuts.


56 posted on 02/12/2008 12:18:30 PM PST by curmudgeonII
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To: uglybiker

be very, very quiet. There are watching us.


57 posted on 02/12/2008 12:27:27 PM PST by patton (cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
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To: Smelly_Fed

Tell Wikipedia.


58 posted on 02/12/2008 12:28:23 PM PST by J Aguilar (Veritas vos liberabit)
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To: curmudgeonII

Very true.


59 posted on 02/12/2008 12:29:20 PM PST by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: MeanWestTexan

I know, I know.

I guess another bro. kicked Aznar out of office in 3/11.

Thank you for the links to Howard Hunt’s testament. That makes much more sense.


60 posted on 02/12/2008 12:32:34 PM PST by J Aguilar (Veritas vos liberabit)
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