BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers last week took a step toward potentially replacing the official state seal and motto, a victory for activists who … (Translated, this means "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty.") Replacing the Native American on the Massachusetts State Seal [OPINION] Because anything and everything offends someone these days, Massachusetts will ditch its state seal and motto. Native American leaders push for proposal before session ends By Steph Solis, masslive.com 4 days ago. Although the looser English translation more commonly used is, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." Massachusetts Flag. The state seal of Massachusetts depicts an Algonquian Indian in buckskin, holding a bow in peace, inside a blue shield. Lawmakers vote to change Mass. The 5-ponted silver  star above his right arm represents Massachusetts as one of the original thirteen states. Adopted in 1885, the Massachusetts state seal displays the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, surrounded by the words "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Latin for "Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts"). The crest above displays a blue and gold braid with an arm grasping a broadsword - a representation of the state's motto (written in gold on a blue ribbon streaming below the native American): "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty). This quotation is believed to originate from Acts 16:9: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Elizabeth Solomon of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag has said the imagery "promotes a history of … [9], Seal of the Massachusetts House of Representatives, Alternative seal of the Massachusetts Senate, Seal of the Plymouth Colony, (c. 1620–1629), Seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, (1629–1686, 1689-1691), Seal of the Dominion of New England (1686–1689), Coat of Arms of Great Britain, as Province of Massachusetts Bay (1691–1780), Seal used by the Massachusetts Provincial Congress (1775–1780), Seal example from 1820, prior to standardization (1780–1900), Official government emblem of the U.S. state of Massachusetts, Elements of the present seal, the first seal of the Bay Colony with a crude portrayal of a Native with his arrow pointed in a gesture of peace, Controversy over Minuteman's sword and Native American imagery, Stockbridge Mohican History, 'The Seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: "Come Over and Help Us', Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem, 950 CMR 34.00: Commonwealth of Massachusetts Flags, Arms, and Seal Specifications, "The Seal of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: "Come Over and Help Us, "Renewed Calls to Change the Massachusetts State Flag", https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/11/19/state-seal-flag-symbols-native-americans-massachusetts, https://changethemassflag.com/2021/01/12/governor-baker-signs-the-bill-establishing-a-special-commission-to-change-the-mass-flag-and-seal/, The History of the Arms and Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Seal_of_Massachusetts&oldid=1000040563, Political controversies in the United States, Race-related controversies in the United States, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Upon the seal shall be a likeness in gold of the St. Gaudens statue of Deacon Samuel Chapin. [7][8], On January 11, 2021, Govenor Charlie Baker signed a bill establishing a commission to change the state flag and seal. However, the gradual loss of the missionary message was part of a pattern throughout the British colonies at this time, as the experience of war dampened enthusiasm for conversion and integration.[6]. This initial seal thus emphasized the missionary and commercial intentions of the original colonists. SHARE. A silver star with five points appears next to the figure's head, although this is represented as white on the flag. This quotation is believed to originate from Acts 16:9: "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us." Kostenlose Massachusett State Seal ClipArt in AI, SVG, EPS und CDR | Finden Sie auch jubiläum-siegel oder jubiläum band banner siegel Clipart kostenlose Bilder unter +73.061 Vektoren. Chris Van Buskirk / State House News Service. The Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts contains the coat of arms of Massachusetts. The next seal was adopted by the Provincial Congress on December 13, 1780. Azure, a Native American passant. An official emblem of the State, the Coat of Arms was adopted by the Legislature in 1775, and then reaffirmed by Governor John Hancock and his Council on December 13, 1780. The present rendition of the seal was drawn by resident-artist Edmund H. Garrett, and was adopted by the state in 1900. The Massachusetts seal, first designed in 1629, originally depicted a Native American with these words: “Come over and help us.” The seal has been redesigned multiple times, with … Governor Charlie Baker has given the okie dokie to form a special commission to recommend a new state seal to adorn the state flag, and a new state motto. state seal, motto long offensive to Native Americans State House News (Massachusetts) ^ | January 11, 2021 | Chris Lisinski Posted on 01/11/2021 3:38:11 PM PST by ConservativeStatement. He holds a bow in one hand and an arrow in the other. Adopted in 1885, the Massachusetts state seal displays the coat of arms of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, surrounded by the words "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Latin for "Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts"). [3], The first seal of Massachusetts Bay Colony showed a nude American Indian with a bush covering his groin. There are two types of awards available in Massachusetts: The Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy was established under the LOOK Act of 2017 and can be awarded to graduating high school seniors. The bill is … A stained glass window at the top of the Grand Staircase at the State House shows all the seals used in Massachusetts, including the royal seals of the Governors during colonial days. The current seal features a Native American man … Winchester High School's Sachem mascot is the latest Native American mascot in Massachusetts to get removed, while the state Senate approved a bill to explore replacing the "racist" state seal. Massachusetts has kept a sword hanging over the heads of Native Americans for hundreds of years. Source | Reference Links | Additional Resources, State Symbols: Massachusetts Secretary of Commonwealth. Native American advocates call to change Massachusetts flag, seal Share this: Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ... “We must remove the seal of the state … The composite's head was taken from a Chippewa chief in Montana. The shield depicts an "Indian" with bow and arrow; the arrow is pointed downward, signifying peace. This comes from the Book of Mottoes in the Royal Danish Library in Copenhagen, Denmark; written about 1659 by Algernon Sydney, English soldier and politician. A single white star symbolizes the statehood of Massachusetts. The source is attributed to the letter written by a father of an English soldier and politician Algernon Sidney: "It is said that the University of Copenhagen brought their album unto you, desiring you to write something therein; and that you did scribere in albo these words: 'Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem'". English: Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Datum Basic design adopted by Governor John Hancock and the Council on December 13, 1780 [1] , present design adopted in … This initial seal thus emphasized the missionary an… In its current form, the state seal shows a hand holding the sword over the head of a Native American with the Latin motto the translates to, “by the sword we seek peace.” The sword symbolizes Myles Standish, an English militia leader in the 1600s who attacked Native American settlements. Seal of Massachusetts (public domain image on Wikipediia). The Seal uses as its central element the Coat of Arms of Massachusetts. This Seal Of Massachusetts was used until 1686, shortly after the charter was annulled, and again from 1689-1692. In dexter chief a mullet of 5 Argent. That shield displays an image of a Native American Indian. The Massachusetts Legislature voted Wednesday to change the state seal and motto critics have long said are symbols of white supremacy.. Native leaders and other racial justice activists have pushed for decades for Massachusetts to change its state seal, which depicts a Native American standing beneath a … All of these elements are wrapped inside a white circle with a ring in which you can read the words “Commonwealth of Massachusetts”. DESCRIPTION: The current version of the Massachusetts flag was officially adopted is 1908, and revised in 1971. E. Within the shield and below on both sides flanking said likeness shall be a scroll in gold bearing the inscription "A Town May 14, 1636 O.S. Compared to these life-stunting scourges, criticism of the Massachusetts state seal and flag as demeaning to Native Americans admittedly seems like swatting a … The last words were then written in Sidney's "Book of Mottoes", particularly favored by some in the American colonies. It was adopted in 1775 by the Provincial Congress and the literal translation is, "With a sword, she seeks quiet peace under liberty." The Massachusetts state seal depicts the Coat of Arms design of a blue shield with a Algonquian Native American that has a bow and arrow and a white star. For the past 239 years, Massachusetts residents have lived in a state with a seal and a flag depicting a Native American man, a sword and the state motto written in Latin. The coat of arms is encircled by the Latin text "Sigillum Reipublicæ Massachusettensis" (literally, The Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). The Massachusetts Constitution designates the form of government a "commonwealth," for which Respublica is the correct Latin term. SHARE. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE Skip to comments. Metrically, the motto is dactylic hexameter. (Authorized Version). Above the shield is the state military crest: a bent arm holding a broadsword aloft. Massachusetts state law calls for the seal to include "a blue shield with an Indian thereon, dressed in a shirt, leggings and moccasins, holding in his right hand a bow, and in his left an arrow, pointed downward, all of gold." Note: Municipalities not listed have a town meeting form of government (see, This page was last edited on 13 January 2021, at 06:42. It is administered by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. With the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower landing approaching in 2020, it’s time to change the Massachusetts Flag and Seal. Duration: 00:20 1 day ago. In 1775 a Revolutionary seal appeared, depicting a minuteman with a sword in his right hand and the Magna Carta in his left; following the Revolutionary War, the sword would later be incorporated into the crest of the traditional coat of arms. It features a centered coat of arms (and shield) on a white field. That’s a terrible symbol for our state. The Seal of Biliteracy is for any student in the senior year who demonstrates proficiency in English and another other language, whether they speak the non-English language at home or learned it at school or in the community. Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill that takes steps to change state seal and motto, following decades of protests from indigenous activists Updated Jan 06, 2021; Posted Jan 06, 2021 The current seal features a Native American man and above his head is an arm holding a sword. Massachusetts coat of arms (public domain image on Wikipedia). Massachusetts Flag. This seal removed the peaceful slogan of the original seal, replacing it with the message, “In the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this Land / They giving us peace and mercy at their hands.”[5] In 1689-1692, after the end of the war, the original slogan was temporarily revived. [2] While the inscription around the seal is officially in Latin, a variant with "Commonwealth of Massachusetts" in English is also sometimes used. The seal depicts a Native American standing beneath a disembodied arm wielding a sword and the Latin motto, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." [4], In June 1676, during King Philip's War, the Bay Colony ordered an updated version of this seal stamped onto medallions which were issued to Indian Christians fighting on behalf of Boston. Charlie Baker said Thursday his administration is up for talking with those speaking out against historical symbols amid a push to remove and redesign the Massachusetts flag and seal… Like the current seal, he held in his hand an arrow pointed down. Will Massachusetts pass bill to redesign state seal and motto? Baker Approves Commission To Redesign Massachusetts State Seal. Civil advocates demanded that the imagery in the State Seal (and on the Flag of Massachusetts that displays it) had to change, due to the Colonial broadsword's placement directly above the Native American depiction's head as a "form of white supremacist imagery". Like the current seal, he held in his hand an arrow pointed down. A scroll came out over his mouth with the words "Come over and help us." Native leaders and other racial justice activists have pushed for decades for Massachusetts to change its state seal, which depicts a Native American standing beneath a … The sword has its blade up, to remind that it was through the American Revolution that independence was won. EMAIL. All State Seals. The current form of the 1780 seal was adopted in 1890, replacing the Massachusetts Indian with a composite. The first seal of Massachusetts Bay Colony showed a nude American Indian with a bush covering his groin. The Revolutionary seal would also mark the first time the Latin motto used by the state today appeared on a state seal, and meant that the colony no longer recognized the authority of the Royal Governor General Thomas Gage. A blue banner in Latin repeats the independent clarion from the 1775 seal; an arm grasping a … Holding in his dexter hand a bow, holding in his sinister hand an arrow. The Massachusetts State Seal, adopted by Governor John Hancock and the Council on December 13, 1780 and made official by the General Court on June 4, 1885, is circular and bears a representation of the arms of the Commonwealth encircled with the words, "Sigillum Reipublicae Massachusettensis" (Seal of the Republic of Massachusetts). A scroll came out over his mouth with the words "Come over and help us." Baker Approves Commission To Redesign Massachusetts State Seal By CBSBoston.com Staff January 12, 2021 at 11:09 am Filed Under: Boston News , Massachusetts Flag , State Flag Gov. TWEET. The blue shield features a native American of the Algonquin nation (in gold) holding a bow in his right hand and an arrow pointing downward in his left (indicating peacefulness). A blue ribbon (blue, signifying the Blue Hills of Quincy, Canton and Milton) surrounds the shield, bearing the state motto "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem." SHARE. Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy for the 2020-2021 school year. All Or. Below the shield you will notice a blue ribbon and on top a hand with a sword. (Authorized Version). From 1686 to 1689 Governor Edmund Andros used a Seal Of Massachusetts with two sides, one side showing King James II with an Englishman and Indian kneeling in front of him, the other side showing the lion and unicorn of the royal coat of arms. 'S `` Book of Mottoes '', particularly favored by some in the.! Words were then written in Sidney 's `` Book of Mottoes '', particularly favored by some in American... 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