Category Archives: Apologetics

Hartford, Connecticut (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)

Connecticut’s Great Seal (1784) and State Motto (1788)

Qui Transtulit Sustinet

“He Who Transplanted Still Sustains”

Image credit: Wikipedia

If it wasn’t clear enough, here is what Wikipedia has to say about the history of Connecticut’s state motto:

History of motto

The current motto looks a little different than the 1639 version (c.f. Sustinet qui transtulit). It was first seen in the colonies in 1639 on a seal brought from England by Colonel George Fenwick. The meaning of the motto was explained on April 23, 1775 in a letter stamped in Wethersfield, Connecticut: “We fix on our Standards and Drums the Colony arms, with the motto, Qui Transtulit Sustinet, round it in letters of gold, which we construe thus: God, who transplanted us hither, will support us”.

However, this explanation for the origin of the motto is questionable. In 1889, State Librarian Charles J. Hoadly published an article, “The Public Seal of Connecticut” that indicated the 80th Psalm as a possible source. The article stated:

“The vines [on the State Seal] symbolize the Colony brought over and planted here in the wilderness. We read in the 80th Psalm: ‘Thou has brought a vine out of Egypt: Thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it” – in Latin, ‘Vineam de Aegypto transtulisti, ejicisti gentes et plantasti eam’; and the motto expresses our belief that He who brought over the vine continues to take care of it – Qui transtulit sustinet“

To read the introduction to and purpose of this series of posts, CLICK HERE.

Regardless, I’m rather enjoying countering the nonsensical notion that faith (specifically a Judeo-Christian kind) had little to do with our nation’s founding. It’s obvious that if one wanted to eradicate God from the public square, he’d have to do a lot more than silence voices; he’d have to take a chisel or sledgehammer to the stone of our state capitals.