The Seal of the State of Rhode Island features a blue field with a golden maritime anchor as its central image below the phrase "

HOPE Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one's own life, or the world at large. As a verb, Merriam-Webster defines ''hope'' as "to expect with confid ...

". The anchor has been used as a symbol for

Rhode Island Rhode Island ( ) is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Connecticut to its west; Massachusetts to its north and east; and the Atlantic Ocean to its south via Rhode Island Sound and Block Is ...

since the colony's founding in 1636, well before the region claimed statehood. The first seal of the Colony of Rhode Island, was drawn by William Dyer in 1647.

History

Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by

Roger Williams Roger Williams (March 1683) was an English-born New England minister, theologian, author, and founder of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Providence Plantations, which became the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Pl ...

, a

Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...

minister,

Anne Hutchinson Anne Hutchinson (; July 1591 – August 1643) was an English-born religious figure who was an important participant in the Antinomian Controversy which shook the infant Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1636 to 1638. Her strong religious formal d ...

, and others seeking

religious freedom Freedom of religion or religious liberty, also known as freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community, in public or private, to manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice ...

from persecution in Massachusetts and Europe. The seal's words and emblems were likely inspired by the biblical phrase "hope we have as an anchor of the soul," found in

Hebrews The Hebrews (; ) were an ancient Semitic-speaking peoples, ancient Semitic-speaking people. Historians mostly consider the Hebrews as synonymous with the Israelites, with the term "Hebrew" denoting an Israelite from the nomadic era, which pre ...

, Verse 6:18-19. After Roger Williams received an official charter in England in 1644, the word "Hope" was placed over the seal's anchor and still remains. The outer circle of the seal reads ''Seal of the State of Rhode Island 1636''. Besides the seal, Roger Williams also used Biblical virtues when he named

Providence, Rhode Island Providence () is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Rhode Island, most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The county seat of Providence County, Rhode Island, Providence County, it is o ...

, and the islands in Narragansett Bay:

Prudence Island Prudence Island is the third-largest island in Narragansett Bay in the state of Rhode Island and part of the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, United States. It is located near the geographic center of the bay. It is defined by the United St ...

, Patience Island, Hope Island, and Despair Island.

Legal enactment

The seal has been adopted by successive Rhode Island government authorities since 1644. The current (2021) General Laws enactment asserts: Recto Rhode Island 30 shillings 1786 urn-3 HBS

Recto Rhode Island 30 shillings 1786 urn-3 HBS

§ 42-4-2 State seal. – There shall continue to be one seal for the public use of the state; the form of an anchor shall be engraved thereon; the motto thereof shall be the word "Hope"; and in a circle around the outside shall be engraved with the words, "Seal of the State of Rhode Island, 1636".

Historical seals

File:Rhode Island, 1647 seal-01.svg, Rhode Island Seal in 1647, used in the colonial records"Historic Seals of Rhode Island," ''Symbols & Emblems of Rhode Island

(accessed January 5, 2008) File:Seal of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.svg, The seal used on Rhode Island pound, Rhode Island pounds in the late 18th century File:Rhode Island Seal 1853.jpg, Rhode Island Seal variation used in 1853 File:Seal of Rhode Island (pre 2022).svg, Previous version before the state name change in 2021 referendum File:Seal of Rhode Island (starburst).svg, Illustration of historical version with starburst

Government seals

File:Seal of the Governor of Rhode Island.svg, Seal of the Governor File:Seal of the Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island.svg, Seal of the Lieutenant Governor File:Rhode Island National Guard Seal.png, Seal of the Rhode Island National Guard File:Seal of the Rhode Island Adjutant General.png, Seal of the Adjutant General of Rhode Island File:General treasurer of rhode island logo.jpg, Seal of the General Treasurer of Rhode Island

References

External links

Origins of the Seal of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations''The Seal, the Arms and the Flag of Rhode Island''
1913 booklet by the Rhode Island Historical Society {{DEFAULTSORT:Seal Of Rhode Island Symbols of Rhode Island