Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-05-02
EXTRA JUDICIAL OATHS.

Vain and rash swearing is forbidden by the Scrip.
,ures. and Know Nothing organs presume largely
mon the ignorance and gubility of the people when
tbev assert that this applies only to profane cursDg
and swearing
When an oath is administered according to law
.be swearer knows the nature of it before he takes
II He may read it have it repeated to him, and if
bo does not understand it he may have it explained
70 him. Thus he swears Understandings, and COM
rehends beforehand the nature of the oath he is to
+oke Any other kind of swearing is vain and rash,
consequently sinful, and binding neither in a moral
or legal point of view. On the contrary we believe
. man is morally bound to expose all such frauds
and tricks, preparatory to his repentance, and
-; order to warn others against the fearful sin into
which he himself has fallen. In the words of Shakes
peare,
ct is a great sin to swear unto a sin:
But greater sin to keep sinful OATH
Arc candidates for admission into the K. N Order
allowed to know, beforehand, the nature or purport
Of the oaths they must take? Are they permitted
to see those oaths? Does not their first knowledge
Of them come from some officer of the Order as he
administers them? And as their nature and purport
are revealed, pari passu they take effect. The
knowledge of the puport of the oath and its bind
inc efficacy are simultaneous Is not this rash swear
ing? Is it sinful, apart from the nature of
the OATH on account of its rashness only Is it not
swearing blindy, taking upon yourself something
that you knoaO nothing of until it is upon you and
YOU are bound in its coils p
Probably not one man in ten comprehends the full
scope and meaning of the oath at the time he takes
# It is new to hm-he has never before seen or
heard of it or any thing like it; and though he may
have some idea of it. that idea must necessarily be
yague confused and doubtful and yet he is vain and
rash enough to call upon God to help him Keep and
fulfil it. thus insulting the Deity by calling upon him
for assistance to do something, he himself knows not
what!
Thus we think it is clear that the mere taking of
the oath SINFUL apart from its nature and its intent
because it is vain and rash. In the next place. what
is the purport of this OATH rather of these oaths
The presumptuous mortal calls upon his Maker to
help him do-what? Good men, duped into the
Order, have afforded revelations enough to give
us some insight into this monster of darkness and
the nature of his designs; and his votaries call on
Heaven to aid them in denying home and an asy-
um to the oppressed of other lands and in disfran-
chsing even atiUe born citizens who choose to wor
ship their Creator according to the dictates of their
own consciences. This is Know Nothingism-this
is the corruption of the whited sepucher of Ameri-
cansm. They call upon God to AID them In dong
thing the Constitution of their country says they
shall not do to wit: To prescribe men for their re-
ligious opinions sake. This they have not yet dar-
ed to attempt by advocating change of the Const-
tuition, so to accomplish their ends by the opera
ton of that instruments but they seek to do it by
rendering null and void the provisions the Consti-
tuition They would effect indirectly, what they fear
to attempt directly. They would murder a limb of
the Constitution, but permit the dead branch to re-
main on the body and the death stroke of this limb
might send shock throughout the trunk and roots
that would decay the whole
We trust that those out of the Order will ponder
these things and remain out; and that those in it
will reflect repent, and turn from the evil of their
WAYS