The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-07-20
FORMS OF SWEARING,
VARIOUS FACTS ABOUT oATHs, AN
GENT AND MODERN.

Forms Used Among the lIcbrews-Ths
Ostyaks in Siberia-lIow the Greeks
and Romans swore-Profanity OF Amcrl.
cans--Irencla Kings.
The oath was originally an appeal to
divine authority to ratify an assertion.
The old Greek gods sworc by the Styx,
and Jehovah is represented in tho early
books Of the Bible as swearing by himself,
there being none higher. The forms Of
oath among the Hebrews were: "By the
Col Of Abraham, !" God do SO unto D,e,'
AMI more also, ."God knowcth," with
other appeals Of similar character.
Oaths were originally taken for tho
performance of certain acts, to pledge
allegiance to q sovereign, to pledge q
sovereign to the performance of his duty
to his people, or To accomplish judicial
purposes. The witness lifted his hands
to heaven or laid one hand OH the head of
the accused. Persons making promises
to one another laid their hands on ono
another's thighs. Oatlls were taken bc.
tore the altar, as the place most sacred.
In Assam, in farther India, two persons
lesiring to affirm with great sOlemnity
take fowl Or dog, one by the head, the
other by the tail. The Ostyaks in Siberia
when brought into court swear by the
head of bear, making motion with tho
jaws, and expressing the hope that they
may bc dcvourcd il they speak falsely.
OATlis OF ANCIENT TIMES.
In ancient times it was considered ca.
scntial to the validity Of an oath that tho
witness should hold something in his
hand, or place his hand OH some obicct
Of great s;lnctity. With the Jews it was
the book Of the law, which led to the llse
q the Bible in Chrsti;,i, courts. The
3ctlouin Arabs have from ancient times
used various forms Of adiurutiop. One
Of these was "By the Temple" One still
in use is as follows: The person taking
the oath takes hold Of the mid,Iia pole Of
the tent ind swcars by the life Of the
tent and its owners. Niohanmcd swore
by the Settling of the stars tlo most
pOetical oath on record, though hardly SO
magnificent US the oft quoted adjuraiion
pfWilliam the Conqllcror, "By the SPLEEN
lor Of Cod" Roman Oatlls were ma,l.
with great solennity and elaboration. In
Roman mythology Juno, making prnn,-
Use to sleep, is represented as taking
heaven III one hand and the earth in tho
other. Greeks and Romans swurp by
their gods, by the Styy I,v Olvmn,. lie.
hell. bv their sncre,l snrin:s mr. rirnrs ~, T..
the sun and moon. Their oatls wcrH
valuable IN the early days Of the republic,
but worthless after they BECAME corrupr,
Oaths lost their sanctity and became col
l0quial or profanc among the Jews ut an
early date. Greek ladies' sworc daintily
|W Venus. Diana md limo NM, n"w ,m;,
then Lv some of tho nnni,, ,,,,,' -, "..
names were taken In vain ~ ,I,n;r ii,n,,
lords The Romano swnro n i,,,,;,,ss
Hercules and their other ,,r,n.rc,,. ,,.i;,;,.'
Their women imiintrI th,,sn If ':resm
There hns nlwnys hoon ,l,n .jn,,,,,,. -.
making the oath loo comn', "mi ,i," y.
Icstroyinp it's s,nctity Thn,,,,l ,,;. 'i h"s'
made pcrinrv cnsv r. scnrc..i,. ax,',.;, ,'
how judicial or other forms ~ sw. .H,r
cradi,avy lost tbrir ,li,rni,v and ,m,an'
mrt of the everyday sncrsh nf mr" nr,i
l'N>S' W h''i