The record-union., 1893-03-18
NATIONAL OATHS.
Never a Nation Without a Sol
emn Oath.
Gods Compact With Noah-Burmesa
Drink the Water of Truth-.rhe
Roman Soldiers swore by Their
Ensigns and Mohammed by the
Stars.

There has never been a nation without
an oath, just as there never has been a
people without a religion.
a close study of the manners and GUS
TOMS OF the most ancient tribes has rarely
lalIed TO disclose some form of affirma-
uol, ana In numerous instances they
nave proven OF inestimable value in gain
ing knowledge of their religion-for
Ihere is an unmistakable affinity between
oaths and Christianity. The ceremony of
the past ages was a very impressive one.
especially among the uncivilized people.
who frequently consumed whole day in
administering the oath, from which moth
ing was omitted that would terrifv the
'swearer' into faithful observance of
his vow. Not marked by this official os-
tention, there never failed to be some
thing so revolving in tide ceremony that
1t must have required great courage and
an absolute confidence in the benefit to
be derived in order to get the mind in a
proper condition to go through the ordeal
mus, Hungarian form of oath was to
thrust dagger into the throat of a live
dog and suck its blood as long as it would
now; the ancient Medes made an incision
III the arm and tasted of each others
blood, and though these were both adj
ministered with much ceremony. there is
no reason To believe that they were a bit
more effective than that of the savage of
atropical isle, who looks at the sun and
swears by the eye of the Great Father, or
the Bedouin Arab who avows by the mid
die pole of the tent and the life OF its
owner.
THE OATHS OF TO-DAY.
The oaths Of this age are not regarded
WIN that degree OF reverence so charac-
teristic OF the ancient times. This may
be owing to the trivial punishment in
nlcted on perjurers, or the common usage
into which 1t has fallen, but it is a fact
nevertheless. To-day there is not a man
IL any official capacity, no matter how
humble, but Is required to take an oath
before entering upon his duties. From
The President 10 the obscure backWOodS
Constable, from the Judge of the Su-
preme Court to the village Justice, all
take an oath. Even the witness in the
Police Court holds up his right hand and
IS sworn, and much Of the disregard for
the oath might be traced TO the courtroom
where the clerk mumbles over a form in
an unlntelligible tone of voice ending in
the words S'help yo' God" run together
and pronounced in a breath. Few who
take the oath ever stop to think of the
import of those four words. $50 help me
Cod" They are assented to by the wit
ness without the realization of the awful
penalty they have asked should be theirs
should they vary from the truth. MAY
God so help me in this life, and the next
as | speak the truth; if / speak lie may
He withdraw His mercy from me''-this
is what it means-this is what the wit
ness asked when he so carelessly nodded
his head.
THE FIRST OATH RECORDED.
Ancient histories all lay great stress on
oath making, and when one studies the
noional or rulers oath partial estimate
can be made OF the civilization and power
OF the country and the INTELLECTUALLY of
its people, As the wording rarely fails to
convey the ruling sentiment or super
stition, and establishes the weight the
nation gives TO veracity. The first in
stance of an oath, if il can be called one.
dates back as far as Noah-when the AL
mighty made Il covenant that the earth
should not again be destroyed by a del
uge. and placed a rainbow in the heavens
as a sign of good faith.
Biblical history cites many instances of
the solemnity and awful significance OF
an oath as held by the Hebrews and of
the punishment of perjury by death in
the most horrible manner. SO seriously
was the oath regarded that no circunl-
stance or influence was deemed sufficient
reason for not fulfilling a vow, and per
haps no more telling illustration of this
can be cited than that of Jephtha, who. at
the turning point of great battle, made
an oath, the keeping Of which resulted in
the sacrifice OF his only child; or, take
the fate OF John the Baptist, Herod's
word was passed, there was no retreat.
In this age a Jewish Jury would have
convicted Herod of willful murder, or
pronounced him insane. and Herodias
aud her mother would have probably
been imprisoned as accessories. These
rash oaths were not infrequent and were
confined to no one nation.
swORE BY GODS TOOTH.
The laws or customs of all countries.
civilized or savage, require the security
of an oath for evidence given in a court
of justice or for allegiance TO the Govern
ment or rulers, and according to the state
OF civilization are the vows superstitious
and amusing, or impressive and eloquent.
Formerly upon the coronation of a new
King or Queen the wording OF their per-
sunal oath became the national VOW dur
ing their reign. Thus, William Rufils
swore by St. Luke's face; John by Gods
tooth; Harold by his scepter, and these at
once became the oath of the people, to be
administered on all occasions.
James |. was a most profane and jrrev-
eTent man, and his reign is Il black spot
on the pages Of history. Oaths in this
time were both rash and impiOus, and be-
came so common that during the twenty
one years he ruled it became necessary To
pass an Act for the suppression of non
judicial oaths. From that time every ma
ton had an established form, which their
Parliament or ruler officially announced.
not only for the browning of their SOW
ereign, but for persons who assumed Of
fetal responsibility and less important
trusts.
1t was not until 4. y. 600 that the iu-
dicial or national oath was introduced into
England. and the account given by his
tOrians of the coronation of Harold, who
assembled the throne in troubled times,
gives the first authentic information CON
corning it. The new crowned King stood
before the assembled people repeating in
q loud voice: Having been raised from
the ground, and having been chosen by
the Bishops and people, before God and
all the people l promise to observe the
rules enjoined on me; solemnly promise
TO treat the English people as well as the
best of your kings have done-the saints
help me-"
THE OATH TAKEN BY ELIZABETH.
Elizabeth's oath was a most impious
and irreverent one, and no history has
aver given the correct wording of it.
The Archbishop in the preparatory SER
mon TO Elizabeth, said: LAS all your
predecessors were at their coronation, so
YOU also are sworn before all the nobility
and Bishops present, in the presence of
God and in his stead to rule wisely and
mercifully the English people," Then
followed the reading from a parch-
rnent roll OF Il declaration containing an
admiration of the leading doctrines of the
Roman Catholic Church, renouncing all
Catholic pretenders to the crown, and
i,ronising to maintain the government of
of England. and liberation of Professionals
and Dissenters. Rising, Elizabeth affixed
her signature, and with her hand upon
lie oosDels. swore in Gods name to keep