The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-01-10
VARIETIES OF OATHS
METHODS OF SWEARING TO THE
TRUTH THE WORLD OVER.

The Parsee Prefers to Vouch For His
Veracity by Holding the Tail of q
Cow - The Chinese Methods Are
Many and Curious In Form.
The ruler of Great Britain swears to
uphold the Church of England, and in
only two other countries does the royal
oath Of Office make any reference to re-
ligion- The king of Portugal swears
to maintain the Catholic religion and
the king of Greece to support the Greek
church. The whole subject of oaths is
interesting. They presuppose that any
man is liable to break his mere word
kings and emperors as well as anybody
else. Whether an oath makes the aver
age man more truthful or not is a ques-
ton. The general opinion seems to be
and always to have been that it does.
In Germany, however, oaths have been
abolished Altogether, and in America,
England and Australia any one object
ing to being sworn in court on religious
grounds is allowed to affirm. In France
no oath is required of members Of the
national legislature, and it cannot be
held that German witnesses, Quakers
Snd members Of the French chamber Of
deputies are more unreliable In court
than other people. A philosopher once
said that when the oath ceased to be
binding no country could exist for a
year.
The taking of ar oath is a very an
eient practice and has been common
to all nations, civilized and savage, In
all times. The Medes and the Per-
slams, the Egyptians and the Assyrians
swore, and the time probably never
will come when the oath will have died
out of the world. There is a great
variety in the form Of taking an oath,
but the object is the same-to call
down upon oneself the vengeance of
God as the penalty of untruth. But
there is concurrent and very lively
sense Of the vengeance of the law as
well. In England, Spain, Italy and
Austria, the oath is taken on the Bible.
The English always kiss the book.
In France, Belgium and Scotland the
oath Is taken with the right hand rails
ed over the head.
Parsees sometimes give rise to much
perplexity in law courts They strong
ly object to being sworn ON the Bible,
and claim the right to make the oath
as in their own country-namely, by
holding the tail of COW. The cow be-
ing a sacred animal in the eyes of the
Parsee, he can commit no sin while
touching it. But there is fortunately
en- alternative. In the city of London
courts some years ago, it being imprac-
ticable to procure cow, Parsee took
a sacred relic out from his bosom and
holding it aloft, swore impressively,
by God, and God omniscient, and
God omnipresent AID God almighty
Mohammedans are much opposed tC
swearing. When they do swear, it Is
solemn ceremony and is performed
by holding the Koran in the right
hand, placing the left hand on the fore
head, and bringing the head down tt
| the book. A Mohammedan seldom com
mits perjury. In India their prejudict
against swearing Is so strong that the
government allows them to affirm.
The Buddhist swears 'In the pres
ence of Buddha," and says, IF
speak false. or il by coloring the truth
others are led astray, then may the
three holy existences, Buddha, Dham
ma and Pro Sanga, together with the
devotees of the Twenty-Five Firma
ments, punish me and also my migra
tory soul" The Hindoo law says
Let the judge swear by his veracity
| the soldier by his horse or weapons
the merchant by his cattle, grain
| gold or other possessions, and the ser
vile man by imprecating curses upoI
his own head" When the gentoo O
| India swears, he touches the foot of :
| Brahman, and when Brahman swear
he touches the hand of another Of hi
| caste.
In Mexico many people still adher
| to an ancient form Of oath. They tOucl
the earth with the tip Of the finger AM
then place the finger on the tongue
| which signifies, "If my tongue speak
| false, then may l be turned to dust.
Until comparatively, recently prizes
In France simply affirmed ION the wor
of priest"
The Chinese have great variety o
oaths, many of them curious In form
One is taking saucer and breakin
it while the clerk says: You shall te
the truth and the whole truth. Th
saucer is cracked, and II you do nc
tell the truth your soul shall be cracl
ed like the saucer" This is a bindin
oath, for the Chinaman believes this
his soul can be smashed into frai
ments. Chinese In this country an
England are sometimes sworn by th
broken saucer. More effective, how
ever, in the eyes of the Celestials is tn
joss stick. TIE joss stick is set aligh
and while it burns the Chinese sweare
wishes that his soul may be burne
like the stick if he gives false evidenc
The Chinese swear in many otht
ways A solemn oath Is made by wri
ing certain sacred characters on p'
per and burning it, praying at the san
time that he may be burned If he do,
not speak the truth. Sometimes
swears by burning a piece of stra,
but nothing is so forcible in drawir
the truth from a Chinaman as gettir
!. him to cut off a cocks head. This, Iii
the breaking of the saucer, has a re
gious foundation. The Chinese belize