The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
That the incoming president always
takes. the oath of office ON % Bible
and that the chief justice of the Unit
ed States administers the oath is gen.
orally known, but where the Bible
comes from is fact concerning which
the public knows much less The one
who is able TO give more information
OH this subject than any other is
James FL. McKenney, clerk of the su-
preme court. who Is the man who al.
ways has the sacred book at the right
place at the right time and in whose
hands, strange to say, it always so
opens that the august parsonage who
is about to- pledge his fidelity to the
constitution and the best interests; Of
the people of the United States finds
his palm resting upon some passage
which is an augury OF good for all
concerned
New Bible Often Supplied.
No" said Mr.. Mekenney iii re-
Spouse to question: mo, we. do not
use our century old Bible for the
swearing in of presidents, but it Of
ten happens that the clerk supplies a.
new book for the occasion. 1t is the
intention that the man who takes the
oatn Of office should have the volume
as Keepsake, and it generally trans
pires that his FIRMLY, IL not himself
sets much store by it. Not always,
however. nor even in a majority OF
cases, are we called upon to supply a.
new book, for it frequently happens
that the president or some member Of
his family is the owner of some treas
ured volume of the Scriptures which
IT is desired that he should use upon
this sacred and important occasion.
Book on Which Cleveland Took Oath.
This was the case when Mr. Cleve-
land was inaugurated. He was the
owner of small Bible, not larger
than your hand, which apparently had
seen much usage. His mother had pre-
sented 1t to him when he wars boy,
and he had treasured it ever since.
When he was consulted about taking
the oath when first maugurated as
president he stated that he desired his
mothers present should be used for
this purpose When the oath was adj
ministered to him at the beginning Of
his second administration the same
volume. which on this occasion had
been hunted out by Mrs. Cleveland,
was again brought forward and pre-
scented as the one upon which her hus-
band should make his pledges.
Bible Used by Mckinley.
"Quite in contrast with this little
volume was the one used in admins
tering the oath to Mr.. Mckinley The
negro bishops joined together and pre-
scented to Mr.. Mckinley one Of the big
gest books have ever seen. 1t was an
Extraordinarily large family Bible.
bound in heavy morocco, trimmed In
gold and stored in a much Ornamented
box / remember very well that was
quite tagged out from carrying 1t to
the senate chamber and from that
chamber to the platform in front of
the capitol. After the Bible had: been
used for this purpose ] turned it over
to the president: but, Notwithstanding
he had already received Il, the donors
afterward called at the White House
and presented it with formal speeches
to which Mr.. Mckinley made apropri-
ate reply.
The Roosevelt Bible.
president Roosevelt was sworn In
on Bible which had been used for
] the same purpose when he was inau-