Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-07-10
OATHS IN Different LANDS
French Have the Least and Nor
Wegians the Most to Say

The ceremony of taking the oath has
cen known since earliest history. The
only changes in form which have come
in thousands of years have been due
to the introduction of the Bible and the
cross by Christian nations.
AS administered in most of the Eng
lsh law courts the form of the oath
is practically the same as that in the
United States, though rather more GER
enormous In France it is perhaps the
simplest A crucifix above the judges
seat is supposed to obviate the neces-
sity of the witness handling either the
cross or the Bible.
you swear to tell the truth. the
whole truth and nothing but the
TRUTH" asks the Judge And the wit
ness, raising his right hand, answers,
II swear it."
In Austria a Christian witness is
sworn before a crucifix placed between
two lighted candles Holding up his
right hand, the witness says: Il swear
by God, the Almighty and All Wise,
that l will speak the pure and full
truth in answer to anything l may be
asked by the court"
If the witness is of the Jewish race
he uses the same words, but places his
hands on Bible opened at the page
on which appears the third command
ment and the crucifix is removed.
In a Belgian court the witness says:
Il will speak the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help me
God and ali the saints" No Bible is re-
quired in the administering of this oath.
The Italian witness generally takes
the oath in a dramatic manner. Rest
ing his hand on an open Bible, he ex-
claims: II will swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth!'
More ceremony attends the admins
tering of the oath in a Spanish court.
The witness kneels on the right knee
and places his right hand on the sacred
book. The judge then asks: "Will you
swear to God and by these holy gospels
to speak the truth to all you may be
asked?" The witness replies: Yes; l
swear" to which the judge rejoins:
"rhen If thus you do God will reward
you, and If not will require of YOU
In a few districts the form is varied
by the witness placing the middle oil
his thumb on the middle of his fore
finger, kissing his thumb and declar-
ing: by this cross l swear"
1t is to be hoped that the Norwegian
obligation to speak the truth or con-
siderable energy is wasted. He is re-
duired to raise his thumb, forefnger
and middle finger, these signifying the
Trinity. Before the oath is actually
taken a long exhortation is delivered,
running in part:
whatever person is so ungodly, cor
rupt or hostile TO himself as to swear
false oath or not to keep the oath sworn
sins in such manner as if he were to
say: If swear falsely. then may God
the Holy Father, God the Son and COO
the Holy Ghost punish me, so that God
the Father who created me and all
mankind in His image, and His father
w goodness, grace and mercy, may not
profit me, but that l as perverse ana
obstinate transgressor and sinner may
be punished externally in hell If swear
falsely then may all 1 have and own
in this world be cursed; cursed be my
land, field and meadow, so that L may
never enjoy any fruit or yield from
them: cursed be my cattle, my beasts,
nv sheep, so that after this day they
NAV never thrive or benefit me; yea,
cursed may l be and everything l pos
sess.'
And sometimes all that-and all the
rest of it--in the matter of a suit
brought to collect for a pair OF boots'
perhaps.-The Green Bag.