The Washington herald., 1910-07-15
OATHs IN DIFFERENT LANDS.
French Have the Least and Nor
wegtans the Most to Say.

From the Green Bag.
The ceremony OF taking the oath has
been known since earliest history. The
only changes In form which have come
in thousands Of years have been due TO
the introduction of tho Bible and the
cross by Christian nations.
As administered In most OF the Eng
Iish law courts the form OF the oath Is
practically the same as that In the Uni
ted States, though rather more cere-
monious In France II is perhaps the
simplest. A crucinx 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 witness, rails
Ing his right hand, answers: Il swear
it -
In Austria Christian witness is
sworn before a crucifx placed between
two lighted candles. Holding up his
right hand the witness says: IT swear
by God the Almighty and All Wise that
VIII speak the pure and full truth in
answer to anything l may be asked by
the court"
II the witness is OF the Jewish race
he uses the same words. but places his
hand on Bible opened on the page on
which appears the third commandment.
and the cruclix is removed
In Belgian court the witness says:
II viii speak the truth. the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help me
God and all the saints" No Bible Is re-
quired in the administering OF this oath.
The Italian witness generally takes
the oath IN a dramatic manner Resting
his hand on an open Bible he exclaiins:
| II will swear TO tell the truth. the whole
truth and nothing but the TRUTH
More ceremony attends the admins
terfng Of an oath In a Spanish court. The
witness kneeIs on his right knee and
lhe Judge then asks: "Will you swear
to God and by those holy gospels TO
speak the truth to all you may be
askedr The witness replies: yes; I
swear" to which the Judge reioins:
Then II thus you do God win reward
you and If not viii require OF you"
In few districts this form is varied
by the witness placing the middle Of his
thumb on the middle Of bis forefnger,
kissing his thumb and declaring. by
this cross swear"
1t is to be hoped that the Norwegian
witness is properly impressed with his
! obligation to speak the truth or consid-
! cradle energy is wasted. He is required
10 raise his thumb. foreflnger. and middle
finger. these signlfying the Trinity. Be-
fore the oath is actually taken a long Cx-
hortation is delivered, running IN part;
Whatever person is so ungodly, cor
rupt. or hostile to himself as to swear a
false oath, or not 10 keep The oath sworn
| sins IN such a manner as IL he were 10
/ say: IF I swear falsely. then may God
the Father. God the Son. and God the
/ Holy Ghost punish me- so that God the
/ Father who created me and all mankind
/ in His image, and His fatherIy goodness,
grace. and mercy, may not profit me. but
that l as a perverse and obstinate trans
! gressor and sinner may be punished eter-
nally in hell II ! swear falsely. then
may all have and own in this world be
/ cursed; cursed De my land, field, and
meadow. so that l may never enjoy any
| fruit or yield from them; cursed be my
cattle my beasts, my sheep. so that af-
ter this day they may never thrive or
benefit me; yea. cursed may 1 be and
| everything I possess
And sometimes all thst-and all the
rest Of it-in the matter OF suit brought
to collect for a pair Of boots. perhaps.