The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1910-05-05
MODE OF TAKING
OATHS OF NATIONS
CEREMONY OF TAKING OATHS
HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE THE
EARLIEST HISTORY.
France Has Simblest FOrm-M0ny Unique
Customs in Connection Win
Admimistr0fi0n.

The ceremony of taking the oath has
been known since earliest history. The on
In Austria a Christian witness is sworn
thousands of years have been due to the
introduction of the Bible and the cross
by Christian nations, says the Green Bag.
As administered in most of the English
law courts the form of the oath is prac-
tically the same as that in the United
States, though rather more ceremonious.
In France it is perhaps the simplest A
crucifx above the Judges seat is supposed
to obviate the necessity 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, raising his hight
hand, answered: 81 swear it."
ly changes in form which have come in
before cruci6x placed between two
lighted candles. Holding up his right
hard the witness says: 81 swear by God,
the Almighty and All Wise, that l will
speak the pure and full truth in answer
to anything ! may be asked by the court"
If the witness is of the Jewish race he
uses the same words, but places his hand
on Bible opened at the page en- which
appears the Third Commandments and the
crucifx is removed.
In Be- i1n court the witness says:
81 will speak the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth, so help me
God and all the saints" No Bible is re-
CURED in the administering of this oath.
The Italian witness generally takes
the oath in dramatic manner. Resting
his hand on an open Bible he exclaims:
81 will swear to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth"
More cefemony attends the administer
ing of an oath in a Spanish court. The
witness kneels on his right knee and places
his right hand on the sacred book. The
Judge then asks: "Wfll you swear to
God and by those holy gospels to speak
the truth to all you may be asked7" The
witness replies: 'Yes, l swear" to which
the Judge rejoins: "Then if thus you do
God will reward you and if not will
require of you" tsi
In a few districts this form is varied
by the witness placing the middle of his
thumb on the middle of his forefnger,
kissing his thumb and declaring eBy this.
cross swear"
It is to be hoped that the Norwegian
witness is properly impressed with bis
obligation to speak the truth or coensid-
cradle energy is wasted He is required
to raise his thumb, forefnger and middle
finger, these signifying the Trinity. Be-
fore the oath is actually taken long
exhortation is delivered, running in part:
Whatever person is SO ungodly, corrupt
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
Father, God the Sen and God the Holy
Ghost push me, so that God the Father,
who created me and all mankind in His
image, and His father goodness, grace
and mercy, may not profit me, but that
as a perverse and obstinate transgressor
and sinner may be punished eternaly in
hell. If | swear falsely, then may all
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, my sheep, SO that after this
day they may never thrive or benefit me;
yea cursed may l be and everything l
possess.
And sometimes all that and all the
rest of tin the matter of a suit brought
to collect for a pair of boots, perhaps.