The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-15
sACREDNEss OF AN OATH.
For the Man who Believes In God IL
Is Distinctly Awe-inspIrIng.

Is Distinctly Awe-inspIrinR.
Fron the Baltimore Sun.
Should the day ever come when the
solemn oath calling upon God TO witness
the truth OF what we say or promise will
men, it will be the day that sounds the
death-knen OF all human faith and trust
The oath is the highest tribunal Of con-
science-its court OF last appeal For the
man who realizes thoroughly what Il
means, and really believes in o God, il IS
something supremely awe-inspiring: and
nothing short Of duty, or direct need. or
al least the most iustifable utility. could
induce him TO take il. lie uses il not as
an ordinary, everyday confirmation Of
his good faith. but only as a last resort.
II his oath won't suffice 20 hold him 10
the truth. assuredly nothing else will
His case is truly hopeless, no confidence
can be placed in him
The oath is. in truth. nothing less than
summOning the Omnipotent God into court
10 serve as a pledge or security for our
good faith IL is a bold enough venture
even when We feel that we have Justice
anu u HIlA VI OAA rlttH anu itDN NdlI w
httiuglv characterize the act Of one who
dares 90 call on the name OF the Almighty
TO sanction an injustice or 90 witness a
lie? To make an equal-a fellOw-man-a
party 10 such an Infamous proceeding
would be justly considered one Of the
most grievous wrongs we could infict
upon him, 20 treat friend thus is one
.of the meanest and foulest acts of treach-
cry, and il is well-nigh impossible TO con-
ceive how even The most deprayed could
have the hardihood 10 attempt such
trickerv with his Maker
The oath. then. is the strongest and last
surviving safeguard Of human truth and
Justice. of human faith and trust. and n
that last strong bulwark ever fails MS,
then will surely come the deluge. And
yet. in spite of its awful sacredness. we
have ample evidence from many quarters
that the oath is treated very frequently
with but scsnt respect. and that, too. by
people who claim % believe firmly In God
and His justice. The saloon keeper who
violates his oath by selling on Sunday
on 10 minors, would probably resent with
some force the charge of insulting the
Almighty. He viii Try 20 justify himself
ON tie plea that his promise is a mere
matter or form. extOrted from him-Com-
pulsory. hence not binding So. too. the
saloon keepers Sunday customer will
often deny under oath the fact Of his
getting liquor. and seems 20 think that
charity or friendship viii excuse. r. not
sauctfy H.s perjury Witnesses in other
criminal and civil court cases sometimes
act similarly and perhaps for the same
reasons as the foregoing. And as regards
ofHceLoIders unmIUdful OF their sworn
oaths we al know their name is legion.
Doubtless Ike the aforementioned saloon
keeper. they regard their oath Of office as
a mere matter Of form, entaHing no seri-
Gus or real obligation
Morality is certaiuly ~ ii very low ebt
where things have come 10 such a pass
as this Few words-u0ue. DO fact-ara
needed 10 show the crouudIessness and Tie
nonsense Of such excuses. and ne can't
help wondering If those who urge them
really take them seriously. An oath free
/ lT ,even though re'gcta1tlvl. taken OF
Justly eXacted is strictly binding. and
.
sweet charity itself can ever make +,
otherwise. To treat il as a mere empty
form IS a mooke-v OF the Almighty God
does not lend himself Co empty forms II
ouibblius and equiyoCat0u are unpardou-
able in ordinary intercourse between man
and man, they are suU more lneNcu-abIe
when confirmed by a solemn oath The
only conceivable explanation Of this friy-
olous disregard Of sworn obligations by
people protesting belief IN Cod and Hl
justice Is thoIghtessness or a failure Z,
realize tho nature OF the act by which
/ they call tie Almighty God 90 witness ID,
sincerity 81 their DTighred word.
To Is high time 90 awaken 20 a sense OF
+ its serious and sacred character. for ou,
I present Iooseuess iu the matter is grad
ualIy weakening and allowing 20 slip from
under us this strongest foundation o
/ faith and trust among men.