Evening star., 1917-03-05
OATH
SEALED WITH KISS
Bibles Used by Chief Execu-
tives GeneraHy Preserved
With Great Care.
SOME MISSING, HOWEVER

The President. before he enters on
tho execution of his office. takes an oath
or affirmation that he will faithfully
execute the Office OF President of the
United States. and will. to the best of
my ability. preserve. protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States"
and this oath is usually sealed or con-
firmed by the kissing of the Bible.
The kissing Of the Bible as part Of the
inaugural ceremony is perhaps follow
ing a very ancient custom. The Egyp-
tians were required to kiss the rolls
on which the commands of Joseph were
written.
The various Bibles used in this cere-
mony have been treasured and kept.
The Bible used by Washington was re-
tanned by the family and now is in the
Washington collection in the National
Museum at Washington.
The Bible used by John Adams passed
to the owner of a-ship and disappeared.
The Bible used by John Q. Adams dis
appeared while he was President.
The Bible used by Martin Van Buren
drifted from place to place, until some
twenty or thirty years ago it was
known to be in the household of a
member of the royal family of England
ana very n1Bnly prlZeu-
The Bible used at the ceremony for
President Buchanan is now the prop
erty of the Pennsylvania Historical So
ciety In Harrisburg, Pa.
Bible Used by Lincoln.
The Bible which Abraham Lincoln
kissed when the oath of office was ad-
ministered to him by Chief Justice
Top>y ~ Tho t;p,o ~ bir 6rct ipaugura
tion. is the property of jeweler and
clockmaker in New York. The manner
in which he became the owner of that
particular Bible has an interesting his
tory. He has preserved this book with
great care.
The Bible kissed by Andrew John
son when he was sworn in. Immediate
ly following the death of President
Lincoln. was in the possession of his
daughter living at Greenville, Tenn.
when last heard from.
The Bible which Gen. Grant pressed
to his lips when Chief Justice Chase
administered the oath of office. March
4. 1869. is owned in the family of a
relative of the late President, at Ba-
tavia. Ohio. 1t was given to this family
by President Grant himself. The one
used at his second inauguration is still
the property Of some of his children or
grandchildren.
lily. When the Hayes family retired
from the White House the sacred vol
ume used at the time he was inaugu-
rated was taken, with all the other
try home at Fremont The book used
was one which belonged to Mrs. Haye:
before her marriage to the President
History of Garfield Bible.
When James A. Garfield was inaugu-
rated, March 4, 1881, he carried in hi.
overcoat pocket to the Capitol a vel
worn, leather bound volume which
had been presented to him by his
mother. The book was taken from the
White House, and in a few years fount
its way to the stall Of a bookseller il
San Francisco. How it got there ha.
never been known. nor is it likely il
ever will be. A few years ago it wa.
offered for sale at very high price.
Chester A. Arthur took the oath OF
office just after midnight at his home
in New York city September 20. 1881
The Bible used was one belonging to
the then chief justice Of the state OF
New York. 1t is cherished by the
judges family as an heirloom.
On March 4, 1885, when Grover
Cleveland was inaugurated President
for the first time, he like Garfield,
kissed the Holy Book which was given
to him by his mother 1t was a small
volume. bound in red leather. and was
presented to him many years before
The book is now in the possession OF
Mr.. Cleveland's married sister al
Toledo. Ohio The Bible upon which he
took the oath in 1893, eight years later
when he became President the second
time, was one presented by his beau
tiful wife. The book is the property
Of his widow.
When Benjamin Harrison was made
President, March 4. 1889. the Bible used
was one that his wife had given him
on the day of their marriage in OK
ford. Ohio. where President Harrison
spent his school days. The Harrison
Bible Is owned by Mrs. James r. NICK ee
of Independence, the daughter of ex-
President Harrison.
The Bible kissed by President Nc
Kinley at the first inaugural ceremony
was one furnished by a Chicago pub
fishing house, specially prepared and
presented for the occasion. The same
book was used at the second inaugura-
tion, after which 1t passed into the
possession OF Mrs. Mckinley.
uS-->A sap. ~as