OATHS.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4544, 28 July 1883, Page 2

OATHS.

(To the Editor of the Kvening Btar.) Sib, —Science has demonstrated that man, mentally and physically, is a pro* gressire animal. He has been traced downwards to a half human creature, herdiifg and hiding in cares and disputing with his co-brutes for existence. From that condition he has been-followed* with exactness up to the present highly organised and exquisitely intellectual JBuro* peans. The condition of, animated nature has been analysed and e»oh species: has been found to hare its origin in ajfotttt similar to that under which all othen commenced their existence. The vast array of living forms arouod us ia conIstantly growing, increasing, deceasing, and disappearing. The animal constantly attracting, modifying, and applying to its use and sustenance the matte* oif the vegetable kingdom, which derived tti support from the absorption and eonver- •• sion of organic matter. Maay^itttportant consequences may be drawn from the observation* o£ the ;■ moat common thingi and analogous reasons froiif the caoses of them. Thus the * development of the human mind may derive assistance from observing the working of nature, and as ia the material, so in tile moral. World, cause the inferior to yield to the superier. Old prejudiced or superstitions, envy, hatred, malice and uncbaritableMaf, battles, murders, oppression, false doe* trine, pride, theft, fornication, adultery, hypocrisy, land and trade monopolies, vain-glory, and a legion, of ethet^erimest and vices that have been growing and in* creasing like the array, of living forma around us should in like sequence de* crease and disappear.' Conspicuous amoogst the things that f «*tse as no longer, if at any time necessary or useful to the advanced rtna advancing mental and moral condition of nxan/islnS vie of all kinds of oaths, with their absurd formalities, undue and; itmnoraf preferences, and the rejection of tsUtimony* "of eminent and consistent me&Mfti-es. tract the truth, nothing of a super* stitious character can be effectual, and all that need be relied upon are the pabaP ties which the law allots to the-erisaea; o£ 'perjury and subordination. Nature, tine religion, and virtue demand that, oaths. should not only be swept from our legisla* tion.but from our courts, and legal, aro* oeedings, benefit, secret, and"'air-tinier ; institutions and societies. The recent appalling disclosures of secret murder, mutilations, assassinations, burnings, destruction of property, and other diabolical, and fiendish crimes that have been coolly 'and deliberately planned and carried, into 'practice in Ireland, England, on the (Don-' tinent, and other parts of tbe.worid* under order, obligation, and sanction of oaths, ire in themselves to demonstrate jthejr pestilent character, and to demand itheir condemnation and instant demolition. 'Secret societies ~ must' not be.exempt. Nothing should be made a secret that ia useful to man. The very profession of" jsecret knowledge is in itself a vice. In' stifatiovs which are intended to pro* knote —t>r pregerre knowledge, or im« prove mankind, require no ' secret, although superstition has thrown, and will endeavor to throw, a veil over them. The few frequently think it politic—or perhaps profitable—to deceive the many—to keep the inner knowledge for the initiated, and deception and fraud for the ignorant. Oaths are a great help to this *ndi>Jfc»7 Greek, Roman, and Pagan mysteries, lifca'" some of our modern secret sqoptie&jrjredeluged wjkhoi^bs, which have o^lf wi*i superseded by'grosser forms of sweJUfiag/Ancient teachers thought, or pretaudea>*o think,-that knowledge should be nritinfjlsrt from the. multitude, or they foand it profitable so to teach. It is now admitted by the greatest ..thinkers, philosophers, and statesmen that knowledge and eduea* tion should be freely .given to: the people.l -•" Terrible mischiefs, social,' political, eom«* mercial and religions, has come from secret and other oaths, from the frauds of mysteries, sectarianism, and the practices' of secret societies: Let instruction be free and open, and equality of knowledge attainable by all mankind.—l am, &»., . ' BIFOBMKB. Thames, 23rd July, 1883. ' — ■ * - -,'