THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9085, 9 May 1908, Page 5

THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

VISCOUNT MOLREY DECLINES TO SWEAR. Received May 8, 8.10 a.m. . LONDON, May 7. Viscount Morley, on taking his seat in the House of Lords, read an affirmative. This was the first time an affirmation had been made in the House of Lords. The affirmation was read somewhat inaudibly, and'it was supposed that Viscount Morley had taken the usual oath. The oath of allegiance prescribed by law has been modified repeatedly in the case of members of the Lower House. The oath question beoame a burning one in 1880, when Mr Charles Bradlaugh, a prominent lecturer *and freethinker, was elected for Northampton. Mr Bradlaugh asked to be permitted to affirm, in accordance with the practice in the law courts, but the permission asked was refused. The member then offered to subscribe the oath, but exception was taken to this course, as Mr Bradlaugh had declared the oath was not binding on his conscience. Mr Labouchere, the other member for Northampton, then moved that Mr Bradlaugh should be allowed to affirm instead of swear, but the motion, although supported by the Government, was defeated. The seat was afterwards declared vacant, but Mr Bradlaugh was again elected, and the trouble occurred again. After much litigation, repeated re-elections, and "scenes," Mr Bradlaugh was allowed to take the oath and his seat, and in 1888 his Oaths Bill, substituting an affirmation for an oath in all cases when desired, was successfully carried through Parliament, and received the Royal assent.