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Article THE SEGEEt SOOIEfM ← Page 7 of 10 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Segeet Sooiefm
For convenience sake , we shall adopt the 1 ^ for general use . These formed te main body ^ a ^ strength of the association . They were nominated by the free count , with the approbation of the $ fyfflfo the society were obliged to vooch on oath for the fitness ofthe candidate to be admitted . Among other qualilcations it was necessary that this candidate for admission ^ louM be a German by birth , born
in wedlock of free parents , of the Ghristian rehgion , neither excommunicate nor outlawed , not involved in any VelimgericMe process , and not a member of any spiritual order . These . assessors were divided into two classes—the knightly , and the simply respectable assessors—in order that the prevalent custom that every one should be judged by his peers should be carried out in the "Vehmique tribunal as well as in other courts or associations . The initiation of
an assessor was attended with much ceremony . He appeared uncovered before the court of theW ^ ehm , and was there questioned concerning his qualifications . Then kneeling down , with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand on a halter and a naked sword , he took the following oath : —
u I promise on the holy marriage , that I will , from henceforth , aid , keep , and conceal the holy T " ehni , from wife and child , from sister and brother , from fire and wind , & om all on which the sun shines or the Tain Mis , from all that is between heaven and earth , and will bring before this free tribunal under which I sit— -all that belongs to the secret jurisdiction of the emperor , whether T know it to be true myself , or have heard it from trustworthy persoJis , whatever requires correction or punishment , whatever is Vehm-free ( that is , whatever crime may be committed within the county
or district , within whose bounds the assessor is initiated ) , that it maybe judged , or , with the consent of the accuser , may be put off * in grace | and will not cease so to do for love or for fear , for gold or for silver , or for precious stones * , and will strengthen this tribunal and jurisdiction with all
my five senses and power ; ancl that I do not take on me the office for any other cause than for the sake of right and justice ; and moreover , that I will ever further and honour this free tribunal , more than any other free tribunal ; and what I thus promise and swear will I steadfastly and firinly keep , so help me God , and His holy gospel . "
He was further required to swear , that he would ever , to tlie utmost of his ability , endeavour to enlarge the holy empire ; and that he would undertake nothing with an unrighteous hand against the lands and people of the Stithlherr . The free count then inquired of the officers of the court if the candidate had gone through all the formalities requisite to the reception , which question having been answered in the affirmative the free count imparted to the aspirant the secrets of the tribunal , and communicated to him the secret sign by which the initiated knew one another . There are different opinions with regard
to this sign ; no one , of course , can say exactly what it was ; some say that it was made by turning the point of a knife to their own body , ' and the handle away from them j others take the letters S . S . GAL { Stock Stein , Grots Grei ) , which were found in an old manuscript , to
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Segeet Sooiefm
For convenience sake , we shall adopt the 1 ^ for general use . These formed te main body ^ a ^ strength of the association . They were nominated by the free count , with the approbation of the $ fyfflfo the society were obliged to vooch on oath for the fitness ofthe candidate to be admitted . Among other qualilcations it was necessary that this candidate for admission ^ louM be a German by birth , born
in wedlock of free parents , of the Ghristian rehgion , neither excommunicate nor outlawed , not involved in any VelimgericMe process , and not a member of any spiritual order . These . assessors were divided into two classes—the knightly , and the simply respectable assessors—in order that the prevalent custom that every one should be judged by his peers should be carried out in the "Vehmique tribunal as well as in other courts or associations . The initiation of
an assessor was attended with much ceremony . He appeared uncovered before the court of theW ^ ehm , and was there questioned concerning his qualifications . Then kneeling down , with the thumb and forefinger of his right hand on a halter and a naked sword , he took the following oath : —
u I promise on the holy marriage , that I will , from henceforth , aid , keep , and conceal the holy T " ehni , from wife and child , from sister and brother , from fire and wind , & om all on which the sun shines or the Tain Mis , from all that is between heaven and earth , and will bring before this free tribunal under which I sit— -all that belongs to the secret jurisdiction of the emperor , whether T know it to be true myself , or have heard it from trustworthy persoJis , whatever requires correction or punishment , whatever is Vehm-free ( that is , whatever crime may be committed within the county
or district , within whose bounds the assessor is initiated ) , that it maybe judged , or , with the consent of the accuser , may be put off * in grace | and will not cease so to do for love or for fear , for gold or for silver , or for precious stones * , and will strengthen this tribunal and jurisdiction with all
my five senses and power ; ancl that I do not take on me the office for any other cause than for the sake of right and justice ; and moreover , that I will ever further and honour this free tribunal , more than any other free tribunal ; and what I thus promise and swear will I steadfastly and firinly keep , so help me God , and His holy gospel . "
He was further required to swear , that he would ever , to tlie utmost of his ability , endeavour to enlarge the holy empire ; and that he would undertake nothing with an unrighteous hand against the lands and people of the Stithlherr . The free count then inquired of the officers of the court if the candidate had gone through all the formalities requisite to the reception , which question having been answered in the affirmative the free count imparted to the aspirant the secrets of the tribunal , and communicated to him the secret sign by which the initiated knew one another . There are different opinions with regard
to this sign ; no one , of course , can say exactly what it was ; some say that it was made by turning the point of a knife to their own body , ' and the handle away from them j others take the letters S . S . GAL { Stock Stein , Grots Grei ) , which were found in an old manuscript , to