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Members of the House of Commons Taking the Oaths, 1857. Creator: Unknown
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Members of the House of Commons Taking the Oaths, 1857. Creator: Unknown
Members of the House of Commons Taking the Oaths, 1857. From the mysterious recesses of the brass-clasped yellow boxes...are drawn...oblong pieces of cardboard exactly of the size and pattern of the spelling-lesson boards of infants schools, on which are printed forms of the oaths. One of these is distributed to each member, who holds it as a lady does her fan, with the to-be-expected difference, that he holds it awkwardly, and looks as if he felt that it was rather a silly appendage to his manly person...The clerk then...reads aloud the form of words on which so many debates have been hung; and the meek representatives of the people mumble them out after him...[Each member is then] fully authorised to talk as long as the House has patience to listen to him on any subject of debate, and to vote away as many millions of the public money as may seem good to him..'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857
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Members of the House of Commons Taking the Oaths, 1857
EDITORS COMMENTS
is an intriguing photograph capturing a significant moment in the history of British parliamentary democracy. The image shows a group of men, dressed in formal attire, each holding a small piece of cardboard as they take their oaths in the House of Commons chamber. The scene depicted in the photograph is described in an article published in the "Illustrated London News" in 1857. The article notes that the cardboards, distributed to each member, are of the same size and pattern as spelling lesson boards used in schools. The men hold them awkwardly, looking somewhat self-conscious as they prepare to take their oaths. The clerk in the photograph reads aloud the form of words that have been the subject of countless debates throughout history. The meek representatives of the people mumble the oaths after him, marking the beginning of their tenure in the House of Commons. Once they have taken their oaths, each member is authorized to speak for as long as the House will listen on any topic of debate and to vote away millions of public money as they see fit. The photograph offers a glimpse into the ceremonial and formal nature of the British parliamentary system, with its emphasis on tradition and the rule of law. Despite the seriousness of the occasion, there is a sense of awkwardness and even silliness in the image, as the men hold their cardboards like fans, a reminder that even the most solemn of rituals can seem somewhat absurd when viewed from a certain perspective. Overall, "Members of the House of Commons Taking the Oaths, 1857" is a fascinating snapshot of parliamentary history and the men who have shaped it.
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