This picture is a 100+ year old painting descriptive of the gathering of tribe clansmen at Ruti, Switzerland.

On August 1, representatives of the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden
took an oath pledging their lives and fortunes to preserve the independence of what came to be Switzerland, our common origin.

To celebrate this anniversary of Switzerland's Independence, the sounds of church bells ring across Switzerland on each August the 1st. Churches across Switzerland ring their bells at 8 p.m. in the evening to commemorate the event. This is equally as significant, as as July 4, 1776, is to Americans.

Below is a "rough translation" of the recorded event:

In the early evening, they had left their lands and to the hidden place had come. Tired and nevertheless content, they sat down around the small fire. After each was welcomed and introduced, Werner Stauffacher rose to a stone, from which he could be well seen and heard by each man of the group, who had come from the three valleys.

"Brothers", he began to speak, in a solemn rock hard tone, while the men rose:
"In the name of God, stand we here, and each hand in each hand. A will, a goal, unites us. Free men we want to be! In deepest urgency, we promise to help each other stand together in the fight against the Voegte [foreign ruler] and to bend before no force. If one is among you, which is not ready to sacrifice his life, his property and his blood, then let him leave the circle!"

No one moved. Everything was silent. There Stauffacher spoke the solemn vow: " Thus raise, my friends from Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, your hand to the Oath! As God is our witness, we have declared our liberty from each strange power and force, to protect this land for us and our children!"

Like a holy choir the oath rang out at the quiet night: " We rise above it." The hands lowered themselves, and into the somber silence Walter Prince spoke, like a prayer, the words: "God is with you and your federation. My oath comrades!"

Staufacher continued: "Oath comrades, we are decided, to drive out our adversaries. Who knows a advice, express themselves! ...

[They counseled their plans long into the night.]

"In the east it began to dawn. It was time to the departure. Werner Stauffacher asked the last question: "Are you willing to fight ... against the foes [Voegte] and their annexation to dare?" As from a mouth the answer came: "We dare it! God us will help us thus!" Decided, the farmers went on their way home.