Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1889-04-25
Tits About Weddings.

Joining the right hands in the we'd
ding ceremony was customary in AS
syria and Persia, and the bridal veil
was worn in Greece and Rome. The
bible does not mention wedding rings,
but it describes the giving of them AZ
pledges of honor and affection. Pha-
raoh gave Joseph ring when he set
him over the land of Egypt, and the
prodigal was given a ring upon his re-
turn to his father. Legends relate
that Joseph espoused Mary with a
ring in which was set an amethyst,
and of course this precious relic was
found (by miracle) and performed
many wonderful cures, fer the benefit
of mankind and the treasury OF the
church.
The young Roman sent the maiden
his family had selected 10 become his
wife u ring in token of his fidelity.
Gold was the usual material, but in
the time of Piiny, iron rings set with
adamant were used to denote the dura-
bility of the contract. As now, this
ring was worn on the fourth finger of
the LEFT hand. It was not always
plain, but often bore u device as key
to denote the authority and RESPONSE
bility of a wife in her husbands
house.
The diamond was much esteemed as
u wedding ring in Italy during the
! 10Th and 10th centuries, for that gem
was believed TO have mysterious
power OF maintaining happiness be-
/
rings, inlaid with Niello, were also
used.
Gemmed rings were in fashion forty
or fifty years ago. Two and sometimes
! three or four delicate rings were hing
ed or linked together, and bore upon
the top when closed clasped hands
or heart, emblem OF love and fidelity.
Notices or posies were engraved on
the inside of these rings. The prettiest
one ever saw read, Endless and
pure be our love-" The Anglo-Saxons
used these gemmed rings, and they in
turn borrowed them OF the French. l
for one would like to know from whom
the French borrowed them, but history
is silent on this point.
The wedding ring has been worn up
on the thumb, and upon the right
hand. But the women of all nations
have been as busy us bees, and with
spinning and weaving TO occupy their
fingers, 1t is easy TO see why even a
princess should put her priced wedding
ring upon the hand and finger which
would keep it the safest. The fancy
that n vein or nerve runs directly from
the fourth finger of the left hand to the
heart, is very ancient, and no doubt
helped to make it the bearer of the
wedding-ring, and there was curious
custom in the early days OF the church
of recognizing the Trinity by placing
the ring on the first finger or thumb for
the Father, on the second finger for the
Son, and on the third finger for the
Holy Ghost. Then it was placed upon
the fourth finger, from which loving
and superstitious wives never removed
it.
Scholars are fond OF telling us that
the wedding ring meant the subjec-
ton of the wife, and the placing it up
on the left hand meant more subsection.
But in the past the subsection of wom-
en- has needed no sign to emphasize it.
1t was an accepted and expected fact.
and was perhaps condition of safety.
In the middle ages, the wedding
ring was blessed or hallowed by the
officiating priest, and the form used
seems to me very beautiful: 'Hollow
Thou, Lord, this ring, which we bless
in Thy holy name, that whatsoever
woman may wear it may stand fast in
Thy peace, and continue in Thy will,
and live, and grow, and wax old in
Thy love, and be multiplied with
length of days. Through Jesus
Christ, our Lord
| Hn,.tfo,.d Conn Ia pi.niid Of O. mil