Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-10-07
THE WEDDING RING.
a Custom That Cosmos Down to Us From
the Anciente.


q Custom That Comes Down to Us From
the Ancients-
From an carly period the ring has
I,h,en associated with skepticism. Its
circular form made it acceptable as q
tyne of eternity, hence 1t is regarded
as token of lasting affection.
Although primitive nations lavishly
displayed rings they appear to have
.been little valued until the Greeks,
noted for their originality and senti-
.ment, gave them deeper significance.
Thus from the most imaginative peo-
pie that the world has ever known the
ring came into use as gift OF love or
a sign of betrothal. 1t is to the Jews,
how ever, that we owe the prominence
given, even to-day, to the ring in the
marriage service. The ring used was
some times very large and elaborate,
artistically fashioned of filigrce and
richly enameled. Upon it in Hebrew
characters were the words, Joy be
with you"
In accordance with the Jewish law
this ring should be OF a fixed value,
and WIS. therefore, carefully exam
ined by the rabbi and chief officers OF
the synagogue when presented by the
bridegroom. When it was ascertained
that the ring was the absolute prop
erty of the bridegroom, and had not
been obtained by credit or gift, he
placed it ON the brides finger and de-
clared that by this means she was con-
secrated to him.
The invention. in the sixteenth CEN
fury, of the ginmal, or linked ring,
gave still greater Importance to the
ancient sacred custom. 1t was made
with a double or triple link, which
turned upon pivot, and coald be shut
up into one solid ring. To the side OF
each outer hoop small hand was at
tached, each fitting into the other as
the hoops were brought together, and
inclosing heart affixed to the central
notched ring.
At a betrothal the three parts were
broken asunder over the Bible, some
times in the presence of a witness,
when the man and woman broke the
upper rnd lower rings from the central
one, which was kept by the witness.
At this marriage rite the three portions
were once more united and the COM
plete ring then used in the ceremony.
IN. austom Of wearing the Wedding
ring on the thirta. finger Of the 10y
hand originated from an old bellei
that from this finger a nerve Went
direct to the heart. So completely
did the Greeks and Romans confide in
this capricious bit of physiology that
the ring or feeble finger was
termed the medical or healing finger
by their physicians, who used it to stir
their mixture, believing that nothing
hu-tful could touch it without its CIV
ing immediate warning by a palpita-
ton Of the heart.
The clasped hands adopted on the
CRIMINAL rings became an emblem on
the solid wedding ring. and this style
of ring is still in use in the odd local
committee OF fishermen living in the
Claddagh at Galway, on the western
coast of Ireland. They number with
their families about five or six thou
sand. are very exclusive in their tastes
and habits, and rarely intermarry with
other than their own people: with
them the wedding ring is an heirloom,
regularly transferred from the mother
to the daughter who is first married,
and SO on through her descendants.
Many of these rings are very old AMI
in these older designs the hands sup.
port crowned heart, emblematic OF
the married state. Within the hoop OF
the ring it is customary to inscribe a
motto, usually consisting of simple
sentiment, sometimes expressed in
commonplace rhyme. One of the most
whimsical of these inscriptions was
used by DIR. J. Thomas, bishop OF Lin,
coin, England, who had been married
three times. On his fourth marriage
he placed the following inscription ON
the wedding ring:
III survive,
I'll mlks them AVE."