The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-26
THE WEDDING RING.
What the Golden Circlet of the Finger
Means.

During the last 10 months many thou
sands of brides have been given we'd
ding rings. Have many of them attach
ed any particular significance to the
gift, or many bridegrooms stopped 10
inquire into the custom which babe
them witness their espousals with tiny
hoop of metal? Probably not, for mar
riage is such a momentouS affair to the
principals and a time when their indi-
vidualities receive such undivided at
tention that they have little inclination
to puzzle over the age-old laws and Ger
emonies which are in reality guiding
their seemingly spontaneous actions.
But now, when the daily wear of life
has begun to scratch even a last month
ring, and the June bride begins to con-
slider the advisability of having it re-
FURNISHED, it may be opportune to ask
the meaning of the ornament. So many
of our ideas are borrowed from pagan,
or even savage, sources that the we'd
ding ring may be a badge of slavery or
degradation for aught the June bride
knows.
A well known clergyman, who was
asked his view of this phase of the
question, laughingly said; Perhaps it is
sort of handicap assumed by the wo-
man to show that her left hand is worth
as much as mans right. Or, perhaps"
he continued in a more serious tone,
the ring is worn on the left hand be-
cause it is nearer to the organ which
the ancients considered as the seat of
life and love-the heart. The custom
of using the ring in marriage descends
to us from our Saxon forefathers. indie
pendently of any law or rubric, and to
me it stands for the eternal nature OF
love, which, like a ring, has no end"
The reasons given for wearing the
ring on the fourth finger are many and
curious. There is a little book in my
library" said another clergyman, which
gives an interesting excuse for the
choice of that particular finger. The
book when found contained this pass
age: 1.-The finger on which the ring is
to be worn is the fourth finger of the
left hand next unto the little finger,
because, by the received opinion OF the
learned and experienced IN ripping up
and anatomizing mems bodies there is
a vein of blood which passeth from that
fourth finger unto the heart, called Vena
amoris, loves vein. And so the wearing
of a ring on that finger signifieth that
the love should not be in vain or feign-
3D. but that as they did give their nandS
each to other, SO likewise they should
give their hearts also, whereunto that
vein is extended" The ancient learned
and experienced were obviously right
in their opinion as to the blood flowing
from the fourth finger to the heart. but
if took many years for them to discover
that the blood of the other fingers par
ticipated in the privilege.
In the old English marriage ceremony
the ring was first placed on the thumb
ana moved 1IOIIl ll6CA " 4AA5SA
the priest recited the words: In the
name of the Father. of the Son and OF
the Holy Ghost. AmenH The little
finger being the only one which was not
touched with the ring, it came to signify
an intention to remain single TO wear
ring on the little finger.
Some attach great Importance to the
form and substance OF the clrclet 70 DC
used at weddings, and 1t is recorded that
minister in India stopped the ceTe-
he hrid 0fTRT6d a
diamond in place of the plain gold band.
Other celebrants of the marriage rite, IN
different as to the kind of ling used
have permitted ingenious substitutes
Shreds of tobacco. a section cut IRON m, Z
glove and the church key have thus
been used. When the Duke OF Hamll-
! ton and Miss Cunning suddenly determine
ed to wed they were at their WIS emo
to discover the necessary token. Az
last they were married With a ring OF
the bed curtain" says Horace Walpo1e,
Eat half an hour past IL at night at May
Fair chapel.
Judging by certain illusions in Shake
speare and other early dramatists' rush
rings were at one time in great vogue
| among the r1lstfcs of England In
d. Avernant's rivals" you may read:
| s'I'u crown thee with garland OF
straw, then-and I'll marry thee with a
rush ring" Another writer lamehtS thS
davs when such simplicity was useu
that a ring of rush would tye as mucn
love together as gimmon OF golo.
But a VOW witnessed by such nlmsy
| token must have been as easily broken
as one in which ST. Martins ring play
ed a part. ST. Martins rings are rare
to the eye and have rich OUTSIDE. 6ue
| if a man should break them asunder
and locke into them they are notnlng
but brass and copper" These counter
| feits obtained their name from Delis
made in the sanctuary of st. Martin-le-
Grand in the time of Henry " Brides
should look to their rings and be on
their guard.
The Hebrews had a reason, apart
from precedents, to advance in favor OF
| marriage rings They considered them
to be under the influence OF Mazel Ioo
or Jupiter, 1.-The good star" The VIE
was presented with an emblem or Mazel
Tob that her children might be porn
under its influence. This superstition
was shared by Munster. Aben-E ana
Chomer. -
i'm rings were abolished during <he
| commonwealth. The Puritans shared
the prejudice, and the Friends and SWISS
Protestants refuse to this day TO pc
married with a ring. But among Amer
! lean denominations the practice, at one
! time in allegiance. is becoming almost
,,r;x,erSa1 Francisco Chronicle.