Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-10
WEDDING RINGS.
Why the Engagement Ring Is Worn
on the Third Left-Hand Finger.

From London Tt-Bits.
No other finger than the third OF the
left hand is now ever considered for
either an engagement or wedding ring,
but it was not always so. At the time Of
the reformation 1t was just coming into
| fashion, and the rule in the ancient Greek
Church was the use of the right hand
third finger. Wedding rings have been
used back as far as we have any records,
and the right hand was the favored one.
There are no authentic reasons for the
| change save that, the right hand being
in active use the ring was more liable to
wear and injury, a. the gold used was
exceedingly soft A f1fth-century writer
was then the fashion to wear great num-
bers of them, deliberately set with jewels.
carved and sometimes of massive designs
and proportions, SO that the hands thus
laden were scarcely fitted for heavy work.
Then the rings began to be worn ex-
clusively upon the left hand, leaving the
right one free.
The fanciful reason given by many for
the use of the third left-hand finger is
that 1t is nearest the heart. and.~as an
old chronicle says, this digit hath es-
pecfally the honor to- bear rings" The
story of the Signet ring has an interest
to all, for history tells us that every free
man in Greece was privileged to wear his
signet ring, and it was a priced
possession. The custom was evidently
adopted from the Sabines. and free citi-
zens OF Rome made some of theirs of
iron. Afterward, when Rome was lux
uriating in her tremendous power and
was In the height of glory many a stanch
old Roman displayed his signet ring Of
iron in token of his regard for the simple
| way in which they used to live.
History does not tell us just when the
custom of wedding rings originated, but
it was long before the time of Christ.
Some say that the ring is an emblem of
eternity, as the circle has no beginning
and no ending: and from the earliest time
1t was regarded as a symbol of cOnstancy
and fidelity and exchanged in other trans
actions besides matrimony where evidences
OF faith and loyalty were sOlemnly sworn
to and sealed with the sacred token. At
first the signet rings were used in the
marriage ceremony. and in the sixteenth
century motto rings came into favor.
That means the plain golden circles in
scribed with Until DEATH .'Semper
fidelis." 1.-TWO hearts that beat as one, :
"Mizpah," I'VE two together CO." "One
faith. one love- etc. These We're called
"posy" rings.
Another reason for selecting the third
finger for the wedding ring is the fact
that from the earliest time the bishops
or heads OF the churches wore the in
sigma Of their office upon that finger:
the high priest Of the temple" wore 1t
as long as he retained his position. it
ceremony. We find the bishops of today
wearing the church ring set with an anne
thyst.
Eignet rings are mentioned in the Bible.
and we find the ring in those days TO
have been sign of honor as 1t is with
u.s. During the war lover who wished
to specially honor his bride sent the gold
money to the goldsmith with which to
fashion the wedding ring, for In those
days the heavier and broader the band
the better. and girls used to measure the
width and "heft' the circles to see whose
was the broadcast and heaviest, and there
by establish a social standing unimpeach-
able.
Now the bride asks for very narrow
rounded circle with which to pledge her
vows. one that will be as unObtrusve as
possible and not interfere with the wear
ing OF her other much-bejeweled rings.
some OF which are almost as big as six
pences and as long as-well. as long as
the fingers which they adorn.