The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-01
FINGERS AND WEDDING RINGS
Why the Engagement Ring Is Worn
on Third Left Hand Finger
From Tit-Bits,

From Tit-Bits
mo other finger than the third Of the
left hand is now ever considered for
either an engagement or wedding ring
but 1t was not always so. AT the time
of the Reformation it 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 ia
vored 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, as the gold used was
exceedingly soft A fifth century writer
speaks very entertingly of rings. It was
then the fashion to wear great numbers of
them, elaborately set with jewels, carved,
sometimes of massive designs and proper
tions, so that the hands thus laden We're
scarcely fitted for heavy work Then the
rings began to~be worn exclusively upon
the left hand, leaving the right one free.
The fanciful reasot given by many for
the use of the third left hand finger is
that it is nearest the heart, and, as an
old chronicle says, this digit hath espe-
cially the honor to bear rings The story
of the sgnet ring has an interest to all,
for history tells us that every free man
in Greece was privileged to wear his sig
net ring, and it was a much priced pos
session. The custom was evidently adopt
ed from the Sabines, and free citizens OF
Rome made some of theirs of iron. Aft
erward, when Rome was luXuriating in
her tremendous power and was in the
height of glory, many a staunch old Ro-
man 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
ii 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
II was regarded as symbol of constancy
and fidelity, and exchanged in other
transactions beside matrimony where evil
dences 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 inscribed with Until death, -
"Semper fideis.'' Two hearts that beat
as one,r "AIizpah." I'VE two together
go" Zone 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
the high priest of the temple" wore it as
long as he retained his position, 1T being
placed there in the conservation cere-
mony. We find the bishops of today
wearing the church ring set with an
amethyst
Signet rings are mentioned in the Bible,
and we find the ring in those days to
have been a sign of honor as it is with
US. 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 tie heavier and broader the band
the better, and girls used to measure the
width and "heft' the circles to see whose
was the broadest and heaviest and there
by establish social standing unimpeach-
able.
Now the bride asks for very narrow
rounded circle with which to pledge her
VOWS. one that will be as unobstructive
as possible and not interfere with the
wearing of her other much bejeweHed
rings, some of which are almost as big
as sixpences and as long as-well, as
long as the fingers which they adorn.