Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-03-26
BIRTHSTONES
ORIGIN is
EXPLAINED
BY FREDERTC i. HASKIN.

ID l. ANlABAoltANs v. ItAShlNs
Washington, March 25.-Jade as
an alternative birthstone for the
April diamond is being discussed
by jewelry trade organizations
Persons who wish to make pres
ents of jewelry often prefer to
give the birthstone because Of the
personal touch. The diamond,
however. is beyond the purse of
many people, and, some jewelers.
hold, the need for an alternative
stone for April is apparent.
The quick way out of the diff
Guilty would seem to be simply to
add jade to the gem calendar. But
the thing cannot be done so easily,
and jewelers. are celebrating care
fully the benefits and dangers Ct
the change before taking action
1t seems that birthstones are not
a modern device of the jewelry
trade to stimulate business. Birth
stones have been worn for several
centuries and the choice and ar
rangement of the stones selected
for the twelve months Is traced
directly back through history to
the breastplate of Aaron, the high
priest of Israel, and to the twelve
foundation stones of the New Je-
rusalem named in the Book OF
Revelation.
The list of the twelve stones Of
Aaron's breastplate is usually Civ
on as follows: sardius, topaz,
carbuncle, emerald, sapphire. dia-
mond, figure, agate, amethyst,
beryl, onyx and jasper. This takes
in five of the modern birthstones
and several more birthstones are
included in other translations of
the Hebrew
Because not all translators read
the same meaning in the Hebrew
characters, there are controversies
as to the exact stones which were
in the original breastplate.
The right Of jade to be included
in the birthstone list is upheld on
the ground that possibly jade was
represented on the breastplate
The Hebrew word for the sixth
stone was translated to mean "the
smiter,' and scholars, thinking of
the cutting power of the diamond
drew the reasonable conclusion
that this stons was meant. In
other versions of the Hebrew, how
ever, n different word was used,
and this was translated as jasper
or jade; so that if jade does win
a place in the gem calendar it win
be associated with the proper his
toric background, even though its
right to belong there is controver-
sial.
Ancient Birthstone Tradition
1t was hundreds Of years before
the stones which We're so important
TO the Israelites became the lucky
stones for birth months. The
cleaning Jewels of the sacred
breastplate were always fascinating
and awe inspiring to the Israelites
and they regarded them as espec-
tally significant. on each Of the
twelve gems of the breastplate was
engraved the name of one of the
twelve tribes Of Israel. Tradition
says that Zach tribe naturally came
to regard the color of its stone as
its own color for banners and
standards. Whether this is true or
not, the precedent of linking a
stone and its characteristics with
group of people was established
DR.. George f. Kunz. authority
on jewels. says in one Of his books
that the idea of associating a stone
with each month was suggested
centuries ago.
He writes; THE origin of the
belief that TO each month of the
year a special stone was dedicated
and that the stone of the month
was endowed with a peculiar viz
tue for those born in that month
and was their natal stone may be
traced hack to the writings of Jo-
sephus, in the first century of our
era, and to those Of st. Jerome, in
the early part of the fifth century
Both these authors distinctly pro-
claim the connection between the
twelve stones of the high priests
breastplate and the twelve months
of the year, as well as the twelve
zodiacal signs
The long interval before the pop
ular acceptance of the birthstone
idea. DR.. Kunz attributes to the
regarding the healing
power of jewels. Precious stones
were from very early times used
as agents Of healing and of ward
ing off trouble and disease. In
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