New Britain herald., 1930-06-05
Ii. H. DYSON TELLS HISTORY -0F GEMS
Speaks at Rotary Club Meeting
 Census Proposal Deieated

Tracing the history of gems from ancient Egypt down to the present, George H Dyson. president of the Rotary club and a member of the firm Of Porter 6 Dyson, jewellers, spoke on Tine History and Romance of Precious and Semi Precious Stones" at the noon meeting of the Rotary club today in the Burritt hotel
 The club voted against check ing of the census returns in the third ward when numerous members Noic- d their objections en masse Mir Dyson said he would be glad 10 for ward The names Of any volunteer workers to the Chamber Of Com merce.
 Dr E. H. Lotz. chlropractor. was admitted 10 membership In the club, Rev. William Alderson extended the right hand Of fellowship and ad- dressed the new member on the deals CT Rotary
 The lapldarists art is tho most ancient and the oldest known art in the world today" said Mir. Dyson IL dates hack 10 the time when the early Egyptians started 10 cut the sacred beetle which had heen i'm mortalized and adopted as their symbol Of immortality. They com menced the cutting of these scarabs n very soft or soap stone. and grad ually adopted the harder stones. ac- cording 10 the improvement in their lapldarist work Egyptian scarabs are being found, which date back at least 5,hoa years and a great many of these scarabs are in practic- ally perfect condition today.
 From the beginning Of the cut ting ot the scarab. other stones were cut IT like manner for the purpose Of ornamentatIor. as amulets and charms ot various sorts. and there was more or less of religious superstition attached and Associated with these various stones. and c great many Of those superstitious Ideas are in existence today
 Egyptians First Stone Cutters
 The art of stone cutting originat- ed with the Egyptians and was taken ID and improved by the Jews when they were in bondage IT Egypt. When the Creeks went into Egypt. and practically governed things. tho lap!darlsr's $ ar improved very rapid- ly so that We have in our museums today some beautiful specimens in the form Of canoes. lntaglios and engraved stones that are great credit 70 Greciar art.
 There are only five so-called pre- clous stones. All others are ciassi- fled az semi precious. The precious stones are the pearl which IS pre- enlnently above all other. the ruby. diamond. emerald, and at the pres ent tune. the emuald IS rated O, par with -he diaRond and the sap phlre. Of which there are various colors The seni-preclous are almost without number and there are some fine stones among them which are consdered n the gem class. There are other stones that are classified as being precious, hut they are not IT the class with the five previous stones mentioned.
 There are 2 great many myths and allegorles connected with stones. and the greatest myth that we have any record Of IS that associated with Cleopatra and her valuable pearl which she is alleged to have dissolved in a goblet of wine in honor Of Mark Anthony.
 Gems In Bible
 "We get q great deal Of inforus- uoa from the Bible relating to pre- cious stones and their association with historical events that took place sl! through the Bible, beginning With Exodus and extending through 10 Johns Revelations in the New Testa- ment.' One Of the most remarkable things connected with stones and the description which we read about them in the Bible is that they are all associated IT periods Of 12 - the stones that were associated with each Of the 12 tribes Of the Chil- dren of Israel the six stones IT each of the TWO ephods that supported the breastplate Of the high priest. which contained l2 stones. repre- senting the ] . tribes with their names engraved on each stone
 There is 9 stone Tn the British museum at the present time which IS alleged 10 be one Of the original stones that was in the hreastplate worn by Aaron.
 There were l2 stones assigned and knon mas the apostles stones. and the l2 stones that are described by John in his Revelations. partic- ular!y that portoin in his reference 10 the holy city. He also places the pearl as pre- eminent above all the others and the pearl is so placed to- day