Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1894 — WEDDING RINGS. [ARTICLE]

WEDDING RINGS.

; c«d by the Greeks sad Romans in Betrot haL I Wedding rings were used both by the Greeks and Romans, but then only at Hie ceremony of betrothal and not that of marriage, says the Westminster Review. The AngloSaxon bridegroom at the betrothal gave a wed or pledge, and a ring was placed on the maiden’s right hand, where it remained until marriage,' and was then transferred to the left! Daring the reigns of George L and George IL the weddiog ring was often worn on the thumb. The placing of the ring od a book is a remnant of the ancient custom of blessing tbe ring by sprinkling holy water in the form of a cross, and this is still done in the Roman church. One of the earliest forms of rings was the gemel or double ring, and this was used as a pledge before marriage. They were generally made in three parts and broken in the presence of a witness, who retained the third part. In Germany, Sweden, Norway and Denmark it was a common custom for the engaged couple each to give to the other a plain gold ring much resembling a wedding ring. In the last century wedding rings were frequently inscribed with posies. Dr. John Thomas, who was bishop of Lincoln in 1753, married four times. The motto or posy on the wedding ring at his fourth marriage was: If I survive I*ll make them five King Henry VIII. gave Anne of Cleves a ring with the posy, God seed mo well to keep. It was a general custom in the middle ages for the bridegroom to place the ring first on the tbumb of the bride, then on her second Anger and then on her third, at the name of each person of the Trinity, “leaving it,” as the rubric directs, on her fourth Anger at the word amen, thus signifying by action, not less than by word, that he was undertaking the duties of the married state, “in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” The reason assigned for the fourth finger being appointed as the final restingplace of the wedding ring is because on that finger there is generally believed to be a certain vein which proceeds to the heart. The left hand most probably was appointed because the virgins espoused to the church wore the ring of their celestial nuptials on the right hand.