THE WEDDING RING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXV, Issue 3279, 14 March 1931, Page 7

THE WEDDING RING.

Romance, Love, and Eternity—all three are symbolised in that little golden circlet —the wedding ring. For many years now the plain band with which we are so familiar has been used almost everywhere, but in olden days marriage, as well as betrothal rings, were often very elaborate and of strange shape and material—gold, silver, bronze, iron, ivory and even crystal being pressed into service, and the bands, both within and without, engraved with mottoes and devices.

The gift 9f a ring, both as a token of betrothal and marriage, dates back to the ancient Jewish custom of giving some pledge as ratification of any agreement. The Romans also proffered rings on the conclusion of any business settlement, so that a ring became the recognised token that two persons had come to some special understanding or agreement with each other. Among the Egyptians also the custom prevailed of placing a piece of "ring money" (used before the introduction of coinage) upon the bride's finger, in token that she now was partner in her husband's wealth. Long ago both betrothal and wedding rings were very much more elaborate than to-day. To the Romans belong that somewhat curious class of rings known as key-rings, because with the bridal ring the keys of the house were also delivered, a custom which ultimately became symbolised in the key-rings. This rite was also observed among the old Northmen, the keys of the storeroom being handed to the wife on her wedding day, and carried at her side as a token of a housewifely dignity and also that henceforth she shared all things in common with her husband. The Saxon formula of marriage also alludes to this custom, for with the giving of the bride her father said: "I will give thee my daughter to be thy honour and thy wife, to keep thy keeys, and to share with thee in thy bed and goods, in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost."

The Hebrew rings were more symbolical still, and usually surmounted by a tiny building, representing either the Temple at Jerusalem or the Ark of the Covenant.