WEDDING RINGS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6090, 29 January 1898, Page 3

WEDDING RINGS.

(The lady.) There are a good many wedding rings used in the course of every year, but few people realise the historic interest connected with them. They appear to have been worn in all ages, and although there is no definite information as to their origin, we know they •were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. In those days, however, they were used at the ceremony of betrothal, and not marriage. Pope Nicholas, who lived in the ninth century, tells us that the Christians first presented the woman with espousal gifts including a ring, which was placed on her finger ; the dowry was then agreed upon, and afterwards came the marriage service. The rings were made of various metals, as iron, brass, copper and gold. The betrothal and marriage rings were quite distinct, but both were ornamented. In course of time the custom of formal betrothal became obsolete, and the marriage ring then assumed the plain shape. The ring of engagement was worn by the ancients, as now, on the third finger of the left hand. The popular, though erroneous idea, had gained currency that a vein or nerve went direct to the heart, and therefore the outward sign of matrimony should be placed in connection with the seat of life. Other reasons assigned are that the left hand is a sign of inferiority or subjection, and that the left hand is less used than the right, and the finger next least the best protected. In Anglo-Saxon times, the betrothal ring was placed on the right hand of the bride-elect, and was transferred to the left upon marriage. In the days of George I. and George 11. the wedding ring, though placed upon the usual finger at the time of marriage, was often worn on the thumb, as may be seen by the portraits of the titled ladies of these times. It is absolutely necessary to use a ring at the Church of England marriage service. Quakers do not use a ring at their service, because of its heathenish origin, but many wear them afterwards. The Swiss Protestants do not use a ring at all. The placing of the ring on the book at the marriage service is a remnant of the ancient custom of blessing the ring by sprinkling holy water in the form of a cross. This is still done by Roman Catholics. In Ireland there is a belief that the rubbing of the wedding ring on a wart or sore was sure to cure it. In Somersetshire they bold that a sty on the eyelid may be cured by the rubbing of the wedding ring. Wedding rings have not always been of gold for weddings in England. At Worcester, some years ago, the registrar was threatened with proceedings for not compelling the use of a gold ring. Church keys have often done duty for wedding rings. A story is told of a couple going to church and requesting the use of the church key. The clerk, not thinking it lawful, fetched a curtain ring, which was used instead. The Duke of Hamilton was married at Mayfair with a bed-curtain ring. One of the earliest forms of rings was the gemel or gimmal ring, or linked ring. This was a twin or double ring, consisting of two or more interlaced links, which turned upon a hinge or pivot. The ring could be closed so as to form one solid ring. Mottoes and devices were often engraved on the inner or flat side, which were known as posies or chansons. At the time of betrothal the man put his finger through one link, and the woman through the other, and thus they were symbolically yoked together. The links were then broken, and each kept a link until marriage. The gimmal rings, containing three links, were so made that the person who witnessed the, betrothal might keep a link. A gold gimmal given by Edward Seymour to Lady Katharine Grey had five links, and a chanson of his own composition. There is a gimmal ring in existence containing nine links. Two silver-gilt rings were used for the marriage of Martin Luther and Catherine von Borgo. Luther's ring is still in Saxony, and bears the following inscription: — "D. Martino Luthero, Catherina v. Borga, 13 Junii, 1525." The other, worn by his wife, is in Paris, and has a figure of Christ upon the Cross, and the Latin inscription as above. Lady Cathcart, on her fourth marriage in 1713, had the following inscription on her fourth wedding ring : — " If I survive, I will have five."