New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-01
ST. GEORGES COMPANY.
MR.. IOHN RusKINs PURPOSE.

CAMBRIDGE Mass. Dec 2S.-SeveTal months ago
took occasion of certain special reference to St.
Georges Company, which had appeared in Mr. Rus
kin'e FOrs ClapGd 10 review the series of f0ry-nne
letters up to that time published, with purpose TO
discover the outline of the scheme presented III them
for tho restoration of society in England. Many
people vaguely associating Mr. Ruskin's name with
tile contemporary revival Of interest in Gothic arch-
lecture presume that he is wholly absorbed III mat
tiers pertaining to art, and that he Is for instance,
the leading spirit the general restoration of decay
ing or crumblng churches which has left such MARKS
of it's presence upon the architecture of England'
They would not be fax wrong in their conception OF
his devotion to art if they would extend that word to
take ia living as well drawing; but to suppose HIM
concerned in the restoration commonly socailed, OF
Gothic churches is to miss very wide of the mark his
temper and purpose. lie is concerned in such work
only as an ancient prophet might be who saw his
neighbors building the sepulchers OF still more al
eient prophets The London correspondent OF The
TRIBUNE has remarked the exceeding attention paid
BY the press ia England to the least uterance of Mr.
Ruskin. Undoubtedly the form III which Mr.. Rus
kin casts his words is cXacerhatng to the ordinary
philosopher and writer and even those like the
writers i'm The Spectator who accept with approval
some of the leading principles OF Mr. RuSkin's con
duct of fe cry out against the paradOxes in which
they assert he expresses them. Perhaps nj this DIS
lance with our own problems, not always exactly
coincident with those that affect England, we look
more dispassonatey upon the strife of words, but II
il Inpossible for any one with quick sympathy and
an mpatienoe of the dead weight Of social indiiter
enee not to look with lively intorostupOn the praeti-
cal solution which Mr. Ruslkin offers OF problems
yexing every righteous soul IN England.
Interviewing the forty nine letters to the worSmen
and laborers Of Great Britain which, under the title
,i,,b oI haef, m oTIt
monthly. found briefly that he puip0sed, with the
all Of those who h.uld voluntarily join him, to es
tobl,sb somewhere Oh British ground, secured by
,nrchase. q company OF men and women engaged in
Jre.sipp the earth and keeping it, in feeding human
life in clothing human bodies i'll kindling human
souls They were to ascertain the absolute best
that could be made of every acre, and then to sow
such flowers and plant such trees as would
,rosper: they were To extend the arabic and
pasture land by every eNpedient of ullage,
and build and occupy simple cottage dwellings
under fqulteSs sanitary regulation. The children
were 10 be- educated compuisouly In agricultural
shools inland. and in naval schools by the sea- the
hoys In learn first TO ride or to sail and the girls TO
spin. weave, sew, and cook ali ordinary food eX-
oui,itcly both 10 learn TO sing and TO dance, and
for morality to be taRght Penteaess TO all brute
creatures finished courtesy 10 each other 10 speak
truth with Igid care, and TO obey orders with the
ore.ision Of slaves. Much else might be gathered
from Nr Ruskin's letters az To what should be in
rlnied in and excluded from the life of the COM
pauy. His letters contain not only direct reference
to the scheme but indirect suggestion as 10 the
principles governing in it upon many matters OF con-
duct education, aud government
TIE coMPASY's CONSTITUTION.
There have been since that time eight monthly
letters and as q recent one contains the "meno'an
dunn and statutes Of the Company OF st. George"
the project has reached another point al which it Is
convenient TO regard it. An examination of this
paper will disclose moro formally the purpose and
method Of the enterprise
"The Company is constituted" az amended by NJ Rus
bin, the paper reads with the object Of deterninng
cultural lie and economy, AID OF inSine,ng mo am
cultural abOrfI such science, arr ami literature ~ arc
properly connected WIN hu','nlty win w 80 yi
plots or tracts Of iani n crent parts OF the country
cft tivated turned into waste OF common land
or applied such purposes having ro2rd 70 the a.
IN each oIse b. thought 20 De most generally useful
The members Of tho Company are TO be styled
Companions Of the Company of st. George, a tauto-
logical expression which Mr.. Rusl,in permits sar-
castically in place OF the more direct Companions Of
St. George because the existence OF ST. George can
not he legally proved or ass ned One cannot help
thinking that Nj Rusk.n re.i ted the emp,ation TO
the attitude taken by tho law toward the patron
saint OF En- Gland. These Companions, in the terms
Of tie paper are TO be constituted upon payment OF
q certain fixed amount OF money, upon some
equivalent gift. and under certain solemn formal
ties. Mr.. Ruskn objects parcuthe.icaly to the re
nuirement Of a money gift estimating That desirable
members may possibly be poor in money
while rich in the endowment Of judgment
and reason. The fOrmality of induction consists
In the name OF the member being recorded on the
rolls in the presence of two witnesses Of full age,
,uch record being held 10 bind the member TO
faithful devotion 10 the purposes and interests Of
the Company. A ohief of the Companions, under the
name Of Master. i TO be vested wish power that
may be called, IN common tern, absolute during hls
continuance in Office the term OF which is for hie,
except he resign or be dcpOsed The terms OF hIs
mower include the making and repeating Of laws
md bylaws. but Mr. Ruskin dcmurs 20 this, saying
that he must moi change oF add to the laws OF the
rompauy without some manner vi CO.. JultaiJn with
the Companions.
The Companions, it would seem, are to be the
Governors and patrons of the Society, the direct
work 70 be done by another class atyled Rctaineis
Of the Company, to whom the practical supervision
aud management Of the estates and properties Of the
ConDanv are to be iutrusted and carried out, sub
Too. IN the direction AID control OF the Master.
These Retoiners are 20 De enrolled IN the same man
me- - the Companions but are to have no pacuniary
responsibility and ara 20 BE- paid fixed salaries, ont
a.. no account and in no manner direct Oh indirect
10 receive pef9usites or commissions m aOoitoh'
Tie rents and profits accrun are 20 be applied 70 the
deye Comment of the land and extension oi the opera
tions Of the Company and to the physical moral
social. and religions improvement Of the residents,
81.