Brook Farm | Page 7

in certificates of stock at the
option of the Association; but in any case of need, to be decided by
himself, every member may be permitted to draw on the funds of the
treasury to an amount not exceeding the credits in his favor.
ART. 12. The Association shall hold an annual meeting for the choice

of officers, and such other necessary business as shall come before
them.
ART. 13. The officers of the Association shall be twelve directors,
divided into four departments, as follows: first, General Direction;
second, Direction of Agriculture; third, Direction of Education; fourth,
Direction of Finance; consisting of three persons each, provided that
the same persons may be a member of each Direction at the pleasure of
the Association.
ART. 14. The Chairman of the General Direction shall be presiding
officer in the Association, and together with the Direction of Finance,
shall constitute a Board of Trustees, by whom the property of the
Association shall be managed.
ART. 15. The General Direction shall oversee and manage the affairs
of the Association so that every department shall be carried on in an
orderly and efficient manner. Each department shall be under the
general supervision of its own Direction, which shall select, and, in
accordance with the General Direction, shall appoint, all such overseers,
directors and agents, as shall be necessary to the complete and
systematic organization of the department, and shall have full authority
to appoint such persons to these stations as they shall judge best
qualified for the same.
ART. 16. No Directors shall be deemed to possess any rank superior to
the other members of the Association, nor shall be chosen in reference
to any other consideration than their capacity to serve the Association;
nor shall they be paid for their official service except at the rate of one
dollar for ten hours in a day, actually employed in official duties.
ART. 17. The Association may, from time to time, adopt such rules and
regulations, not inconsistent with the spirit and purpose of the Articles
of Agreement, as shall be found expedient and necessary.
[_This was signed by_]
GEO. RIPLEY, WARREN BURTON, SOPHIA W. RIPLEY, MINOT

PRATT, SAML. D. ROBBINS, MARIA J. PRATT, D. MACK, GEO.
C. LEACH, NATH. HAWTHORNE, MARIANNE RIPLEY, LEML.
CAPEN, MARY ROBBINS.
Not all who signed this document entered on the work. Mr. David
Mack, whose name is attached, for some reason did not, neither did Mr.
and Mrs. Samuel D. Robbins. Mr. Mack afterward founded the
Northampton Association at Northampton, Mass.
It would be interesting to give a history of and describe all the persons
who signed this original document, but room will not permit it. Mr.
Ripley's biography is published; I refer the reader to that book for
particulars of his life, but cannot refrain from selecting one pen- picture
of him by the author, Rev. O. B. Frothingham, who writes:--
"He was no unbeliever, no sceptic, no innovator in matters of opinion
or observance, but a quiet student, a scholar, a man of books, a calm,
bright-minded, whole-souled thinker, believing, hopeful, social, sunny,
but absorbed in philosophical pursuits. Well does the writer of these
lines recall the vision of a slender figure wearing in summer the
flowing silk robe, in winter the long, dark blue cloak of the profession,
walking with measured step from his residence in Rowe Street towards
the meeting house in Purchase Street. The face was shaven clean, the
brown hair curled in close, crisp ringlets; the face was pale as if in
thought; the gold-rimmed spectacles concealed black eyes; the head
was alternately bent and raised. No one could have guessed that the
man had in him the fund of humor in which his friends delighted, or the
heroism in social reform which a few years later amazed the
community. He seemed a sober, devoted minister of the gospel, formal,
punctilious, ascetic, a trifle forbidding to the stranger. But even then the
new thoughts of the age were at work within him."
Minot Pratt was at one time foreman printer at the office of the
_Christian Register_--a finely formed, large, graceful-featured, modest
man. His voice was low, soft and calm. His presence inspired
confidence and respect. Whatever he touched was well done. He was
faithful and dignified, and the serenity of his nature welled up in genial
smiles. In farm work he was Mr. Ripley's right hand. He was not far

from him in age. They agreed in practical matters; indeed, Mr. Ripley
deferred to him. His wife was an earnest, strong, faithful worker. They
entered into the scheme with fervor, and it was often said of him that he
was first to give Mr. Ripley the hand of fellowship in the practical work
of organizing the society.
John Sullivan Dwight was born in Boston, and was