Page:The Book of Orders of Knighthood and Decorations of Honour of All Nations.djvu/534

Rh After the Revolution of 1831, the Emperor Nicholas united the Order of St. Stanislaus (on the 29th November, 1831) with the Russian ones, placed it next in rank to St. Ann, first class, and made various alterations in the insignia.

Fight years afterwards, the Order was limited to three classes.

With the third class decoration, are rewarded all those who have sacrificed their property for the good of the country, or have served the state gratuitously for a whole year in some function or other. It is also presented to the trustees of private institutions under the same conditions, and with the same privileges as the Order of St. Anne; useful works or inventions, as also detection of serious abuses, or crime, equally entitle individuals to the decoration.

The Commander of an active army has the right to bestow the second and third class decorations for deeds of valour.

The entrance fee is 90, 30 or 15 roubles, according to the respective classes. The money thus collected, is applied to certain useful objects suggested by the Emperor. Those who have been invested with the Order since 1831, become thereby hereditary nobles. Previously, that favour was confined to members of the first class alone.

Russian priests are excluded from the Order, and it is unnecessary to add that the nobility thus conferred on Roman Catholic priests cannot become hereditary.

Thirty members of the first class, sixty of the second, and ninety of the third class receive respectively annual pensions of 142, 114 and 85 roubles. Those who advance to a higher class lose their previous pensions, and must wait until their turn comes in the new class. Members who turn monks lose their pensions. Widows receive the full pensions of their husbands during the first year of their widowhood.

In case of death, the insignia must be returned, or the value paid in money.