Christian Brotherhoods 'By FREDERICK DeLAND LEETE Author of " Every Day Evaagelism '* t CINCINNATI: JENNINGS AND GRAHAM NEW YORK: EATON AND MAINS Copyright, 1912, By Jennings and Graham IlavTas TLfXTjiaTe, rijv a8eX(j>6TrjTa dyaTrare CONTENTS Chapter Page Inteoduction, ... - 7 I. The First Church Brotherhoods Fraternal Spirit and Mutual Helpfulness of Early Christians, - - - - 13 II. Ascetics and Their Societies Paul the Hermit to Augustine, - 20 III. Rise or Medlbval Brotherhoods Benedict to Cluny. Reformed Orders, 30 IV. The Mendicants Francis of Assisi and Dominic, - - 44 V. Military Orders Knights and Soldiers of Christ, - - 56 VI. Mystical Brotherhoods Poor Men and Friends of God, - - 72 VII. Lollards and Brothers of the Com- mon Life Mystical Brotherhoods—Continued, - 84 VIII. Guilds and Secret Societies Trade and Social Fraternities, - - 96 IX. Brothers of Pity Humane and Philanthropic Fraternities, 115 X. Austere and Missionary Orders Pious and Preaching Brotherhoods, 136 XI. Educational Brotherhoods Teachers and Litterateurs, - - - 161 5 CONTENTS Page Cbaptep XII. Modern Roman Lay Brotherhoods Political, Benevolent, Temperance, and Parochial Societies, - - - 186 XIII. Early Protestant Brotherhoods From the Sixteenth Century to the Nineteenth, 205 XIV. Anglican Brotherhoods Church of England and Protestant Episcopal, 225 XV. Auxiliary Associations Societies of Men Related to the Protestant Church, ... 248 XVI. Democratic Brotherhoods of Britain The Pleasant Sunday Afternoon Move- ment, 272 XVII. Interdenominational Brotherhoods Andrew and Philip—Baraca Union, - 291 XVIII. Recent Church Brotherhoods Methodist and Presbyterian, - - 308 XIX. The More Recent Church Brother- hoods Representing Various Christian Bodies, 336 XX. Laymen's Unions, Leagues, and Clubs Men's Society Miscellany, - - 356 XXI. Men and Christianity, ... 379 Index, 401 INTRODUCTION In any competent definition of its meaning Brotherhood is a Christian product; fraternities having this spirit are either of direct Christian origin or have rooted themselves in soil which has been mellowed by Christian teaching. In no part of the world untouched by the faith of Christ has humanitarian and altruistic work been accomplished like that represented in the annals of Christian Brotherhood. "To subdue Self," said M. de Tocqueville, "is the secret of strength." Christianity not only teaches this truth, but it empowers the soul with altruistic passions which can not be satisfied with- out rendering offices of holy love. The aim of this book is to give in outline an account of men's societies produced by Christian influence, what- ever their denominational relations, and with reference to their avowed purposes and results rather than to the distinction of lay or clerical. This undertaking seems to be paralleled in no existing work. The Roman orders are considered in comprehensive treatises such as those of Helyot and Heimbucher, but these volumes are some- what out of date, and they hardly do justice to the mod- ern conception which classifies institutions by use of the pragmatic criterion of activities and results. Secret so- cieties and secular guilds have been quite fully con- sidered by various authors, but their origin through Christian inspiration has been generally misstated or overlooked. Mystical societies, even more completely than monastic orders, have been lost in discussions of 7 INTRODUCTION the abstractions, mysticism, and monasticism. Brother- hoods of pity, of piety, and of Christian education have labored in much obscurity, and ancient and modern Church brotherhoods and auxiliary societies of Christian men have nowhere been brought together and repre- sented as the fruits of one spirit. An impressive lesson is learned by observing the scope of the undertakings and interests of Christian brotherhoods. No phase or relation of life has been un- touched by their thought and action. They have felt all the needs, and have made to them some response. It will be a surprise to those who have not considered the matter to be brought into contact with a movement or chain of movements which has entered all the pro- fessions, which has exercised every form of talent and even of genius, and which has labored for the freedom and advancement of the various races and conditions of human life with scarcely an exception. It is no small office, to which the present effort should contribute some- thing, to display the fraternalism of the Church in its universal and practical qualities. The theme grows as it is studied. Unobtrusive men, intent not upon fame but upon deeds of love, have lacked reporters and trumpeters. The societies which they formed have been busy with preaching and nursing, with fighting plagues and heresies, poverty and sorrow, oppression and death, and so lowly and silent has been this self-forgetful ministry that the Church historian, mindful of ecclesiastical parliaments and prelacies, and of dogmatic strifes, has given it scant space and little praise. Even to-day the real work of Christianity, its individual and collective charities, its missions, religious teachings and evangelisms, its social relations, fraternal aids and mutual solaces, is so little known that one of the strongest arguments in behalf of the faith and one of the most powerful persuasions to Church fellowship INTRODUCTION is greatly affected. To bring to mind the history of noble societies of Christian men, some of which have been ignored and others traduced, and to portray, even though partially and feebly, the useful activities of their brilliant leaders and of their unselfish members, may help to serve the double purpose of redeeming the past and of setting forth in better light the inner life and undertakings of the Church. If any truth is contained in the saying, "History is philosophy teaching by example," it may be afSrmed that the best methodology is the knowledge of what has been done. Moreover, "compare and contrast" is still a good law of understanding, and the modern Church will be wiser by applying this rule to the institutions of its own past. If Christian work by and for men is to succeed, it will not be by the repetition of old errors, nor by neglecting the lessons of its victories. Without a question the latest brotherhood, association, or order has much to learn from a careful study of the societies which have preceded its formation. In this work I have not been careful to adhere closely to accurate ecclesiastical terminology, but have often employed words which refer to orders and to their in- stitution and discipline rather in their generic than in a technical significance. Nor has the Church classifica- tion and judgment of its societies been blindly followed. It can not be hoped that no errors have been made, nor that in all cases orders have been accurately and ade- quately represented. The effort has been to set forth aims and plans, but to group synthetically by actual deeds, so far as these could be ascertained through independent study. Facts are stubborn things, and while institutions may often resent being valued by the standard of their achievements, in the page of history actions should speak more loudly than words. My investigations have some- times disproved high professions, and they have quite as 9 — INTRODUCTION often brought to light unexpected revelations of virtue. Not a few of the best expressions of fraternal love and mis- life have in the past been consigned to obloquy by representation, and the records of Christian orders con- tain many errors, and some positive and demonstrable untruths. To look into these matters has afforded many a valuable lesson in the philosophy of prejudice. One result of such a study as that from which this book has come, and to which it is hoped others may be drawn, is a new sense of the vitality and usefulness of Christian faith and principle, and together with this the mind should be deeply impressed with the thought of the value of co-operation in the direction of the divine will. Mass takes on momentum, provided sufficient power is exerted on the same side at the same time. Organization and correlation of forces have marked the periods of Christian progress, and will continue to do so. The time is ripe for a new realization of the possibilities of combinations of Churchmen, and of the direction of their energies to the highest social and religious achieve- ments. The part which the Christian Brotherhoods have taken in the development of modem civilization, and in the propagation of Christianity and of its institutions a work whose greatness of influence can hardly be over- estimated—calls for renewed power and wisdom in un- dertaking still more notable conquests. In the records even of good men and institutions some passages exist which we would fain be able to deny. Also it is true, as La Rochefoucauld says, that "we do not always like those whom we admire." Nevertheless, after closing a task which has consumed the spare time of the past ten years, and whose trail has led to many old libraries and forgotten tomes, as well as to modern sources, the writer realizes that he has had a delightful as weU as an inspiring task. For it is a thrilling story which the patient pen la- 10 ; INTEODUCTION boriously sets down, and which the silent page but dully types, of men who wrought for God and for the world's salvation. Prophets of the desert, and hermits of moun- tain fastnesses, knights and soldiers, saints and mystics, barefoot preachers and flaming evangelists, philosophers and philanthropists, heroes and brothers of all lands and of all ages, pass in review. They move with power the breath of their devotion kindles the heart; a like passion seizes the lips, which are impelled to echo the cry heard down the centuries and never to cease until the final triumph of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, "Mihi absit gloriari nisi in cruce Domini!" The final teaching is that an essential unity underlies Christian work in its varied forms.