Page:A short history of nursing - Lavinia L Dock (1920).djvu/92

76 76 A Short History of Nursing Kve God-fearing lives outside of strict church rule, and to carry on work separately from men. The Beguines did not take vows of poverty, but only promised chastity and obedience whilst they re- mained members of the Beguinage. They could therefore leave and marry, possess property, and earn money. They also to a certain extent con- tinued to share in social life. Their work developed according to their own ideas, some making lace, others teaching, and others becoming hospital or visiting nurses. Hospital work soon became one of their chief interests, and, as their communities grew and acquired wealth, they built their own hospitals and administered them, or, in other cases, provided nursing staffs to organize in hospi- tals under different control. One of the most famous of these, which exists in all its beauty to- day was at Beaune in France. The Beguines endured a certain amount of per- secution for their freedom of thought and action. They were accused of heresy, — of thinking it un- necessary ' ' to fast, or to obey mortal men. ' ' They were, however, so strong in popular esteem that the opposition did them Httle real harm. They remained numerous and active for several centuries and there are still several communities remaining, notably those at Ghent and Bruges, which are well