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 CIIARISTICARIES CHARITY 277 horses, was one of the chief ornaments in the celebration of a victory. The chariot was an British Chariot. attribute of the mythologic divinities, especially of Victory, Night, Apollo, and Diana. (HAKISTH ARIES, the name applied in Greek ecclesiastical history to functionaries who pos- sessed uncontrolled power over the revenues of hospitals and monasteries. The practice originated during the iconoclastic struggle in the 8th century, and resulted from hostility to monasticism. In after times the custom was continued without the spirit which originated it, and monasteries were often given to persons of wealth and rank in order to secure their patronage and influence. CHARITON, or Grand Chariton, a river which rises in Lucas co., Iowa, and flows S. E. through Appanoose co. to the Missouri boun- dary. Thence it follows a S. course to the Mis- souri river, which it joins near the S. extremity of Chariton co., Missouri. It is about 250 m. long, and is navigable for 50 m. The East Chariton and Middle fork are its principal branches. CHARITON, a N. central county of Missouri, intersected by Chariton river, and bounded S. W. by the Missouri and W. by Grand river; area, 740 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 19,136, of whom 2,800 were colored. Yellow and Wolf creeks furnish water power. The soil is fertile and adapted to pasturage. The surface is gently undulating and covered with forests and prairies. Stone coal and limestone are found in large quantities. The North Missouri rail- road crosses it. The chief productions in 1870 were 205,851 bushels of wheat, 919,288 of Indian corn, 205,914 of oats, 65,593 of pota- toes, 4,137 tons of hay, 219,697 Ibs. of butter, 39,833 of wool, and 2,993,981 of tobacco. There were 6,169 horses, 1,973 mules and asses, 5,280 milch cows, 8,085 other cattle, 15,689 sheep, and 27,461 swine. Capital, Zeytesville. CHARITY, Brothers of, a religious order in the Roman Catholic church, established at Seville by St. John of God in 1540. He hired a house to harbor poor sick persons, in which he pro- vided for them and served them himself with great devotion. This pious work of charity at- tracted the attention of the whole city, and gradually persons of the same disposition as John came to aid him in his undertaking. His institution was approved by the archbishop, but the members of it had neither rule nor habit, and it did not receive the approval of the pope until after the death of its founder. In 1572 Pius V. gave it the rule and habit of St. Augustine. Maria de 1 Medici introduced the order into France in 1601. Henry IV. granted it letters patent in 1602, and it soon numbered several houses in that kingdom. The hospital La Charite in Paris, and that of Charenton, were the most important. The brothers of charity not only nursed the sick, but were frequently skilful surgeons. In Spain these religious were called brothers of hospi- tality, and in Italy frate ben fratelli. They are now almost extinct. The various orders of brothers hospitallers have been superseded hy sisterhoods. A new religious order of brothers of charity was founded in 1828 by Cardinal Rosmini-Serbati. They possess several flourish- ing houses in England. CHARITY, Sisters of, a religious congregation founded by St. Vincent de Paul in the vicinity of Paris about the year 1633, with the coopera- tion of Mme. Le Gras, a pious and charitable lady. * The object of this institution was the care of the poor, especially of the sick, and the education of children; and its members are everywhere the servants of the poor, which name was conferred on them by the archbishop of Paris when he gave them his formal appro- bation in 1655. Prisons, free schools, hospitals, and almshouses were at once placed under their direction in all parts of France. The congre- gation was soon invited to> take charge of simi- lar institutions in other countries, and the sisters of charity are now to be found in almost every civilized land. Louis XIV. granted letters pat- ent to this institution in 1657, and they were finally confirmed by the legate of the pope in 1660. The charity and devotion of these wo- men had made them so useful to all classes, that even the revolution spared them. They continued their work of beneficence secretly, but without restraint. One of the first acts of the new government was to open to them a field of usefulness, and Napoleon placed them under the protection of his mother. They make simple vows, which are renewed every year. In 1862 the number of establishments was 1,064, viz. : 947 in Europe, 80 in America, 17 in Asia, 17 in Africa, and 3 in Australia and Oceania. The number of members was esti- mated at 28,000. The American branch of this congregation was established at Emmettsburg, Md., in 1809, by Mrs. Eliza Seton, their first mother superior. The foundation of Mrs. Se- ton until within a few years remained a quite distinct establishment from the French order ; but of late a great portion of the American sisters of charity have adopted the French dress and rule. The New York mother house and its dependencies, however, still retain their original independence. In 1873 there were in the United States 156 houses belonging to the sisters of charity.