Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/627

* BROTHERHOODS. 551 BROTHERS. tolerated by the Church for a while, at last in- curred its censure and were severely repressed. We may also reckon among i-eligious Ijrotherhoods the old building corjjorations from which sprang the order of Freemasons (see Masons, Frke), the character of whose secret societies indicated, in the opinion of the Church, a peculiarly dan- gerous tendency to Gnosticism: in modern times, of course, the well-known association of free- masonry on the Continent of Europe has given more ample ground for its condemnation by various Popes on the charge of atheism. Xearlv all the professional and trade organizatiui.^ of the Middle Ages had, in accordance with the spirit of the time, an essentially religious character; and this side of their activity was of equal importance with the secular side in the minds of their founders. (See Guild.) A full idea of the extent to which this view of the mat- ter prevailed in England even in the Si.xteenth Century ma' be found in Gasquet. The Ere of the Reformation (London, 1900). Other confraterni- ties which came into existence with the sanction of the Church devoted themselves to the promo- tion of religion, and. under its direct influence, to the performance of many practical works of charity, by assisting strangers, travelers, the un- protected, the oppressed, the destitute, and the sick. Typical examples of these mediaeval broth- erhoods are the Bridge-building Brotherhoods (q,v.), and. especially, the FrateUi delta Miseri- cordia at Florence, still existing, whose work it is to bury the dead, and under whose picturesque costume are frequently concealed the features of members of the noblest Italian houses. The last two centuries have witnessed the growth of a great number of Roman Catholic confraternities, both for men and women, based on the same principle as these earlier ones. Many of them are more or less associated with the religious orders; thus the League of the Sacred Heart or Apostleship of Prayer, with millions of members all over the world, under the direc- tion of the Jesuits; the Rosary sodalities of the Dominicans; and the confraternities of the Scapular of the Carmelites. BROTHERHOOD OF AN'DREW AND PHIL'IP, A hrotlierliood formed in 1888 by Rev, Rufus V. Miller, associate pastor of the Second Reformed Church, Reading, Pa. In 189.5 it had grown into an order for religious and sotial service in the following denominations; Reformed (Dutch and German), Presbyterian (North and South, United and Canadian), Con- gregational, Methodist (Episcopal and Protes- tant), Baptist, English, Lutheran, and United Brethren. It has now a membership of about 14,000 in 32 States and 10 denominations. Its organ is The Brotherhood Star. It holds biennial federal and annual denominational conventions. For particulars, consult L. W. Bacon and C. A. Northrop, Younn People's Societies (New York, 1900). BROTHERHOOD OF ST, ANDREW. A Protestant Episcopal organization, wliose object is the spread of Christ's kingdom among men, especially young men. It was founded in 188.3 in Saint James's Parish, Chicago, by James L. Houghteling and others. The unit of organiza- tion is the local chapter; of these, 1706 have been organized. There is also a junior de]>artment for work among boys, which has 484 chapters. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 members in the Brotherhood proper, and 5000 in in the Junior Department. The headquarters of the Brotherhood are in Pittsburg. It holds an annual convention, and publishes monthly an offi- cial organ called St. Andrew's Cross. It has spread from the United States to Canada, to England, and to most of her colonial possessions. For particulars, consult L. V. Bacon and C. A. Northrop, ounq People's Societies (New York, 1900). BROTHERHOOD OF SAINT PAUL. A Jlethodist Episcopal fraternity of men of all ages, for religious and social service. It has a ritual and regalia, but is not secret. Its member- ship is divided into three "orders.' (1) Order of Jerusalem: for all new members and those not professing Christianity ; (2) Order of Damascus; for Methodist Episcopal Church members; (3) Order of Rome: for advanced Christians. It was organized in 189.5 by Rev. F. D. I^ete, Rochester, N. Y.. and holds annual conventions. For par- ticulars, see L. V. Bacon and C. A. Northrop, Young People's Societies (New Y'ork, 1900). BROTHER JON'ATHAN. The name of the liest-known personification of the L'nited States, the origin of which is doubtful. The riiost plausible explanation derives it from .Jonathan Trumbull ( q.v. ), Governor of Connecticut dur- ing the Revolution, and a highly esteemed friend of General Washington, who. it is said, was ac- customed to remark when per])lcxed by some knotty question, "We must consult Brother Jona- than." From its frequent repetition, the term became widely known, and ultimately expanded in meaning to embrace the whole American people. BROTHERS, Lay. An inferior class of monks, not in holy orders, but bound by monastic rules, and employed as servants in monasteries (q.v.). BROTHERS, The. A common name for groups of small islands. ( 1 ) A group of small islands in the Red Sea about 40 miles northeast of Kosseir. (2) A group of small islands nearly east of Cape Guardafui and about 30 miles south- west of the island of Sokotra. (3) A group of small islands lying in the entrance to the Bight of Biafra, Gulf of Guinea, a little west of south of Princess Island. (4) A group of small is- lands lying in the Strait of ^Malacca ofT the north- east coast of Sumatra in about latitude 3° 30' N. and longitude 99° 40' E. (5) A group of small islands in about latitude 22° 5' N. and longitude 75° 41' W., near Columbus Bank of the Bahamas. BROTHERS, The. A club founded, June 21, 1711, at London, for the purpose of advancing literature by sociability and the use of political influence. Besides several Tory peers, Saint John, Swift, Prior, Friend, and Arbuthnot were among its charter members. It became, in 1714, the Scrihlerus Cliih. a more purely literary and less political organization, under the influence of Swift. The members addressed each other as 'brutlier.' BROTHERS, The. ( 1 ) A comedy by James Shirley, licensed November 4, l(i2G, and printed in a volume entitled Six New Pkn/s by the same author, in lti53, (2) A tragedy by Edward Young, produced at the Drury Lane, March 3. 1752, for the benefit of a religious society. It