Page:The history of medieval Europe.djvu/501

 THE CHURCH UNDER INNOCENT III 451 France by leading the life of poverty themselves and by preaching and teaching, by argument and discussion. They met with little success, however, because the other clergy were suspicious of them as former heretics. Dominic now took up this idea of training a body of men to combat jheresy and teach the people the true faith. This order, known as the "Friars Preachers," was confirmed in 12 16 by Innocent's successor and by the time of Dominic's death in 1 22 1 was spreading over Europe. Although the temperaments and ideals of their founders ihad differed considerably, Francis emphasizing poverty and isocial service, and Dominic stressing orthodox services 'teaching and preaching, the two orders came to rendered by t im — — 1. the friars be much alike and are usually spoken of together las "Mendicant Friars," although there has generally been a certain rivalry between them. We also hear of "the four fraternal orders," the other two being the Augustinians and the Carmelites. The friars differed from the monks in going into the world and serving society more. They rendered 'especial service in the slums and wretched suburbs outside the walls of growing towns, where there often were not ! them to lead a holier life, who were so sympathetic and j cheerful, and who could preach so much better. In short, 'hood and met the new demands of thirteenth-century society. Although Francis had forsaken learning along with father, family, and all other worldly interests, his followers often specialized in theology, or, like the Dominicans, taught at universities. The ablest and most learned of the clergy were now apt to be found among the friars. Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas were Dominicans; Roger Bacon and William of Rubruk were Franciscans. At the head of either order was one man, the General, who called an annual assembly of the heads or Their assessors of the various provinces in different declme parts of Europe. As the new orders became so successful
 * enough parish priests. Even if there were enough parish
 * priests, the people often preferred the friars who seemed to
 * the traveling friars remedied the defects of the local priest-