BEGTA'SHI, a religious order in the Ottoman empire, which had its origin in the 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from that of a celebrated dervise, Iladji Begtash, to whom also the order appears to owe its institution. The members use secret signs and pass-words as means of recognition, in the same way as is done by the masonic orders, some of them indeed appearing to be identical with those of free masonry. Although numbering many thousands of influential persons in its ranks, the society does not appear to exercise any material influence in the religion or politics of Turkey. • BrOIIINES, BEGM'N1E, or BEGUT'TM, the name of the earliest of all lay societies of women united for pious purposes. The reason of their origin is not quite certain, but it is usually attributed—in part, at least—to the disproportion in the numbers of men and women which was occasioned by the crusades. These wars had robbed Christendom of thousands of its most vigorous sons, and left multitudes of widows and maidens, to whom life had henceforth something of a solemn and sorrowful aspect, and who there fore betook themselves, in earnest and affectionate piety, to the charities and duties of religion. The origin of the word is doubtful. The popular tradition of Brabant since the 17th c., that a St. Begga, daughter of Pepin, and sister of St. Gertrude, founded, in 606, the first sisterhood of B. at Namur, has no historical basis. Hallmann has also shown that the supposed oldest document of the B. (1065), giving an account of their (tablislitnent at Vilvorde, near Brussels, is unauthentic. The most probable account is, that a priest named Lambert le Begue, or Le Beglie, i.e., the stammerer. about the year 1180, founded, in Liege, a society of pious women, who were called by his name. The B. were not restricted by vows, nor (lid they follow the rules of any order, but were united under a superkure for the exercise of piety and benevolence, and lived generally in separate small cottages, which, collectively, formed the bcginagium, or "vineyard," as it was scripturally termed. Their establishtnents were often enriched by liberal donations. A church, a hospital, and a house of reception or common entertainment, generally belonged to every community of beguines. The sisters were distinguished from the rest
of the laity only by their diligence and devotedness, piety, modesty, and zeal for the purity of youthful education. Societies of B. flourished greatly during the 12th and 13th c., when they spread themselves over France and Germany. Among the most impor tant Were- those in Hamburg, Lubeck, Regensburg, Magdeburg, Leipsic, Goslar, Roch litz, and 05rlitz. As the pietists of the middle ages, the B. were often.subjected to per secution by the mendicant orders of friars; but, on account of their practical usefulness, were sheltered by the pope and councils as well as by secular authorities. In the 13th and 14th c., the B. became united with the persecuted spiritualists among the Francis cans (fratrialles), and with the sect of the "brethren and sisters of the free spirit." Hence arose certain heresies, which, of course, occasioned interference on the part of the inquisition; and on account of certain immoralities, a synod held at Fritzlar required that all candidates must be 40 years old before they could enter a society of beguines. These sisterhoods maintained their position in Germany and the Netherlands longer than in other countries. In Holland, they existed at the close of the 18th c.; and in the present day we find here and.there so-called (heguin-houses) in Germany; but they are now nothing more than almshouses for poor spinsters. At Ghent, there is still a celebrated institution of B., numbering as many as 600 sisters, besides 200 tom, taires, or occasional inmates. Their houses form a kind of distinct little town, called the Beguinage, which, though euvironed by a wall, is open to the visits of strangers. Living here a life of retirement and piety, the B., in their simple dark dresses, go out as nurses to the hospital, and perform other acts of kindness among the poor. As above stated, they are under no monastic vow, but having attached themselves to the sister hood, it is their boast that none is known to have quitted it. There are houses of 13. also at Antwerp, 3lechlin, and Bruges; and in 1854, one was established in France, at Castel-. naudary, in the department of Aude.