OF GOOD WILL (also called HIERONYMITES and GREGORIANS, from Hieronymus and Gregory the great, whom they claimed as patrons), a fraternity founded about 1376 by Geert Groote (b. at Deventer. 1340, d. 1384) and Florentins Itadewin (b. 1350, at Leer dam, in s. Holland, d. 1400). This society—which professed to be a copy of the earliest Christian communities, and was in several respects a forerunner of the subsequently fortned societies of United Brethren, now sometimes styled Moravians—was composed of persons who sought after pious and spiritual exercises without any conventional distinc tions of order, etc. Community of goods, ascetic habits, industry, care of the educa tion of young persons, and the use of the vernacular language in divine service, were some of the chief points insisted on by the brethren, who were not fettered by monastic or any other vows. Perfect community of goods was a rule of their societies. Despite the persecutions which they suffered from the mendicant friars, they were recognized and sanctioned by several popes and by the council of Constance. They became most numerous in the Netherlands and n. Germany, but also spread themselves in Italy, Sicily, and Portugal, so that, in 1430, they reckoned more than 130 societies. The last
was founded at.Cambray in 1505. Several brotherhoods of Gregorians assisted in the reformation. In other cases, their institutions fell into the hands of the Jesuits. Though the original founders of these societies were opposed to all learning and science which was not purely moral and practical, their followers rendered most•important services to popular education, having free schools in connection with many of their houses, sup porting students at other schools, and distributing useful books. They have, indeed, been not incorrectly described as pioneers of the reformation. After the revival of learn ing in Italy, the Brethren of Social Life entered into the spiritual activity of the time. The most important and distinguished members of the society were Gerhard Zerbold of Zutphen, Thomas-A-Kempis, and the learned cardinal Nicholas Cusa.—Feniale societies, of a similar character, sprung up at the same time with those of the Brethren of Social Life. At the head of each was a superior or directress, who was styled the -1Iartha.