Religious Orders.—The importance of the religions orders in the early stages of modern civilization has often been pointed out. After the ancient Teutons had given up their natural mode of life, when a dense barbarism had deeply extended itself over the nations, these orders did in fact constitute ideal communities from which a higher morality, intellec tual development, science, and useful arts were disseminated among the people. With the progressing development of the latter the real vocation of the orders was taken away; the unnatural principle upon which mo nastic life was founded came prominently into the foreground, and wide spread corruption resisted all attempts at reformation. What had origin ally been the expression of a lofty religious enthusiasm became an empty pretext when multitudes entered the religious life as a means of liveli hood. Their immense numbers were the cause of their destruction. Including those of less strict observance, more than half a thousand can be counted. Among them one hundred and twenty-four followed the rule of St. Benedict, one hundred and seventy-eight that of St. Augustine, and more than seventy that of St. Francis. We shall mention only the most important of them, representatives of which are exhibited on the lower division of Plate 53.
The Carthusians (fig. 12) were founded by St. Bruno in roS4; their habit is entirely white, the shoulder-cape (which is called among them the cowl, but in other orders the scapular) hanging down low in front and behind and united at the lower ends by broad hands of the same material; when outside their convents they wear black cloaks and capuchins.
The Trappists, founded in 1140 by the count of Perche and reorganized in 1664 by the abbe de Rance, belong to the Carthusians. They are one of the strictest orders in the Church, the members being obliged to keep almost perpetual silence.' The Benedictines (fig. 13) were founded in the sixth century by St. Benedict of Nursia, who established in 529 the celebrated monastery at Monte Casino. St. Benedict and his disciples wore a garment entirely black, as all the monks had done up to that time; its cut varied in differ ent countries.
or "Gray Friars:" (t) The Capuchins (fig. 14) belong to the widespread class of Minorite Friars. They received their name from the long pointed hood (capuche) which together with their long beard forms their distinguishing mark. Their rope belt ends in a scourge, and they wear sandals; but their rule is not over severe.
(2) The Alinorites were founded in 1208 by St. Francis, who gave them the humble name of Fratres Jfinores, the lesser brethren. This order was one of the most widely extended. It numbered as late as the beginning
of the last century more than 7000 monasteries with fully 125,00o monks, and about goo convents with 20,300 nuns. These large numbers occa sioned the division into many separate congregations, all following sub stantially the same rule, but permitting many variations. The original habit of the Franciscans (p1. 53, fig. 17) consisted of a long gown of ash colored cloth fastened with a white knotted girdle, and of a hood which was afterward attached to a shoulder-cape. To the Minorites belonged the barefooted Recollects, Celestines, etc.
(3) The Franciscan Nuns (Jig. 21), who are usually called the "Gray Sisters," also wear a rope girdle, a white wimple or kerchief covering the neck and breast, a black head-kerchief lined with white, and when going out a large black cloak. St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the widowed land of belonged to this order.
The Dominicans, or " Black Friars " (figs. 15, 16), were established by Dominic de Guzman, born in 1170 in Old Castile. The cowls and scapulars of the monks are white, those of the lay brothers black, and the over-mantles of both black. The dream of the founder's mother, that she would give birth to a dog spotted black and white, bearing a torch in its mouth to light up the globe, did not remain unfulfilled, for, as is known, the Dominicans were the most fervent advocates of the Inqui sition and the burning of heretics. The costume of the Dominican nuns 23) corresponded with that of the monks.
The Carmelites, or "White Friars" (fig. 19), claim the prophet Elijah as the founder of their order. Such a claim probably sprung from their Asiatic origin, which circumstance also gave them their name, derived from Mount Carmel, where their first establishment was situated. At one time they wore a mantle striped black and white, afterward a black gown and a white cloak. The Carmelite nuns (fig. 25) wore a similar costume.
The Augustinian Orders, which were very widespread, claim to have been founded by St. Augustine, whose name they bear, and who was born in 354 at Tagaste in Numidia; yet it is not clear that they received their rule from him, or that any of these orders existed before the middle of the ninth century. The Hermits of St. Augustine (fig. 20), to whom Luther belonged, dressed entirely in black, but the Augustinian nuns wore a white habit and a black veil.
The Brigitthres, one of the principal Augustinian female orders, was that founded by the Swedish princess Brigida (Bridget, Santa Brigitta) in 1344; its members 22) wear a black garb with a white wimple and a head-dress striped black at the edges.