106 HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 



established in Guatemala in 1659, by Peter Betancourt. They obey the rules 

 of St. Augustine, labor in the education of youth and the relief of the sick, 

 confine their operations to America, and wear the dress of the Capuchins, 

 with a shield, on which is painted the birth of the Savior {pi. SS, fig. 20). A 

 branch of this order, the Bethlchemite Sisiers. founded by Count Cifuendes, 

 live in Spain, and are regulated by the precepts of St. Franciscus. The 

 Alexians, or Cellites, of Flanders, sometimes called Cell Brethren {j^l. 33, 

 fig. 8), constitute an important order of lay-brethren, and their cloisters are 

 houses of correction for refractory children. In periods of general sick- 

 ness they strive to alleviate suffering ; they attend the execution of male- 

 factors, and take charge of funerals, whence their name Cellites, from cella^ a 

 grave. There also exist Alexian nuns, who take the name of the Black 

 Sisters. The Amhrosimi monks {pi. 33, fig. 9) arose in the fourteenth cen- 

 tury, under Pope Gregory II., and called themselves after St. Ambrosius, 

 though they followed the rules of St. Augustine. An order of Amhrosian 

 7iuns was founded in 1408. Their chief cloister is in Pavia. The order of 

 St. Mary^s Visit atioji {visitationis Beatce Marice. congregatio) was es- 

 tablished by Francis of Sales, bishop of Geneva. The members pledge 

 themselves to seek out and provide for sick, maimed, or destitute girls {pi. 

 S^, fig. 13, nuns of this order). Visitantesses in Flanders {pi. 34, fig. 1); 

 7i7ins of the order of the Word-become- Flesh {pi. S^.fig. 14) ; 7iu?is of the 

 Congregation of Not] e- Dame {pi. 34, fig. 2) ; Jinns of the order Notre- 

 Dame de la Misericorde ( pi. 34, fig. 3) : priests of the order of Missions 

 {fig. 4) ; Poor Volunteer of Flanders {fig. 7*); monks of the order of Val- 

 lomhrosa {pi. 32, fig. 20): Religious of the Society of the Blessed Jestis 

 {pi. SS,fig. 10). Fig. 24 represents an ordained clergyman of the theological 

 schools of France and Belgium. 



The domestic work of monasteries and cloisters was performed by lay 

 brethren and sisters, who were first introduced by the order of Yallombrosa. 

 Still another class of inmates of cloisters was composed of those persons who, 

 without assuming any vow, or being ecclesiastics, belonged to the order. 

 These were called Tertiarians. Though they were allowed to wear the 

 dress of the society, they usually contented themselves with the scapulary 

 under their citizen's clothing. So valuable was the privilege of belonging to 

 an order regarded, that many persons paid large sums to secure a place as 

 Tertiarian. St. Francis of Assissi first introduced this class among the 

 Franciscans. 



The same leading principle which had called into existence the cloisters 

 and nunneries gave rise to a new society in the twelfth and succeeding 

 centuries. These were the Templars, originally noble pilgrims, united in 

 view of assisting sick and needy pilgrims, or such as were exposed to danger, 

 and in order to combat the infidel Turks : but subsequently becoming strong 

 and formidable, they forgot the design of their institution, and mingled in 

 political contests. In imitation of these spiritual orders, the sovereigns 

 founded secular orders, by way of securing in their members trusty friends 

 to the throne. Among the spiritual orders of knighthood the following have 

 the greatest reputation : 

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