BROTHERHOOD, the relation or union of brothers, friends, partners, associates, &c.

in a civil sense, is used for a guild, association, or society of persons, united into a body, for some common interest or advantage. See COMPANY and GUILD.

in the Roman Catholic countries, signifies a society for the improvement of devotion. Of these there are several sorts; as, 1. The fraternity of the rofary, founded by St Dominic. It is divided into two branches, called the common rofary, and the perpetual rofary; the former of whom are obliged to confess and communicate every first Sunday in the month, and the latter to repeat the rofary continually. 2. The fraternity of the Icapulary, whom the blessed Virgin, according to the fabbative bull of Pope John XXII, has promised to deliver out of hell the first Sunday after their death. 3. The fraternity of St Francis's girdle, are clothed with a sack of a gray colour, which they tie with a cord, and in processions walk barefooted, carrying in their hands a wooden cross. 4. That of St Austin's leathern girdle comprehends a great many devotees. Italy, Spain, and Portugal, are the countries where one sees the greatest number of these fraternities, some of which assume the name of arch-fraternities. Pope Clement VII. instituted the arch-fraternity of charity, which distributeth bread every Sunday among the poor, and gives portions to 40 poor girls on the feast of St Jerome their patron. The fraternity of death buries such dead as are abandoned by their relations, and causes masses to be celebrated for them.