enotes the effect of moral virtue, which consists in supplying the necessities of others, whether with money, counsel, assistance, or the like.

Brothers of Charity, a sort of religious hospitalers founded about the year 1297, since denominated Billetes. They took the third order of St Francis, and the scapulary, making the three usual vows, but without begging.

Brothers of Charity also denotes an order of hospitallers still subsisting in Catholic countries, whose business is to attend the sick poor, and minister to them both spiritual and temporal succour. They are all laymen, except a few priests for administering the sacraments to the sick in their hospitals. The brothers of charity usually cultivate botany, pharmacy, surgery, and chemistry, which they practise with success. They were first founded at Granada by St John de Dieu; and a second establishment was made at Madrid in 1553. The order was confirmed by Gregory XIII. in 1572. Gregory XIV. forbade them to take holy orders; but by leave of Paul V. in 1609, a few of the brothers might be admitted to orders. In 1619 they were exempted from the jurisdiction of the bishop. Those of Spain are separated from the rest; and they, as well as the brothers of France, Germany, Poland, and Italy, have their distinct generals, who reside at Rome. They were first introduced into France by Mary of Medicis in 1601, and have a fine hospital in the faubourg St Germain.

Sisters of Charity (Sœurs de la Charité), an order of female hospitalers, revived in France since the commencement of the present century, and consisting chiefly of professed nuns who devote themselves to the duties of attending the poor and sick in the hospitals, ministering to their wants, dressing their sores, and affording them religious consolation. This order includes females belonging to some of the first families in France.