Democratic and Secular Tendencies 71 free-thinking spirit boldly questioned formal dog-^ mas. The stream of modern democracy took its rise in those wonderful centuries, the twelfth and thirteenth. This growing tendency was in direct opposition to a type of formalism which was, at the same time, increasing in many of the older orders, even those devoted to nursing. With the military orders, this took the form of aristocratic exclusiveness, while in the others, excessive emphasis was laid more and more upon the great merit of total with- drawal from the world. The newer spirit reacted against the older in the formation of many new, free forms of social grouping for nursing and neighbour- St. Francis's hood work. The most perfect type and return to personification of this fresh energy was ideals of early church the youthful saint, Francis of Assisi (born 1 1 82). He was one of the most lovable, spontaneous, and gentle of characters, an early Arnold Toynbee, but more joyous and sunny, and perhaps more unconsciously democratic. At a very early age, during an illness, inner promptings turned him with swift completeness to follow liter- ally the teachings of Christ. He therefore left his home (for his family and friends were worldly and pleasure-loving, and he had led a care-free life),
