Democratic and Secular Tendencies 73 teach, and convert the heathen. St. Francis dis- trusted book-learning and emphasized the active, useful life. The young men who followed him were formed into the Brothers Minor. A charming young girl, Clarissa, who had be- longed to Francis's worldly circle, accepted and shared all his ideals, and ran away Mendicant from her home at night, to enter the orders and their church and put on the garb of a contribution novice. Clarissa then formed and led ^'^ nursing an affiliated order of young women to help the Brothers in their work. All were alike bound to absolute poverty. The Brothers undertook to support themselves and the Clarissas or "Poor Clares ' ' by manual labour or begging. The Sisters were to mend the Brothers' clothes, take care of the little church, and nurse the sick brought to them as needing special care. The Franciscan orders were useful and practical during two full centuries. Their nursing may hav3 been very elementary, but it was effective, and their sincerity in carrying out their aim of bringing back the motive of simple, neighbourly kindness of the early church had a great influence on their age. The friars, through their contact with men and with life, became well informed and worldly-wise. Some of them be came radical, even revolutionary.
