Rome knew how to yoke the two together, Xanthos and Balios
champing at the bit yet always held well in hand. At the outset the
two orders were so deeply impressed by the magnitude of the evils
they were to combat that they hardly knew there was anything in which
they were at variance. Gradually--yes, and somewhat rapidly--each
borrowed something from the other. The Minorites found they could not
do without culture; the Dominicans renounced endowments; by-and-by
they drew apart into separate camps, and discord proved that the old
singleness of purpose and loyalty to a great cause had passed away.
Imitators arose. Reformers they all professed to be, improvers of the
original idea, Augustinian Friars, Carmelites, Bethlehemites,
Bonhommes, and the rest. Friars they all called themselves--all
pledged to the Voluntary Principle, all renouncing endowments, all
professing to live on alms.
I have called St. Francis the John Wesley of the thirteenth century.
The parallels might be drawn out into curious detail, if we compared
the later history of the great movements originated by one or the
other reformer. The new orders of Friars were to the old ones what
the Separatists among the Wesleyan body are to the Old Connexion.
They had their grievances, real or imagined, they loudly protested
against corruption and abuses, they professed themselves anxious only
to go back to first principles.
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