Christian Brothers
Preserved but no longer current.
A secret society formed in London in the early 16th century to distri- bute the New Testament in English. The name is now better known as that of the teaching congregation of laymen, founded in 1684 by St. John Baptist de la Salle.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Christian Brothers” mean?
A secret society formed in London in the early 16th century to distri- bute the New Testament in English. The name is now better known as that of the teaching congregation of laymen, founded in 1684 by St. John Baptist de la Salle.
Is “Christian Brothers” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.