The White Brethren
Preserved but no longer current.
A sect of Catholic reformers that appeared early in the 15th century. Mosheim says (Bk. ii, p. 2, ch. v) a certain priest came from the Alps with an immense concourse of followers, all dressed in white linen. They marched through several provinces, following a cross borne by their leader. Boniface X ordered their leader to be burnt, and the multitude dispersed.
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 “The White Brethren” mean?
A sect of Catholic reformers that appeared early in the 15th century. Mosheim says (Bk. ii, p. 2, ch. v) a certain priest came from the Alps with an immense concourse of followers, all dressed in white linen. They marched through several provinces, following a cross borne by their leader. Boniface X ordered their leader to be burnt, and the multitude dispersed.
Is “The White Brethren” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.