A history of the Hospital of St. John in Northampton / by R.M. Serjeantson.

  • Serjeantson, R. M.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A history of the Hospital of St. John in Northampton / by R.M. Serjeantson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    At St. John’s Hospital, Beading, the Brethren or Sisters were professed in the adjoining Church. “ Vent Creator and certain prayers were said as the candidate knelt before the altar ; after the sprinkling with holy water, he or she then received the habit or veil, a kiss of charity being bestowed by the rest of the household. A discourse followed upon the rules and benefits of the Society.” “ The office for the admission of members to the staff of St. John’s, Nottingham, is given in the Records of the Borough. One prayer, at the benediction of the religious habit, shows the spirit in which hospital officials were expected to enter upon their duties:—‘Our Lord Jesus Christ, who did’st deign to put on the covering of our mortality, we beseech the immense abundance of Thy goodness, that Thou mayest so deign to bless this kind of vestment, which the holy fathers have decreed should be borne by those who renounce the world, as a token of innocence and humility, that this Thy servant, who shall [use it] may deserve to put on Thee, etc.’ As the brother changed his dress, the scripture was repeated concerning putting off the old man, and putting on the new in righteousness. The versicles ‘ Our help is in the name of the Lord,’ ‘ Save Thy servant,’ etc., were also used, together with prayers for the gift, for increase of virtue, for light and life.” (7) At St. John’s, Northampton, it was expressly stipulated that no novice should be received Avithout due examination in reading, or assurance that he was fit to sustain the burden of the choir. The habit worn by the Brethren in this Hospital was to be of one uniform colour, with a black cross upon it. Like all members of a religious order the Brethren were expected to worship together in the Chapel, eat together in the Refectory, and sleep together in the Dormitory. When not engaged in worship the Brethren were not allowed to be idle. One Brother at St. John’s, Northamiffon, was told off to look after the sick, anotlier acted as Chamberlain, a third as Cellarer, while a fourth held the office of Proctor, or financial Agent of the Hospital. “ The Brethren of St. John’s, Ely, were forbidden to play with dice, or to be present at such play, but were to give themselves to contemplation, and study of Scripture, one or two being deputed to wait upon the infirm. Each lettered Brother of St. Leonard’s, York, was duected to^study at his desk in the Cloister two or three times a day.” (7’*) A Brother guilty of any breach of the Hospital rules had to submit to “ discipline” at the hands of the Master. The disciplbie usually consisted (7) Misa Olay’s Mediteval I/ospltals, 128 and 120. (7») Ibid, 152.