Bridge, Jonathan D., a Methodist Episcopal min- ister, was born at Northfield, Mass., 1812, converted at seventeen, and entered the itinerant ministry in the New England Conference 1834. After tilling a num- ber of important stations, he was made presiding elder in 1854, and died 1856. By his energy, industry, and ability, he made up to a large extent for a deficient education, and rose to be a good scholar, ami was "long an honor and ornament" to the Conference. As a preacher he was earnest and ardent to a degree beyond his physical strength. His impulsive temper- ament made him also a vigorous, though not always a careful writer. He wrote largely for periodicals.— Minutes of Conference, vi, 241 ; Sherman, JV< w Eng- land Divines, p. 350.
Bridge, William, a Non-conformist divine, was born in 1600, and educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. After preaching in Essex and Norwich, he was silenced for non-conformity and went to Rotter- dam, where he was pastor in Robinson's Congrega-; gational church. Returning to England, he obtained a church at Yarmouth in the time of the Long Parlia- ment, but was ejected in 1662. He died 1670. Ho was a learned and industrious man : in theology a ( 'al- vinist. His Works, consisting chiefly of sermons, were first collected in 1649 ( I vols. 4to), before his death. A new and complete edition has recently appeared (Lond. 1845, 5 vols. 8vo). Sec Calamy, Ejected Mm> isiers, ii, 478.
Bridge Brethren (Fratres pontifices, Freres pon- tifes'), the name of a fraternity founded toward the end of the 12th century by St. Benedict after his building the bridge of Avignon. They were to serve in hospitals when needed, but were more especially intended to devote themselves to the building of bridges and roads. In this capacity they did great
est of these appears to be of Romaii origin, and some of I service in the south and east of France, directing the
BRIDGET
892
BRIDLE
workmen, working themselves, and often defraying the expenses out of their own funds or by collections. They were officially recognised by Pope Clement III, organized on the plan of the knightly orders, and each brother was distinguished by wearing a small hammer on tlic breast. They did not altogether disappear be- fore 1789, although their efficiency ceased long before that time. See Recherches hist, sur les Freres pontifes (Par. 1818).
Bridget (Brigid or Bride), a Romish saint, and the patroness of Ireland, was born about the middle of tin- .Mh century. Marvellous and absurd accounts of her miracles are given in the modern lives of her. Her festival is observed on Febr. 1, on which day, A.D. 521 or 523, she is said to have died. See Mant's Bistort/ of the Irish Church, vol. i, p. 58 ; vol. ii, p. 145.
Bridget (Biugitta or Birgitta), a saint of the Romish Calendar, and daughter of Birgir, prince of Sweden. She was born in 1304, and married Ulpho, prince of Nericia, in Sweden, by whom she had eight children. After the birth of these Bridget and her husband resolved to lead a life of continence. They undertook a pilgrimage to Compostella; and Ulpho died shortly after their return to Sweden, in 1344. Bridget then built the great monastery of Wastein, in the diocese of Linkoping, in which she placed sixty nuns, and, separated from them entirely, thirteen friars, priests, in honor of the twelve apostles and St. Paul, four deacons, representing the four doctors of the Church, and eight lay brothers. See Briget- tines. Bridget, having made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, died at Rome on her return, July 23, 1373. She was canonized by Bonifacius IX, Oct. 7, 1391, and her festival appointed to be kept on the day follow- ing. Her Romish biographers tell of many revelations which she is said to have had concerning the sufferings of our Saviour, and about political affairs. John de Torquemada, by order of the Council of Basle, exam- ined the book of Bridget's revelations, and declared it to lie profitable for the instruction of the faithful (?). It was consequently confirmed by the Council of Basle and the popes Gregory XI and Urban VI, but Bene- dict XIV explained this confirmation as meaning only that the book contained nothing contrary to the doc- trines of the Roman Church. Her Revelations were published, Lfibeck, 1492, and Rome, 1848.— Butler, Lives qf Saints, Oct. 8; Hammerich, Leben BrigitteCs (18G3).
Bridgetines. See Brigittines.
Bridge-water Treatises. The last Earl of Bridgewater (who died in 1829), by his will, dated February 25, 1825, left £8000 to be at the disposal of the president of the Royal Society of London, to be paid to the person or persons nominated by him to write, print, and publish 1000 copies of a work "On the power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifest- ed in the creation ; illustrating such work by all rea- sonable arguments, as, for instance, the variety and formation of God's creatures in the animal, vegetable, ami mineral kingdoms, the effect of digestion, the con- striction of the hand of man, and an infinite variety of other arguments ; as also by discoveries, ancient and modern, in arts, sciences, and the whole extent of lit- erature." He also desired that the profits arising from the sale of the works so published should be paid to Hi- authors of the works. The then president of the Royal Society, Davies Gilbert, requested the assist- ance of the Archbishop of Canterbury and of the Bishop of Loudon in determining on the best mode of carrying into effect the intentions of the testator. Acting with their advice, he appointed eight gentlemen to write Beporate treatises on the different branches of the sub- jeet, which treatises lia.ve been published, and are as follows: 1. By the [lev. Thomas Chalmers, I). I)., The Adaptation of External Naturt to the Moral and Intel- lectual Constitution of Man (Glasgow, 1889, 2 vols. 8vo). 2. By John Kidd, M.D., The Adaptation of External