ing. This was begun by
Anthony, whom you will remember best under the name of Fernandez, and
who was led into the Order by the death of the five Morocco martyrs.
He was not only deeply religious, but very learned. Upon hearing him
preach one Easter, some of the brethren who were present got the idea
that a school was needed in the Order, and that Anthony would make a
splendid head. They laid this plan before Elias, who highly approved
of it, and undertook to present it to Francis. To convince Francis was
quite another matter, and for some time he would not hear of it. But
Elias was a clever reasoner, and he got Francis at last to listen to
the plans. Still he hesitated. His ideal had always been Apostolic
preaching, and he dreaded any change in his beloved Order. At last he
gave in, and wrote his consent to Anthony thus--

[Sidenote: _A Definite Rule._]

"I consent to your teaching holy theology to our brethren, on
condition that such teaching does not stifle the spirit of prayer,
either in yourself or others. I hold firmly to this point, for it is
our rule."

Whether this step was a good or bad one, we cannot say. We only know
that under Anthony no harm came of it, but rather good. With all his
brilliancy and keenness of intellect, and in spite of the way men ran
after him and honoured him, he still kept his simple faith and humble
spirit.

After the Chapter we have already described, Francis took a tour with
Elias into his late province, Tuscany, and then, on his return, he set
himself down to compile a definite and comprehensive rule for the
benefit of posterity, and to which future generations would be able to
refer. Probably the laxities of Elias, which were beginning to make
themselves manifest, strengthened Francis in his determination to
leave his articles of faith behind him in such tangible form that
there could be no questioning the principle and line of action. Elias'
influence was being felt all round. The devotion to poverty was not
what it once was, and the love of authority and office was doing its
deadly poisonous work in the hearts of some. Francis' decision to draw
up a definite rule was far from agreeable to Elias and his set.

Nevertheless, it was done. Taking with him Leo and Bonizio, Francis
went off to a hermitage, and there he dictated the new rule. On his
return to Assisi he gave it to Elias to read, telling him to take care
of it. When Elias read it, he found that it entirely did away wi