plural of brother — now used chiefly in formal or solemn address, in referring to the members of a profession, society, or sect, or in the names of certain sects
our scientific brethren have been more blamed for this than we of the humanities — F.N.Robinson
the obligation to instruct them … was shared by his clerical brethren — G.C.Sellery
a member of the Church of the Brethren