Formerly, and to a limited extent in modern usage, anassociation of merchants, artisans, ormechanics, both employees and masters, of the same tradeor similar trades, organized for mutual protection, advancement, and the instruction of apprentices bound over to the association; and also for benevolent purposes, as in providing for destitute members, bearing the expenses of burial, and the like… (Sturgis, 1900)
