VI. 1540. leisure for this active service, they are totally exempted BOK from those functions, the performance of which is the. chief business of other monks. They appear in no processions; they practise no rigorous austerities; they do not consume one half of their time in the repetition of tedious offices". But they are required to attend to all the transactions of the world, on account of the influence which these may have upon religion; they are directed the study the dispositions of persons in high rank, and to cultivate their friendship; and by the very constitution, as well as genius of the order, a spirit of action and intrigue is infused into all its members. ties in the the power neral. As the object of the society of Jesuits differed from that Peculiari of the other monastic orders, the diversity was no less in form of its the form of its government. The other orders are to be policy; particularconsidered as voluntary associations, in which, whateverly with reaffects the whole body is regulated by the common suf-spect to frage of all its members. The executive power is vested of the gein the persons placed at the head of each convent, or of the whole society; the legislative authority resides in the community. Affairs of moment, relating to particular convents, are determined in conventual chapters; such as respect the whole order are considered in general congregations. But Loyola, full of the ideas of implicit obedience, which he had derived from his military profession, appointed that the government of his order should be purely monarchical. A general chosen for life, by deputies from the several provinces, possessed power that was supreme and independent, extending to every person, and to every case. He, by his sole authority, nominated provincials, rectors, and every other officer employed in the government of the society, and could remove them at pleasure. In him was vested the sovereign administration of the revenues and funds of the order. Every member belonging to it was at his disposal; and by his uncon Compte rendu par M, de Monclar, p. xiii, 290. Sur la Destruct. des Jesuites, par M. d'Alembert, p. 42. Compte par M. de Monclar, p. 12. VI. 1540. BOOK troulable mandate he could impose on them any task, or employ them in what service soever he pleased. To his commands they were required not only to yield outward obedience, but to resign up to him the inclinations of their own wills, and the sentiments of their own understandings. They were to listen to his injunctions, as if they had been uttered by Christ himself. Under his direction, they were to be mere passive instruments, like clay in the hands of the potter, or like dead carcases, incapable of resistance P. Such a singular form of policy could not fail to impress its character on all the members of the order, and to give a peculiar force to all its operations. There is not in the annals of mankind any example of such a perfect despotism, exercised not over monks shut up in the cells of a convent, but over men dispersed among all the nations of the earth. Circum stances which en exercise it with the greatest As the constitutions of the order vest in the general such absolute dominion over all its members, they carefully able him to provide for his being perfectly informed with respect to the character and abilities of his subjects. Every novice who offers himself as a candidate for entering into the advantage. order, is obliged to manifest his conscience to the superior, or to a person appointed by him, and in doing this is required to confess not only his sins and defects, but to discover the inclinations, the passions, and the bent of his soul. This manifestation must be renewed every six months. The society, not satisfied with penetrating in this manner into the innermost recesses of the heart, directs each member to observe the words and actions of the novices; they are constituted spies upon their conduct, and are bound to disclose every thing of importance concern. ing them to the superior. In order that this scrutiny into their character may be as complete as possible, a long noviciate must expire, during which they pass through the several gradations of ranks in the society, and they Compte rendu au Parlem. de Bretagne, par M. de Chalotais, p 41, &c. Compte par M. de Monclar, 83, 185, 313. Compte par M. de Monclar, p. 121, &c.. VI. 1540. must have attained the full age of thirty-three years be- BOOK fore they can be admitted to take the final vows, by which they become professed members. By these various methods, the superiors, under whose immediate inspection the novices are placed, acquire a thorough knowledge of their dispositions and talents. In order that the general, who is the soul that animates and moves the whole society, may have under his eye every thing necessary to inform or direct him, the provincials and heads of the several houses are obliged to transmit to him regular and frequent reports concerning the members under their inspection. In these they descend into minute details with with respect to the character of each person, his abilities, natural or acquired, his temper, his experience in affairs, and the particular department for which he is best fitted". These reports, when digested and arranged, are entered into registers kept on purpose, that the general may, at one comprehensive view, survey the state of the society in every corner of the earth; observe the qualifications and talents of its members; and thus choose, with perfect information, the instruments which his absolute * Compte par M. de Moncl. 215, 241. Sur la Destr. des Jes. par M. d'Alemb. թ. 39. M. de Chalotais has made a calculation of the number of these reports, which the general of the Jesuits must annually receive, according to the regulations of the society. These amount in all to 6584. If this sum be divided by 37, the number of provinces in the order, it will appear that 177 reports concerning the state of each province are transmitted to Rome annually. Compte, p. 52. Besides this, there may be extraordinary letters, or such as are sent by the monitors or spies whom the general and provincials entertain in each house. Compte par M. de Monclar, p. 431. Hist. des Jesuites, Amst. 1761, tom. iv, p. 56. The provincials and heads of houses not only report concerning the members of the society, but are bound to give the general an account of the civil affairs of the country wherein they are settled, as far as their knowledge of these may be of benefit to religion. This condition may extend to every particular, so that the general is furnished with full information concerning the transactions of every prince and state in the world. Compte par M. de Monclar, 443. Hist. des Jesuit. ibid. p. 58. When the affairs with respect to which the provincials or rectors write are of importance, they are directed to use cyphers; and each of them has a particular cypher from the general. Compte par M. Chalotais, p. 54. BOOK 1540. Progress of the power can employ in any service for which he thinks meet to destine them t. As it was the professed intention of the order of Jesuits to labour with unwearied zeal in promoting the salvation of men, this engaged them, of course, in many active of the or functions. From their first institution, they considered power and influence the education of youth as their peculiar province; they aimed at being spiritual guides and confessors; they. preached frequently, in order to instruct the people; they set out as missionaries to convert unbelieving nations. The novelty of the institution, as well as the singularity of its objects, procured the order many admirers and patrons. The governors of the society had the address to avail themselves of every circumstance in its favour, and in a short time the number as well as influence of its members increased wonderfully. Before the expiration of the sixteenth century, the Jesuits had obtained the chief direction of the education of youth in every Catholic country in Europe. They had become the confessors of almost all its monarchs; a function of no small importance in any reign, but under a weak prince superior even to that of minister. They were the spiritual guides of almost every person eminent for rank or power. They possessed the highest degree of confidence and interest with the papal court, as the most zealous and able champions for its authority. The advantages which an active and enterprising body of men might derive from all these circumstances are obvious. They formed the minds of men in their youth; they retained an ascendant over them in their advanced years. They possessed, at different periods, the direction of the most considerable courts in Europe. They mingled in all affairs; they took part in every intrigue and revolution. The general, by means of the extensive intelligence which he received, could regulate the operations of the order with the most perfect dis Compte par M. de Monclar, p. 215, 439. Compte par M. de Chaletais, p. 52, 222. VI. cernment, and by means of his absolute power could BOOK carry them on with the utmost vigour and effect ". 1540% Together with the power of the order, its wealth con- Progress of tinued to increase. Various expedients were devised for in wealth. eluding the obligation of the vow of poverty. The order acquired ample possessions in every Catholic country; and by the number as well as magnificence of its public buildings, together with the value of its property, moveable or real, it vied with the most opulent of the monastic fraternities. Besides the sources of wealth common to all the regular clergy, the Jesuits possessed one which was peculiar to themselves. Under pretext of promoting the success of their missions, and of facilitating the support of their missionaries, they obtained a special licence from the court of Rome to trade with the nations which they laboured to convert. In consequence of this, they engaged in an extensive and lucrative commerce, both in the East and West Indies. They opened warehouses in different parts of Europe, in which they vended their commodities. Not satisfied with trade alone, they imitated the example of other commercial societies, and aimed at obtaining settlements. They acquired possession accordingly of a large and fertile province in the southern continent of America, and reigned as sovereigns over some hundred thousand subjects *. these on ci Unhappily for mankind, the vast influence which the Pernicions order of Jesuits acquired by all these different means, has effects of been often exerted with the most pernicious effect. Such vit society. was the tendency of that discipline observed by the society in forming its members, and such the fundamental * When Loyola, in the year 1340, petitioned the pope to authorize the institution of the order, he had only ten disciples. But in the year 1608, sixty-eight years after their first institution, the number of Jesuits. had increased to ten thousand five hundred and eighty-one. In the year 1710, the order possessed twenty-four professed houses; fifty-nine houses of probation; three hundred and forty residencies: six hundred and twelve colleges; two hundred missions; one hundred and fifty seminaries and boarding schools; and consisted of 19,99$ Jesuits. Hist. des JesuItes, tom. i, p. 20. * Hist. des Jes. iv, 168-196, &c. |
