Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-06-22

hgieuses) in France, and The law which
is TO be discussed will permit an indef-
mite extension TO this number. But the
communities which are 10 have legal
existence have made a much less rapid
progress than Associations of Laymen
under the colour of religion, but whose
object is TO re-establish the Jesuits, and
propagate their maxims. These Asso-
Citations have various names in the diff
ferent departments, and in dfferen.
towns. which concert the bond of union
common ID them all. We do not know
the esoi them all, but they all have
the same object, and are guided by in
s'ruclions proceeding from common
source. The Societe des Missions de
France, established at Grenoble, has
particular organization, which we know
from the papers Of one of its members,
who died n 1924, and from it an idea
may be tTmed Of what such Societies
are in oth.rs places. This Association
divides The town of Grenoble, which
hardly contains 10000 souls, into TWEEN
~ sections; each section is to consist of
forty members a, least, taken from both
sexes, and among all classes of the pop
nlatlon. Each section is under the au-
thority of an elder or dean. The
whole society acknow Lodges two chiefs,
one with the title of Ecclesiastical Rec
tor, one of the cures Of the town; the
other with the title of President of the
Association, and this dignity is generally
conferred on one of the Judges of the
Cour Royale. Besides these two chiefs,
the Association has other office-bearers,
and Central Council, one of its mem
bers being no less person than an Ad
vocate-General. The members of all
the sections meet on fixed days; the
Deans of each section also meet under
the Presidency of the Political Chief,
and it is by their means orders are sent
to the sections and the members. The
Association acknowledges as its head
the superintendent of the Missions Of
France at Paris; bat this is only nom
inal thing, and only serves as means of
communication between the Association
and the Jesuits. The Association has
a church, and performs its devotions
there; but the doors are shut when
they are engaged in any particular bust
ness which must be concealed from the
profane. The Members attend at pro-
cessions, and practise all the rites of re-
Iigion. The Members are adopted by
scrutiny. After previous inquiry, the
church doors are shut, the candidate is
presented at the altar by two sponsors,
mass is celebrated, he receives the sa-
crament, and takes an oath which
obliges him to secresy, and to obey the
laws of the society. On the oath being
taken, the members repair 10 the Sa-
cristy, where the political President
addresses the new member on his du-
ties to the society, one of which is, to
give an account of every thing which
he may hear or see, contrary TO relig-
ion ard the Monarchy.
When an Ecclesiastic has found in any
infant under his care proper DISPOSE
ton, he presents him TO the Society,
which takes him as novice: if he after
wards gives proofs of a wish to perse-
we're, he is admitted member. 1t is
particularly among schools, and at Uni
versi,ies, that they recruit their num-
bers by these youthful Dovices. The
statutes of the society obIige the men,
bers to preserve in their behaviour the
sembIance of religion by fasting, and by
eating on proper days no meat. They
must hear the Mass every day, receive
the Sacrament frequently, and never 60
to theatre. The influence of the AS
sociation has been remarkable, and
some members, who have hitherto lived
in forge;fulness Of all the duties of relig-
ion, have suddenly begun to practise all
its ceremonies. Each member pays a
certain sum per month; the minimum is
fixed, and the money is all put in chest,
and is never taken out but for some object
Of general utility. 1t is said that at pres
ent fifty millions (fraucs) are levied in
this manner in France. When the So
ciety wants any money, it impIores the
charity of its members, or makes COL
lection. The greater part of the mem
bers, particularly the females, are of the
lowest classes, and only know Of the AS
ISOLATION as having religious object
but those who give proofs of their de-
votedness are advanced TO a higher
rank, which initiates them into the Sc
cret. At Grenoble, as we'll as in the
other parts Of France, the members of
this society obtain the best employ
ments; so that all those who look for
ward for promotion become members of
this society. The Society has three es-
adjustments one of them. the Bibliothe-
que JReligieuse, is under the direction of
an ecclesiastic, and contains from eight
-