The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-14

VI Aueeody evening, uI. AoIo oeuvcrc0 INC
second lecture Of the course. to very select and
respectable audience, at the Tabernacle. Subject,
the suppression Of the Jesuits BY Pope Clement the
I4th. He began by saying that enc Of the most
interesting events Of the eighteenth century was
she suppression of the order of Jesuts by Clement
Che l4th; at the same time il was 90 sudden and
mysterious, that il surprised both Catholics and
Pedestrians why the Pope suppressed his body
gusrds-that remarkable body that had resisted the
spirit of Professionalism. To discuss this question, is
the subject of this lectures and here let me say that
will discuss it by simply employing historical
truth, for we gain nothing 6y the employment Of
heated zeal or bitterness. We must be just-we
must be honest; and in presenting to you this
great and Interesting subject, will do ii hstOri-
cally; but srill am Protestant, and will discuss
the subject as Protestant although Roman Catho-
hes may view il with other eyes.
No subject can be more trite. Every one knows
the general history of this remarkable order of
men. Who has not read or heard of The genius Of
Jgnatius Loyols, his system, and the encourage
ment L received in all the Courts of Europe, and
ITS diffusion throughout that.contnent? Who has
not heard Of their missions, their vast wealth, their
unequslled power !-how they so1lanted the old
priesthood and monks-how they amassed wealth
and spread their influence, and how the branded
all liberal ideas with the name % infde-
lry-how they dallied with despots in con-
meeting Church and State, and how they aimed
n governing the world-how they succeeded
will of the people, that the very name of Jesuit.
ism has become a word ia the English la guage
synomous with craft and cunning. Doubtless those
charges have been aggerated and the Jesuts have
Deem sIandered. No Class OF men has been so
much abused by Professionals, and 30 praised by
Catholics. 1t is difficult to know the exact
truth go as to do them complete justice; but one
thing ID certain--they have not live In vain-they
have LEFT their mark on the worlds history, which
will remain to after ages Yet, after all, they
have been suppressed. And again l ask, why
did this happen! But, before l explain the
cause, il may be well TO parrate their fall.
The irst blow aimed against them was when
they were in the fallness of their power-when
they had 500 colleges, 23 missions, and nearly
Z3,OOO members, and this blow was first struck
when they had almost exercised bonndIess power.
Ii was struck by the King OF Portugal IL so hap
peBed that an attempt was made, one evening, on
the king, while going 10 see his mistress. A pistol
sho, was fired at hm the Jesuits were suspect
ed Of being engaged in the plot he believed them
guilty, and cot i'd only get nd OF them by charging
the m with being connected with 1t. The result
was that the bishops were ordered 10 remove them
from all schools and colleges in Portugal Similar
steps were taken Ia the breZs their properly, in
both countres, was contiscated to the uses of the
State. The excuse OF the King Of Portugal for his
severity was, that they had become degenerate
and corrupt, and were dangerous 10 himself and
his government.
Soon after their suppression 10 Portugal, their
doom was sealed m France. Louis XIV, VINO was
a higot, and who was then ruled b. Madame de
Pompadour, one oil he most intriguing women of
her age, and who ruled France in the name OF
Louis-ibis woman they offended, and went
far as 10 rrfuse TO grant the hing absoluton until
he put her away. This go epraged Madam de
Pompadour, that she swore TO De revsnged; and
she kept her promise. the prime minister of
France, at the lime. was her creature, aud more
over, he was philosopher, and French phloso-
pier, too; and he thought IL not only right to sup
press the Jesuiis, but u get rid of all religions He
was Just the man to carry out such purpose; and
he was seconded by an event which Just then
occurred. Father Lsncelot, Jesuit, speculated
largely, and failed, and hrs failure implicated the
whole society; but II 90 happened that their usual
tact had failed them-;hsy neglected, or refused,
10 pay the debt. They could not have acted more
ipjudiciousIy; their affairs were examined into in
9 court at justice; and the judges declared the
Jesuits were Responsible for the debt of Father
millions TO the house in Marseilles who had the
claim against the defaultng priest; but his not
enough They were, IN the progress of the examina-
ton Obliged to produce their secret rules; and. says
81. Pness, there WAS universal esgerness amongst
all classes TO read those cre constitutions, and
hnd out by what machinery they trampled on
thrones, ana kept kings Ia vassalage. But although
Louis the Fifteenth feared them he was taught
to respect them like all Bourbon kings he did
not think his life safe without Jesuit confessor.
and had u not been for the wounded pride of
minister to alarm the king with threats Of a civil
war, he would not have suppressed them. He
was told that 81 bishops had met in conference,
AID that they demanded n reform ot the order
~
their constitution, TO which they replied they would
remain ~ they we're, or exist no longer; !" TO
be, or not TO be" was their motto bat their
existe nee was opposed tc the spirit OF Europe.
There was time, however, when they were strong;
but il was not IN the eighteenth century. In 1854,
they were suppressed in France, and expelled the
Kingdom. and in three years afterwards the same
fate met them in Spain. At that time, the fashion
In Spain, was IL wear broad bIimmed hats, and the
hing wished TO suppress it-a revolt was the conse
quence of his attempt, and 4 appears the re-
volters received sign from the Jesuits, and the
revolt was immediately put down. The king be-
came alarmed, and thought the Jesuits had some
hand in the attempted revolution; and from that
moment he became afraid Of their influence and de-
sermined to suppress and expe them from the king
dom but still he was afraid To act openly; he knew
what use might be made OF the assassin's dagger.
He knew what priest could do His proceedings
against the Jesuits were conducted in silence for
more than year, and when all was ready, he
announced without any parade or ceremony. by an
autograph letter, to the spanish bishops TO remove
the Jesuits nom all seminaries and religious es.
Adjustments; and the governors OF provinces re-
ceived despafches, AT the same time, to enter their
establishments, seize their property, and expel and
transport them out OF the dominions OF spain, In
every part Of the world, aud they were forbidden
ever TO enter the country again, or any ct its de-
pendencies, even to correspond with their friends
Mr. Lord then went on 10 state how they had
been suppressed in Italy, how they intrigued for
the election OF Pope Gangenelli, and how after-
wards he betrayed them. Towards the conclu-
sion OF his lecture, he paid them high compli-
me mt for their great learning, aud many Other viz
tues which they possessed; but, like all human
Institutions, become corrupt, they sacrificed every
thing TO wretched expedients; they corrupted re-
ligion, hey were everything TO all men; with
them the end ssnchhed the means Through the
confessional they made the statesman divuge
State secrets, and the wife her husbands affiirs.
Mr. Lord, on sitting down, was loudly spplauded.
ahe u~sSop Ianeers mud the 0r,tish Army