Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-03-18

FATHER ROoTHAAE.--"Accounts from Rome
mention than Father Raoihaan, the General OF the
Jesuits, is on his death-bed "
This is the simple announcement Of The dangerous
illness OF the most powerful props winch the
Roman Catholic Church has POSSESSED, dun ing
the present century.
The difficulties m which the order of the Jesuits
found themselves, owing to the envy and hatred of
olhel orders in the Church. and which led TO the
elt elton of the aged Father Forts General OF the
Order in 1920, removed ly the accession Of
Leo XII. To- the PapaI chair in 1928. Under his ia
aud protection, the order iuurlshed TO an unex-
amped degree, and at the time OF the death OF For
lis, January, 1929, aud OF Leo in February, fourteen
DAYS later it had recovered possession OF all its for
mer palaces, churches, aud colleges IN Rome, and
vet, so numerous its members, that new struc
lures were demanded for their accommodation
The future pr sperity OF the Jesuts depended in
great measure upon the result of The election Off
new Pope, anu the elevation OF P;us VIII. WAS
triumph for them, which followed uI b, The cleo
ton on the 9th of July. 1929, Of Father Johannes
Roothaan to the Office of Prepcsus Generals Of the
order.
Since The election Of Aquaviva, in 1916 the order
has had no General young, OF such
lrdordnary talents and capacity for business as Roo
ihaan He native OF Amsterdam, born Nov.
20, 1855, and spent his youth in obacco mauuiac-
tory in his native city. At the age OF 10, he entered
the College of the Order at poinzh, and exhibited,
in the circle Of his of.times difficult and delicate du-
ties singular skill and activity. There is one body
in the world which always chooses ITS best To its
highest Offices; and the election of Ruolhaan TO its
head is proof sufficient oil his keen and cumprehen-
sivc understanding, which, in his case, was joined
to truly Ouch dellbrratiom, entire self command,
lndOmitable courage, and a perfect knowledge Of
men, and OF national and International politics. He
at the age of As, in the most perfect deveI-
opement of his powers, and was everywhere hailed
by the Jesuit communities, the greatest pot clan
and most skilul pilot to whom the guidance oil their
order could be entrusted.
Many circumstances have combined, since 1929.
raise the society of Jesuits s0meu hat Of IT'S for
mer influence and power, among them the necessity
which desposm has found Of turning 10 il for nm.
port, against the republican ideas which are so sure
~ spreading throug bout the masses On the CnnI-
nent OF Europe and the natural reaction from the ex
citement Of lS4S; but nothing can account for the in
crease Of this influence and power to their present
extent, but the extraordinary qualifications OF the
head OF the order. In fact, since Roothaau's eleva.
ton in 1929, he has been not only General If The
Jesuits, but really the head of the Church. and hard
ly less than supreme temporal ruler Of the States of
the Church, at least down to the advent of the pres
ent Pope Plus TX. Il mainly owing to the
power Of Roothaan, hat Plus on his accession,
found the States in sad condition. The Cen
era looked only 10 the advantage of his order and
purposely repressed all attempts 10 improve the con-
dion of the people, either intellectually or in their
material interests So long as he was practically re-
gent, no permission could be Obtained even for the
construction OF a railroad Gregory XIV. who snc
ceeded Plus VIII. in 1890, was but pnpuet IN The
hands Of ROothaan, and the losses which the order
suffered through the revolutions Of 1890 we're richly
made up by the head Of the Church.
Father Roolhaan has made himself felt through
out the civilized world The attempts made bv The
nations Of Europe in l84S, to gain religious and DO
litical freedom, have been sklully made to tend to
the increase Of the influence Of the followers Of Inv
ola, and Nv period has that dangerous mower been
more actively working in the affairs Of the world. ar
stood more independently in its strength Than at this
moment, when lis gread head is drawing 10 the close
OF his busy and eventluI Iife.-N Y Tribune.