Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-02
Ifrom the National Intellipap..~-
The .TeaufkaS nu@R~ 6oAcef

~
GEoRGETowN CoLLEeE, Cd. ca Feb Is, 18sk
Gentlemen "A composition bearing the tile
Jesuits Oath" has been circulating In the nan. The
the country,it is said, extensively On reads
myself the imposition seemed SO glazing, 50 K il
Sterne's curse, made TO hand for the Pope ,hl nks
seemed to no one could pernse it seror. nat 1t
Friends, however assure me that the oath is
many with long faces Despite, then an oSs u Oy
repugnance to appear in the public journals eme
quest small place IN your columns for the 49,. re-
and unqualified denial Of the use or even ex pivsTs
now or ever before (and this aver thouchtteeIaGe
the Jesuits. If summoned to Court they nav .1s
oaths other citizens, but Jesuits thew ,aIo N
oath at all. no
| am humated as Marylandqr, at beipg o,u,
upon on the borders OF my native State to mak rao
above disclaimer and thus repel the charge ~ we
than latent treason! The Western shore of Ma Ufe
land, the home of my childhood, has ever boo a'y
classic place, cherished in my heart with nstra.
pr de. There are the remains of my grandatbo oN
revolutionary soldier, and there. in an ad;oe;',s
county, is the landing place of the Pilgrims ~ S
| Mary's" whose brightest scenes and best memo;a.
are imperishably connected with the Jesuits, nan les
Such antecedents, though not ashamed If ~.
tainly should not have adverted to had not ~ ''
tempt been made, by fabricated oath and H.; ~ q"
cetcras, to cast an unjnst and deadly odium nno Ct
religious order of which am at present Snnsroa
Maryland. cannot help seeing in this an efo, n
render me and my brethren in religion aliens ~
home and strangers by our own fresides W.
cruelty misrepresented by the trainers of the abor
named oath. Were we mere like the coricoD,
made of US, feel convinced that they woud III. ne
better than they do. Assimilation wonld nv,
affection Still, while with very little heart .acbs
foego their affection, due respect for the on;no,
of mer of goodwill, moves me to make brief doca
ration of our tenets as Jesuits For this ,nr,,os"I
will use the highest official authority, and ap,m1o,
the language of our recently elected and prpss
Superior General. / quote from an encyc icaI leto,
, of his received few days since
g The Society of Jesus, being religious order h.,
no other doctrine, other rules OF conduct than
+ those of the Catholic Church, as was publicly d.
q clared by my predecessor in 1847 In TACT. and i;
right, the Jesuts and declare themselves entey
unconnected with any political party, be it what !;
may. Always and everywhere they say to al BY
their teaching and by their conduct, Render un.3
Caesar the things that Caesars and unto God bs
things that are Gods" MAX II. IT,, Such an
the principles which the Society of Jesus has awsy
held, and from which it will never depart"
y This is the definition of The Superior General, an
his declaration alone is of authority for the who'll
Society.
may yet refer to still higher authority, the con
i situations of Society. These ineapaciate mem
Der from holding any Office of dignity or trust in
If who intermediates in airy political affairs or bushes
l. OF State See Institute, vol. 2, p. 1907 Here "
J. see the constitutions of the Jesuits excluding he
L. from the political arena and the legislative hall
n Our churches and the liberty to do good mu
z suhce tor US; and whatever our enemies may sa
}. faithful history and grateful hearts do and will
witness in our favor. Respectfully,
j. CHARLES HENRY SToNEsTREET S. j.,
e Provincial of Mary land