The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-05
SOME NEW BOOKS.


on most subjects vita ct alder aud circun .poo-
ton. slould habtuully indulge in reckless rs
tcrtion about tho Jesu.ts Too often iLc Nom.
bers OF this society SOON a. bo allowed no
standing in tho court 81 Protestant opinion.
and tho character ot their order is rercnlp.
torily pronounced n res d,b1i."r'a Epithots.
insinuations. charges. op.u IONS. which assume
the point Mt Issue, and involve tie merits ol tho
case. pass current in common speech. and have
como TO be accepted ~ the ,s.nblI. bed fact, Of
history. Men who do not srruplc To- submit tie
doctrines Of revealed religion. and thcrorcrrin-
ciples Of ethics n the tc-' al sharp analysis. not
seldom prove upon inquiry &C. havo no ground
for thoir repugnance 10 tho Society IL
Jesus beyond Some witty catchword cullcd from
Pascal Provincial Lottcrs.orsonle pungcut cri-
gram moro or lces corr 'clty gsnrihed a. Eoltdirc
1t is certainly time. ia The interest oi equity and
sound knowledge that tia arbitrary verdict
should at least D." CHALLENGED. that something
besides "a por'p tc-tin ony should br sull red to
win a hearing. We are glad. therefore, to sos
tho work Of PAUL FLvAL. whose eloquent de-
fence Of the Jeruits has commanded q great
deal OF attention in Paris made accessible 20
American readers. Two Enllsh versions ARE
now offered MS one 10y \. I . Gawry baltimore
John Murphy and the o,her ~ Miss Agnes L.
Sadlier New York, Sadlcr ~ Col Both trans
accuracy and case. but Mr.. Galwey'e style is
more compact and animated aud reproduccs
more effectively the ahrupttraHsitions aud bold
imagery. the emphatic. trcnchant. and caustic
dictIon Of the original.
All readers Of French novels know Ftyal not
only as a writer Of spirited and attractive nar-
rativc. but rs perhaps the foremost living
repr, sentative Of u school 81 which tho elder
Dumas was the master and Frederick Suui6 the
most remarkable pupil. Like the author Of
The Three Guurjsmen." Paul F;vnl gives no
heed 10 subjective analysis. hut aims to move or
captvate by revealing with broad. rapid stroke
the objective and pictorial aspects Of his theme.
Ho is weaver Of tales. a story teller. not n
student Of psychological problems. ant whether
we regard the natural bent 81 his tilcut. or the
singular facility developed 10y long pra tice. we
could not easily name any ono better quill
led for his present undertaking. IL has
brought TO this history of tho Jrsuits qualities
and requirements cited to enlist sympathy and
eway the judgment vivid fancy. a shrcwd in
sight uncommon felicity in Arrangement and
composition. and iervent. genuine euihus assn
which is apt prove infectious. There sHstamp
OF honesty upon the book Us II the author had
come 10 his subject not in the spirit AZ an advo-
cate. but in the temper Of Judge. unwilling 10
review. without strong cause shown sentence
rendered in other lorums. It Is an impressive
circumstance that almost all the data favorable
20 the Jesuits ere drawn from the admissions of
their opponents. and that Ftvnl seldom cites
any statements put forward by member, or
npoloeists Of the order. Indeed. the whole tone
OF the plea Will dispose tho reader 10 credit the
authors explanation of his present attitude on
this subject. fevnl tolls MS that he himself was
persuaded against his Will. that he was led 10
respect and honor the Society Of Jesus in the
course OF an inquiry begun with the deliberate
intention OF scourging their shortcomings and
iniquiues. 1t appears that this occurred many
years ago. al the time when Eugene sue was
printing his Mysteries OF Paris" The con-
ductor Of prominent newspaper wished TO
turn 10 his own account the popular dislike O.
the Jesuts revived or ongenlered by that
novel. and asked Feyal 10 write an historical
summary o. their machinntors AMI mlsdccis.
The author was furnished with all the doru-
ments in tho proceedings takcn against
the order during the Inst century. with all tho
literature leveed at tho Jcsuits from the foun-
dation Of the company by Calvin.st. Jansenist.
and atheist sssailanis together with tho coust.
buttons Of Ignatius and mass Of records which
had once belonged TO the society. Fcyal gave.
we are told several months 70 tho investigation
ri these materials. and at the end Of his inquiry
refused 10 carry out his compact 10 was UNI
able. he said 10 cnross and vlnGirGto prejudice
which patient study Of the data had convinced
him was unfounded. In BIS opinion. the indict-
ment brought against the Jcsuis was not made
out. Looking merely 10 tho evidence furnished
by their accusers. there was n manifest failure
OF proof and tho complaint would he dismissed
by any impartial tribunal. revnl WIS first
awakened. he informs Us. 70 tho unsubstautial
character OF the charges lod against the Jcsuits
by perusing the most brilliant AMI violent Of the
Provincial Letters NJ tho end ~ which Pascal had
appended this strange note: Since writing
the above | have read tho books objected TO-"
We need not dwell on the capacious. the gro
tesque significance Of this postscript. With
su'h a concession from Pascal. We are not sur
prised that our author should have grown
somewhat curious 10 learn how many Of the
Jesuits' assailapis had exhibited q like superb
indifference to facts. The conclusion he says.
wis forced upon him that few. II any could
compare in candor and honesty with the writer
OF tho Letters" most OF them having failed 10
look into tho f0cts. both before ard after their
accusations. Satisfied that the bulk Of the tos-
timony against the Jcsniis was unlrustworthy.
Fjval began 10 examine some of the evidence
on their behalf. with the intention OF setting
forth the truth about much vilihel order.
The design. however encountered obstacles
nul tnf execution was deferred iOr almost hnIt
n century. but II WAS at length resumed, and tile
result IA now before US.
VI. F6val has undertaken 10 advocate an opln-
ion which. in the popular judgment OF most
Protestant countries. is par0doxical almost pre-
posterous. Ha has done well, therefore. 90 rely
almost exclusively in portcayng the origin.
purposes. achievements. and vic.ssitudes OF the
Society Of Jesus upon the evidence OF Protestant
historians. And 1t is but fair. 10 commenting this
monograph to the Just and candid reader. that
we should point out briefly the weigh, and dig
nifty Of tho witnesses called for the defence. LIT
us begin by citing certain words penned by the
most formidable opponcn, oi Christianity IN the
last century. because these words supply uu an
swer to the current charge that while the Jesuit
order had "a brilliant beginning. ltspcelliygave
way to decentralization. What did See" says
the famous author. during the seven years
thar l lived In the House OF the Jc.uita tho
most laborious and frugal life. the whole time
taken up with tho cares they bestowed on us.
and with the EXERCISES OF their austere
profession. I affirm that thousands Of
men have bccn brouEht up like myself. and
therefore ! nevor cease to be nstoushed that
people should accuse them Of a corrupting sys-
tam Of MORALS" The Jesu.ts had been ncatnc