The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-17
TRAINING OF PRIESTS.

The Summer Retreat at Nashotah-Gen.
Sherman's Son.
From the Milwaukee Journal.
There is a large house at Nashotah,
surrounded by grounds of elegant and
spacious proportions, neglected by the
hand of the gardener. The mansion
itself is falling to decay by long dis
use. Through the dense folilge, a
gun-shot away, glitters a lake, with
deep, lucid bosom and eddying shall
lows. Such place the philosopher
of old might have chosen in
which to Commune with nature
and converse on the mutabiiity of
the unseen universe. This is the
place chosen by the society of Jesus
recreate themselves, and gather
strength and health for, the duties OF
the year. The society is emineutly a
teaching order-a band of men who
devote their lives to the requirement
of knowledge and to imparting tito
others. Rigorous in the ordeal tha'
fits man fer the priesthood in their
order, ten years must be passed in
tie study of philosophy and the Ian
guages, seven in teaching bellies lettres
and acquiring knowledge of character,
before the devotee can place the title
"Reverned" before his name. He be-
comes SIS. j." as soon as he begins to
teach.
1t is customary to close the colleges
of the order during the months of
July and August. For the past four
or five years, in order to give the pro-
fessors in these institutions a breath
ing spell in the life of selt-denial they
have chosen, 1t has been customary to
take some large house in quiet and
secluded spot in the rural districts,
whittier would resort the professors to
pass three weeks in camping out,
They carry their own furniture, wear
traditional and orthodox blue shirts
and pass their time in boating, fishing
and lettering along country roads. A
male cook accompanies them. He is
also brother of the order. Last year
they wenJ to Menasha, the year before
to Elkhart and three years ago to
PeWaukee. A'priest is always present
at the encampment.
There are thirty-seven scholastic
brethren at Nashotah this year, from
colleges at st. Louis, Omaha and Mil
waukee. Among them, possibly the
most distinguished, is "Tom" Sher-
man, eldest son of Gen. VIM. T. Sher
man, of st. Louis. He is teacher in
the st. Louis University. He is man
of q, and joined the order six years
ago in England. He studied in Eng
land two years, in Maryland three
years, and at st. Louis one year.
Rev. Father Rosswinkle, Vice Pres
ident of Marquette College Milwau-
kee, is thu priest. who pres.des over
the encampment. Large as the house
is, it has been found necessary to pro-
cure tents for the accommodation of
some of the gentlemen. A pleasant
vacation is reported by the fortunate
fellows who compose the party. The
rendezvous is not purchased by the
order, merely leased.
The society of Jesus was founded
by st. Ignatius Loyola, or, as he was
known among the profane, lingo de
Recaldo Loyola, in 1887. 1t has a su-
preme hand, called the General. who
is considered about as infallible as
the Pope. The number of Jesuits in
the United States in 1879 was upwards |
of 1000. They are entirely expelled
from the Mexican and Columbian re-
publics. Since its foundation the or
der has had twenty-five Generals.