The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-17

R@o i.s o Or srs was ss tn,
,,.ti,, of n vicar-qene al to replace the
late Father Anderiedv.
The selection of the monastery OF Azpsy-
tia az the place of meeting was at once ap-
propriate and significant. Near there
Icnatius Loyola, the founder of the order,
was born, in 1491, of a noble Biscayan family.
Hence the place is one OF sacred memory to
the Jesuits. Again, in holding their con-
gregation at Azpeytia the order has estsb-
lished a ~portentious precedent. for this is the
first time in their history that they have
ever held it outside of Rome. During the
three hundred and three-score years which
have passed since the vow was taken by
Loyola aud his followers that constituted
the order, not one of its elective meetings
for the affairs anent of a general has ever
been held outside of the Eternal city. Here
lies the significance of the congregation OF
1892, inasmuch ms it is supposed to signalize
the elimination of centuries of secret frlc-
ton between the vatican and the Jesuits.
Nor in Rome has the new chief of the order
been selected, but in a comparatively re-
mote part of romantic Spain, near the wild
waters of the Bay OF Biscay. and not very
distant from tho ancient walls of Pampe-
luna, under whose shadow the chivalric
Loyola, defending the city against France.
received the wound that confined him to
his couch for months and was the indirect
cause of his forsaking the sword for the
cross.
There is something in the contemplation
of this most recent movement Of the Jesu-
it's. Essentially q Spanish order, they have
hitherto performed that most important
function, the election of a general. outside
of Spanish territory. Now they return to
the land of their nativity and meet in a
place where every association and tradition
recalls their early struggles and the COM
mencement of that career of persecution
and e~ventful triumph through which they
have since passed. Rome is for the nonce
ignored, and their deliberations, seemingly
on purpose, conducted without the sphere
of its influence.
The hitherto recognized principle that
the psoyincials, as the local heads of the
order throughout the world are called,
should first assemble at the central house
at Fiesole, in Italy, was not observed this
time. for the foreign. that is, the non-1tal-
ian members, are understood to have OBJ
jected to what they are said to have termed
''yatican supervision" Even assurances
that their apprehensions were Sroundless.
80 it was further stated in Italian circles.
did not suffice to override the objections of
place was finally abandoned for Azpeytia,
in Spain. -
So far az history and every known record
can advise as, the Jesuit order is min emily
representative of the Catholic church mill
tapt. In it's conception the product of a
soldiers brain. its first tenet was til Q
preaching of the faith wheresoever and in
whatsoever manner the church might re-
quire. Duty was its watchword and hest
tation unknown to it's lexicon. Az the time
the Jesuits started in upon tn mission as an
order affairs in Europe were disturbed and
critical, King Henry Will, of England,
had Just destroyed no less than 600 monaster-
les, and was at war with the vatican, which
gladly welcomed the proffered services of a
disciplined body of fearless and devoted
men ready to undertake anything in the
cause of religion to which they might be
assigned, and who possessed one price
less aualitication-they were organized
under a constitution whose keystone wal
obedience to one leader. This was Loyola
himself-the first general of the Jespits
The Office was to be, and has continued to
this day, a perpetual one, invested with alb
solute authority, acknowledging no superior
bat the pore himself. The revenues wer,
to be enjoyed only by such colleges as thu
s~ociety might establish for the MAINTENANCE
of students, religious or otherwise, but tn
memDeTs, lHulftuuhily VI III CouiIhoH, WeG'
not to hold property. The Roman coilsg'
of cardinals objected at hfst, to the recog
milton of the O, der, but finally gave in, an,
Pope Paul III. Issued his hNll confirmin
its authority. Some incidental! iefe ence t
the more distinguished men who hav
filed the Office of general from Loyola'
time to our own may be given before treat
ing of the modern attitude of the order to
wards the vatican end the world.
The vicsr-general has always been a Eu
ropean, and the recent rumors af1oat in tn
United States as to the possibility of a
American being chosen were all along re
esr6ed i'll info med Gil cles as unworthy of Sc
rious discussion. There is NOS likely to b
an American head of the Jesuits any NOR
than an American pontItf. One very ex
cellent reason exists for this-the prepoI
derance of votes is found in Eu ops whel
not fully account for the tendency I
choose a European head. for thel
are more Jesuits in France tina
anywhere else, and yet a Frenchman ha
never been chosen for the Office. Traditio
and sentiment impsl to the selection of
European.
The fl OF general after Loyola was Faith,
Laynez, who placated the French pa rliamel
and did much to gan a permanent foo
hold in Germany and France. Under hill
colleges were established in Paris and Dill
Iingen and missions in nom Christian couI
tries were theoretically pushed.
st. Francis BorGia, q cousin of Charl,
". followed Laynez in Office, and durin
his time the Jesuits came slightly In &C
lision with the vatican-Pius V. was tn,
,ope-and suffered some persecution at Il
hands OF the French Calvinists and Hugh
nots.
Francois Mercurean was the fourth gel
eral and the order increased numerical
during his time.
The administration of Aquaviva carfi
us we'll into the seventeenth century, al
the growth and achievements of the jest
order were very great during his incul
bsney. Their college Mt Rome attained t
fame of a great university, with thousan
of students, and the number Of Christi,
converts in Japan increased from 200, 100
nearly 100000. the missionary work bel
almost solely conducted by Josuits. Chi
was also invaded by them, and Robert
Nobili, despatched to India in the sal
cause, succeeded by his tact and skill
securing numerous converts. Ricci and
Nobili, the two Jesuit priests W
respectively proselytized in Chi
nnd India. show what wonder
gifts the Jesuits possessed in approach
oriental peoples upon that most deiic,
question-their religion. The attack ma
not long since by a japanese missionary l
on sir Edwin Arnold, and the reply of
latter to the striuture passed upon his p