The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-20

about two hours has to be taken in COM
paEies of two and three. No one Is al
lowed to choose his companions, but the
master of novices arranges the various
companies. At 6 a second meditation Of
half an hour has TO be made in the chapel,
after which the recital Of some prayers
and some free time bring them on to sup
per at T:S0 After this they have an hours
recreation, during the first half Of which
lin has to be spoken. At come night
prayers in the chapel; then fifteen min
utes spent in the preparation OF their
meditation for the following morning, and
after final examination Of conscience on
their performance Of the duties OF the
day all lights are put out at 10 o'clock.
In Catholic countries the Jesuit novice
Is sent out for about thirty days to beg
aims in the streets, and where possible he
must spend about the same length Of time
in hospital, nursing the Sick dressing
their wounds, making their beds, etc A
month is spent In the kitchen, during
which the novice has to pare potatoes,
wash dishes, grind coffee, and perform any
other mental duties assigned by the cook,
whom the novice has to obey implicitly,
as for the time being his superior He has
also to take recreation during this month
with the lay brothers and TO conduct him.
self as one Of them.
During one month in his first year every
novice has to make what is called the long
retreat. It consists Of thirty days occupied
exclusively in prayer, meditation and SINH
lar employments. Three recreation days
are allowed during the retreat, which are
spent in long walks. Except during these
three days there is no time of recreation,
and silence has to be kept strictly
throughout
Such is the life OF the Jesuit novice for
the first two years of his training. The
balance of his preparation is perhaps
equally hard, but in a different way, and
not so interesting. The three years fol-
lowing these two OF preliminary training
he spends in study. Then he goes to enc
Of the colleges of the society and for five
or six years he is employed in teaching.
Following this ne goes to the theological
college of his province for three or four
years Of theology. Then comes a final
year Of probation, when he returns to the
novitiate and for twelve months repeats
the experimental tests and trials of the
first two years of his noyiceship. He has
to sweep and dust the rooms and corri-
doris. chop wood. wash dishes and do other
mental work, besides going over again the
spiritual work of the novice, the long re-
treat OF thirty days included. If he comes
through this successfully he is admitted
to full membership in the Society OF
Jesus. He is generally well on in the
thlrtleS and mas spent ABOUT seventeen
years in training for his work
Every detail of the routine of the Jesuit
novitiate takes into account the object Of
the society to train its members In a
spirit of obedience, which is more perfect
than is required of men in any other CALL
ing. Jesuit obedience Is blind, unques-
tioning obedience; it is obedience not only
of the will but of the judgment, so that
a Jesuit not only must do what he is COM
manded to do but also is required 10 re-
gard what is commanded as the best thing
possible for him. Abstention from any
mental criticism of superior's order is
required Some men cannot attain to
this perfection of obedience and withdraw
from the society on that account. An
army officer who had been for some time
in the noviceship and had Withdrawn from
il because he could not comply with these
requirements explained the difference be-
tween military and Jesuit obedience: In
the army" he said. you must do what
you are told, but you can relieve your
feelings by swearing mentally at your
colonel, but you cannot do that in rhe
Society of Jesus"
Although Jesuits are permitted to have
no personal adornment. they are usually
lovers of art and delight in the orna-
mentation of their churches and chapels.
In the novitiate at Frederick are many
valuable works of art which VIII be re-
moved to St Andrew when the migra
tion of the community takes place. Pant
ings by Italian masters. beautiful marble
statuary, statues carved from wood by
celebrated Spanish carvers, and many ex-
quisitc specimens of the jewelers. and
goldsmiths' art make up the collection.
A beautiful article in the collection is
cllalice which has an unusual history.
Young men entering the noyitiate are
required to abandon whatever they may
have in the way OF jewelry. For many
wears gold and silver watches, jewelry,
rings and pins, etc. were donated to
collection. which, when of sufficient size,
was turned over TO a jeweler, who con-
verted the metals and jewels into this
chalice. a triumph of his art
The number of Jesuits in America Is
Increasing The principal reason for the
removal of the novitiate from Frederick
TO st. Andrew is that the old building
in the historic Maryland town is no long
er large enough to accommodate all the
Young men seeking admission. The trans
fer. to the new site on the Hudson Will
probably, therefore, be followed by an in
crease in the number OF noyices, and IN
course OF time by corresponding en-
largement OF the corps OF Jesuit mis-
sionaries and educators in America.