Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-20
JESUIT PRELATE I'LL
SPECULATION OVER SUCCESSOR
TO FATHER LUIS MARTIN.

large part Of Catholic interest. In
Washington and throughout the Worio' III
fact, is now centered In a prospective sue
cessor to the head of the Jesuit order. for
several weeks past dispatches from Rome
have stated that Father Luis Martin. the
superior general Of the order, Is at the
..noint of death" his malady being vlru-
lent form of tumor, known as sarcoma,
and his passing but the matter of snort
time. Members Of the Jesuit order in this
CITY and elsewhere have been notified 10
hold themselves in readiness to send dele
gates to attend general congregation
which must be held within two months
after the generals death.
In view of the disturbed condition OF &C.
clesiastIcaI affairs abroad it has come 10
be the universal belief that an American
will be selected for the post OF honor. ne
Jesuit superior has five assistants, all Oh
whom are eligible for the position, Dut II IS
openly conceded that Father Rudolph Meyer
of ST. Louis is the logical successor. IL IS
customary for the head of the Jesults 10
leave a will in which he appoints a tenn
porary successor, or vicar, who dlrects
affairs until the congress can be called.
That Father Meyer is already vicar IL can
be absolutely stated, and since IN the en-
tire history of the Jesuit order there mas
never been an instance when the vicar uld
not succeed permanently TO the office. it
goes without saying that Father Meyer Will
shortly be raised to that important post
This is especially interesting to Washing
tonians for in this city, at Georgetown Uni
yersity. he studied in early life, afterward
being made an instructor in philosophy at
this institution. He made his theological
studies in Woodstock. Nd. and is personally
known to nearly all the distinguished men
of the order in this city Father Meyer has
served as provincial of the order in St
Louis and was president of Jesuit colleges
in several western cities.
Worked in Spain.
After serving as provincial of the Mis-
souri, division of the order. Father Meyer
was chosen to go to LoyOla, Spain, where
the congregation which elected the present
superior met in 1893. He is said to have
attracted the attention of the new general
almost Immediately, and was appointed as
substitute assistant of the English-speaking
provinces of the Jesuits. Later. on the
death of the English assistant, he was
given entire charge. Since then he has been
the right-hand man of the superior in
Rome, and is still in that city, residing in
the same house.
Although 1t is anticipated that Father
Meyer Will be the next head of the order.
every man in the order in good standing
can be a candidate. Three members to
vote for the next general will be sent from
the Maryland-NeW York province, which IN
cludes the more important northern states
and the District of Columbia. On the last
occasion the president of Georgetown Uni
verslty, Rev. F. P. Healy was chosen, and
the others We're Rev. Burnhard Villeger and
Rev Thomas ]. Campbell. provincial of the
province at that time. There are four in
dependent missions of Jesuits in the United
States, with headquarters at Buffalo. N
Y, New Orleans, San Francisco and the
Rocky mountains. near Butte, Mont. These
missions send one man each to vote at the
conference, but they have no inherent right
to enter the council chamber as delegates.
The election is very ceremonous occa-
sion. Members are kept in seclusion, and
the members of the council select their own
officers. Indeed the occasion is quite like
a papal conclave. The election Is ANNOUNCE
ed by a majority, and there are three scru-
TIMERS, the vicar and two Others chosen
after the council conyenes. Members are
allowed freedom among themselves, and can
question the candidates or those who know
them about qualifications for office.
Father Meyer is one of the most learned
and useful men in the order. He is a
scholar of note, and has published many
books on philosophy and spiritual develop
ment. He is the youngest of the five as
slstants, being just over fifty and of Wig
orous constitution.