Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-05
THE GENERAL
Of THE JESU|TS
First Steps in the Election Of the
BLACK Pope Are Now
Being Taken.
DELEGATES ARE IN SECLUSION
Final Meeting for Counting Ballots,
Which Are strictly Secret,
Occurs sept S.

Rome, Sept 5.--The first steps In the
election OF the BLACK pope" or gem
eral Of the Jesuits, so snxously await
ed by over $1,000 Jesuits all over the
world and considered OF such great
importance by all the adherents Of the
Catholic church. are now being taken.
After the quadriyium. the period OF
four days of the strictest seclusion in
which the congregation OF the Com
pauy Of Jesus prepare for the final
election OF their general and which
began yesterday. the final meeting
will occur for the counting Of the bal
lots leading TO the election All the
delegates entitled TO participate In the
meeting will rise early that morn
ing. sept. 5. for mass. although none
OF them, according to the constitution
OF this important function. will be al
lowed 10 celebrate II exec, the vicar.
Father Ruggiere Freddi, IN the chapel
OF the German college He will also
administer communion TO all the dele
gates. The scene Of over three score
black clad men. with white hair, and
earnest faces preparing for their high
mission will be most impressive The
delegates will then rise and forming
a procession, enter the large hall OF
the German students. informing the
''Nen Creator" The hall viii be very
severely decorated. a large crucifix
hanging on the main wall above the
table destined for the vicar and the
assistants. in front OF which will be
rows Of desks for the delegates. suffi-
ciently far apart TO admit Of each
writing secretly once assembled they
will all fall on their knees and a deep
silence will ensue. which will not he
interrupted for an hour. They will all
pray TO be Inspired by God in the Sc
lection they are about TO make as they
are supposed not 10 have made up
their minds previously as TO the best
person TO choose. II being strictly for
hidden to show any preference In the
information which they try 10 collect
about the possible candidates before the
day Of the election. Most of the
Jcsuits, especially the older ones will
carry into the hall some bread and a
bottle OF water as they will not have
eaten since the night before and they
arc not allowed either to leave the hall
or 10 touch anything but bread aud
water until the election is over.
After having appointed two scruten-
ors 10 assist the vicar IN sorting and
reading the votes. each delegate will
take a solemn oath In the name OF
Jesus Christs eternal wisdom 10 he
fHi fp1 it,f lac. lsaA II ~.
Office. Then each delegate will be
provided with printed sheets on which
inside on the right they viii write the
name OF the candidate and on the left
their own In disguised handwriting. 10
further the secrecy Of the vote. The
sheets VIII then be folded and scale,
so that IN opening them for the scrut-
my the name Of the voter win be con-
cealed and will not be looked AT un-
less an irregularlty is suspected or
that the voter has voted for himself.
which is strictly forbidden. This same
operation will be repeated until one Of
the candidates has attained more than
half OF the votes. once the majority Il
gained by a candidate he will be pro-
claimed elected and all present VIII
rise, approach him reverently and rem
der him homage by kissing his hand.
A decree will then be drafted record
ing the meeting and the results Of the
vote. Immediately after. the general
leading, the delegates viii 90 In pro-
cession 10 the chapel. singing the
Benedict" and after prayer they will
leave the chapel intoning the TIE Deum
The black pope will then receive the
congratulations Of his friends.
4 general OF the Jesuits r. appointed
for life and from the day Of his cleo
ton is the absolute ruler OF the order.
but the work OF the congregation will
continue for a few days after sept. s.
FOR the election Of the generals as
sistants. who also are chosen FOR life
or 20 be more exact. their appoint
ments which continue during the life
OF the general as On his death their
functions cease
The congregation will also appoint a
secretary for the general and a mon
itor" the Office OF the latter consisting
In advising the general who. however.
is entirely independent OF him. Cen
orally both these positions are en-
trusted TO two Of the assistants Their
election as well as that OF the assis-
tants Is carried out under exactly the
same rules as that OF the general