The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-08-20
BLACK POPE
Somber- CARRIED Monks Arriv-
ing in Rome From All Parts
of the World to Elect Next
Pope Of the Jesuit Fathers.
PRIOR TO ELECTION
ALL IS SOLITUDE
Conclave May Choose an American,
Rev. Father Rudolph
Meyer.
Annotated Press Cable to The Evenf.s
Times.

A.sociated Press Cable to The Evening"
Times.
Rome, Aug. 0.-Sombre-g -garbed
monks from the four quarters of the
world are arriving in Rome singly or
In twos or threes to attend the ap-
preaching conclave of the Jesuit con-
gregation to elect new general of the
order, to succeed the late Very Rev.
Luis Martin, who for 16 years directed
the forces of the Jesuit army. Second
only to the consistories which assemb-
lie here to elect pope is this conclave
of Jesuit fathers. Secrecy guards, the
balloting of the cardinals when they
elect pontiff, but even more guarded,
If possible, are the proceedings of the
Jesuit fathers on like occasions.
The meeting place of the congrega-
tion is not even made public, but it
is generally believed that the coming
conclave will be held in or near Rome.
Sometimes the place of meeting is not
made known until after the election
has taken place. The fact that the
delegates to the coming congregation
have been ordered to proceed to this
city is no sure indication thai the con-
gregation will be held here Now that
practically all the delegates are gather
ed here, they may be instructed to go
somewhere else, even outside of Italy.
The late general of the order, Father
Martin, was elected In 1892, at a con-
gregation held at Loyola, Spain. 1t is
believed that the coming election will
take place within the next two weeks.
On the eve of the election the dele
gates will spend three days and nights
In solitude, thinking over the situa-
tion. On the fourth day after the as
sembling of the delegates the balloting
begins. Into a large room they are
led, and there they stay voting and
balloting until choice is reached.
Sometimes impending starvation forces
an issue; sometimes days go by with
no food entering their mouths With
out food or water they labor. praying
always for direction and guidance, and
seeking agreement. When the voting
comes to no issue. and after a reason
able length of time has passed, elec-
ton is reached in another way. The
vicar distributes papers to each dele
gate, and ins'cli of a general dis
cussion, followed by oral voting. there
is secret ballot east, which is col
lected by the vicar AMI his assistants
and counted. There are about one
delegates, and two thirds are
necessary to a choice Should this
method fail, the delegates choose five
members from among their assembly
to act as electors, and these five thea
choose general.
For purposes of administration the
Jesuit world is divided into five parts,
over each Of which is an assistant to
the head of the order. Italy has one
assistant, Germany, France, England
and Spain have one each. The assfs-
tant for England is also the assistant
for the United States. Then the five
districts under the assistants are again
divided into provinces. In England
and the United States there are seven
provinces. Two of those are in the
United States, the eastern province,
with headquarters at Washington, d.
c., and the other in the west, with
at St. Louis.
The two provincials from the United
States, Very Rev. Joseph F. Hansel-
Rev. Henry Mceller OF the western
province are in Rome to take part In
the congregation. Each is accom-
panied by two other representatives. of
his province, who will have votes in
the election.
Who the next Jesuit general will be
no one knows. In Catholic circles here
it is held to be possible that an Ameri-
can may be chosen, and the name ,of
Father Rudolph Meyer is mentioned
in this connection. Father Meyer .is
prominent in the order, and has been
a resident in Rome for many years,
connected with the German college
here. Prior to coming to Rome, he
spent years of service in Jesuit In
stitutions in st. Louis, Milwaukee and
In Austria they are saying that the
famous Father Abel, the Vienesse
Jesuit, will be the choice of the dele
gates. Another strong possibility is
the present vicar general of the order,
Father Roger Freddi, who was ap-
pointed by the late general to ai-
its affairs until the congrc-
cation shall be held. When the gen.
eral of the Jesuits feels that death is
impending he places in a sealed en-
velope the name of the man who is
to rule until his successor is elected.
The envelope is not opened until after
his death. Then at once preparations
are begun for election.
The headquarters of the famous
order have been for years at Fiesole,
near Florence, which was the official
residence of the "Black Pope" The
late general, however, resided for most
of the time in Rome, and recently the
immense quarters formerly held by
the Augustinian order in the Ludo-
visi neighborhood have been purchased
by the Jesuits. and 1t is here that the
delegates to the coming congregation
are now rallying. There are more
than 1000 Jesuit fathers In the world
today, covering every country on the
face of the globe. Hence the import
ance attached to the election Of a man
to shape their policies and pro-
grammes.