Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-22
In Spain 1t might stimulate the opposition
OF the liberal party to them.
A Democratic Society.

a Democratic Society.
Although the Society of Jesuits is aristo-
cratic and autocratic it is also very demo-
cratic, The superior general is an absolute
autocrat; his word is law; his orders can
not be questioned and from his decisions
there is no appeal. His commands must
be obeyed instantly and no questions asked.
he mas absolute control over all the prom
erty or the order. which is valued at hun
dreds of millions of dollars But he il
elected by the members of the order The
same system prevails all the way down.
a jesuit priest Is always under imperative
orders. which he obeys like a soldier trust
ing to the wisdom OF his superior hut he
eiects that superior, and takes care that
MS dictator shall be a man In whom he
can have confidence The Jesuits are the
ahiest, the shrewdest and the most highly
educated OF all the religious orders II Is
impossible for any but the brightest in
teiiects to pass the examinations and undar
90 the mental tests required for admission
TO the society. No one ever saw an ieno-
rant or unsophisticated Jesuit Their social
accomplishments are also of very high
grade. They are trained in diplomacy and
In the exercise of tact and thorough s<nowI-
cage or human nature.
The Jesuit Congregation.
The congregation which will elect a new
general for the Society of Jesus will consist
OF three degeates from each of the twenty
Vided, making a total of seventy-flve mem
bers. The provincial of each provtnce will
be one of the delegates and the other two
VIII be elected by ballot at a meeting Of
me Hity Oldest fathers in each province
All the elections are by secret ballot Every
o oeeisioH OF Importance in the Jesuit Soci-
ely is by ballot When a congregation 10
IN session majority of its members may
take such action as they think proper. but
h m.,en ~ olsperses. the provincial resumes
s, au.ociatIc power. Any member of the
socIety is permitted to send memorial on
,hy SUBJECT TO one of these congregations
anu II the members of that body consider II
% suincient Importance they can act upon II
bnnaI .tf or pass 1t up to the higher tri-
p .' WIN recommendations. In that way
t,e hufnblest member of the order NAV
Always have the right of appeal
Nhen the international congregation
n,eets any provincial may nominate a can
uluate Tor general of the order and the
nohlhee receiving a majority of the votes
Is elected TO serve for the remainder of his
me rive assistants will also be elected
one from each of the five assistancies into
winch the world Is divided These assist
shts serve until the meeting of the next
ccnvocation. If one of them should die or
a vacancy occur among their number an
appointment is made by the general In
mat way Father Meyer obtained his posi-
ION ION mere is one assstancy for the Eng
incorporating Jesuits, another for the Ger
mans, third for the French a fourth for
the Spanish and a fifth in charge OF mis-
sionary work.
Distribution of Jesuits.
There are no civilian Jesuits. That L. a
popular hallucination In ancient times
1t Is probable that priests may have dis
carded their robes now and then and en-
tered into civil, political and even military
lie, but such thing has not occurred for
generations. The name of every member
or the order is printed in a register with
ms residence and the duty in which he is
engaged. There are IL, 514 members of the
Society of Jesus of whom TlS3 are PRIESTS
IN rulI orders, 44O0 are students and no.
vitiates and 1928 are lay brothers who are
employed as clerks, farmers mechanics
servants and in other inferior capacities
The largest number in any one nation are
IN France a total of 3,0SS, notwithstanding
the fact that they have been dispersed and
uIl9er me Jaw cannot live In communities
and cannot engage in any business affairs
or any kind. The French law SAYS that
not more than three persons bound by re-
hglous vows can live under the same roof
Spain has 2.S24 Jesuits and the third
largest number are in GERMANY from
which country they have also been ex-
PEELED. The laws of Germany do not per
NIT jesuit to live within the boundaries
or that empire, yet more than $500 are
there engaged In parish and educational
work. Their presence Is not a secret The
register, which is accessible to everybody.
SHOWS who and where they are, and what
a IT.
and it would be repealed but for the
1ealousies between the liberals and the
party OF the center in the German reich
stag. Both are in favor of the repeal, but
neither can accomplish it alone. and is not.
willing to permit the other to share the
credit.
There are LIB Jesuits In the United
States. of whom 749 are priests and sos are
students. The remainder are clerks, farm
ers, mechanics, gardeners, porters and
servants about the colleges and other in
stltut rs In which they are engaged Rus
STA has 465 Jesuits; England $50, and Mex
leo, another country from which they have
been expelled and in which the laws do not
permit them to live, has 25S. The most
fashionable church in the City of Mexico
is In charge of Jesuit priests, and 1t is
said that the confessor of the president s
wife is a Jesuit, Notwithstanding the pro-
hibtion against them. Only about one
fifth of the entire membership of the society
is engaged in pastoral work. Eighty per
cent are educators and missionaries The
Jesuits have always been the most success
full pioneers of any missionaries, particu-
larly among savages.
NnHcTnED rzr,