The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-20
SUCCESSOR TOLUISMARTIN
How Monks Deliberate Be.
fore Reaching Selection
tBy Associated Prvss1

in twos or threes 10 attend the ap-
preaching conclave Of the Jesuit con
gregation to eject 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
assemble here TO elect pope Is this
conclave of Jesuit fathers. Secrecy
guards the balloting of the cardinals
when they elect a pontifT, but even
more guarded, If possible. are the pro
ceedings OF the Jesuit fathers on like
occasions.
The meeting place OF the congrega-
ton 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 that the con-
gregation will be held here Now that
I practically all the delegates are gath
cred here they may be instructed to
go somewhere else, even outsiie of
Italy. The late general Of the order
Father Martin, was elected in 1892. at
a congregation held at Loyola, Spain
\ It is believed that the coming election
will take place within the next two
weekc.
On the eve of the election the dele
gates will spend three days and nights
in solitude. thinking over the situation.
On the fourth day after the assembling
of the delegates the balloting begins
Into large room they are led. and
there they stay voting and balloting
until a choice is reached. Sometimes
impending starvation forees an issue;
sometimes days go by with no food
entering their mouths. without fool
or water they labor, praying always
for direction and guidance, and seek
ing agreement. When the voting
comes to no issue, and after a reason
able length Of time has passed, cleo
tion is reached in another way The
vicar distributes papers 10 each dele
gate and instead Of general discus
sion. followed by oral voting, there is
a secret ballot cast, which is collected
by the vicar and his assistants and
county. There are about one hundred
delegates. and two-thirds are neces-
sary to a choice. Should this method
fail, the delegates choose lve mem
bers from among their assembly to
act as elections, and these five then
choose a 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 assist
ant 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 - those are in the
( United States, III eastern province,
with headquarters At washington,
D. c., and the other IN the west, with
headquarters at ST Louis,
The two provineials from the United
States, Very Rev. Joseph f. Hansel-
mann Of the eastern province and
Very Rev Henry Moelier Of the west
ern province are in Rome to take part
in the congregation. Each is ac-
companied by two other representa-
tives Of his province who viii 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
American 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 resident in Rome for many
years, connected with the German COL
lege here, Prior to coming 70 Rome
he spent years OF service in jesuit
educational institutions in 81. Louis,
Milwaukee and Cincinnati.
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 admin
. lister It's affairs until the congregation
= shall be held. when the general Of
} the esuits feels that death is impend-
lag he places 10 a sealed envelope the
name vf the man who Is 10 rule until
his successor is elected The envelope
is not opened until after bis death.