The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-11
Elecdng the General of the Jesuits

ElectlnS Ino OcHSfdA oA a1AO oSS'AAeS'
The recent death Of the general of
the Jesuits renders it necessary that
the society should elect successor
to him, and it may be interesting to
explain how and under what condf-
tons the election takes place. The So
ciety is governed by a general, aided
by five assistants and a monitor. They
reside with the general, and the as
sistants are called respectively the as
sistants of Italy, Of Germany, OF
France, Of Spain, and of England.
These districts are divided into
provinces. There are FIVE provinces in
the district Of Italy, five in that Of
Germany, four in that Of France, five
in that of Spain, seven in that Of
England. These districts have existed
for, long; thus the district of Spain
embraces nearly all South America,
the district of England all North
America and Gambia, the district of
Germany Austria--Hungary Belgium,
Galicia and HilIand.
At the head Of each province there
is &. provincia, and in each province
there are colleges, schools, homes for
professed Jesu;ts, others for those go
ing through their novitiates, and mis-
sionary stations, each with head. In
the German district, according TO a
return the correctness of which I can
not guarantee, there are $3.50 Jesuits;
Italy, 1874; in that Of Spain, 2,949,
in that Of France, SOIL; in that Of
and in that Of England, 2,437. But
whether this includes only professed
Jesuits who alone must be priests, or
what in another order would be called
lay brothers, I do not know.
The general resides at Rome. Be-
fore his death he appoints vicar, who
acts on the death Of the general as
general in regard to current business
until pew general has been elected.
1t is his business to convoke a
general assembly. This must meet
within six months Of the. notice
Each s.ovincial on receiving the
notice convokes the rectars, the To-
cal superiors and the professed Jesuits
in assem- bly,, and it is decided which OF
the rectors and the local superiors are
to proceed to the general assembly.
Besides this two deputies are elected
by each province.
So soon as they have all reached
Rome, the vicar exhorts them to act
in the best interests Of God and of the
society. The three next days are left
to consider separately who would be
the best man to elect, but they must
not decide even in their own minds
for whom they will vote during these
three days. If any jesuit asks Cor
vote, or it is known to any person that
he is intriguing to become general
this must be notified to the vicar, and
the Jesuit so offending becomes in
eligible should the accusation be
proved.
On tha fourth day they are all shut
I'D in a room, and they remain there
Without food or water until the gen
eral is elected. Sometimes the choice
is made by common inspiration.
When this does not rake place, each
voter writes the name Of his candl-
cate on piece Of paper and signs
it with his own name. The vicar
then collects the papers, aided by ms
assistants, and if any one obtains
more than half of the suffrages he IS
declared elected, and the election is
confirmed by all going for him. II
none gets this majority the assembly
elects five electors, and these five elec-
tors select the general. = London
Truth.