The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-09-06
CEREMONY VERY IMPRESSIVE
Delegates Entitled to Participate in the
Election Are in Earnest--Event
Begins on September the
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NAfh NANNNANAA VI NtAN 'NNNN hhHN' WA
general OF the Jesuits, so anxiously
awaited 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 quadrivium the period Of
four days OF the strietest seclusion, in
which the congregation OF the company
of Jesuits prepare for the final election
Of their general and which began yes
terday, the final meeting will occur for
the counting OF the ballots, leading to
the election. All the delegates entitled
to participate in the meeting will rise
early that morning, Sept, s, for mass.
althugh none Of them, according to the
constitution OF this important function
will be allowed to celebrate II except the
vicar, Father Ruggiere Ferddi, in the
chapel OF the German college. He viii
also administer communion to all the
delegates. The scene OF over three
score black clad men with white hair
and earnest faces in preparing for their
ceremonies will be most impressive. The
delegates will then rise, and forming a
procession, enter the large hall of the
German students, intoning the "Veni
CREATOR The hall will be very severely
decorated large cricifx hanging on
the main wall above the table destined
for the vicar and the assistants. in
front OF which will be rows OF seats for
the delegates, sufficiently far apart to
admit of each writing secretly. Once
assembled they will all fall on their
knees and deep silence viii ensue,
which will not be interrupted for an
hour. They will all pray to be inspired
by God in the selection they ere about
to make, as they are supposed not to
have made up their minds previously as
TO the best person to choose. ii being
strictly forbidden to show any prefer
ance in the information which they try
10 collect about the possible candidates
before the day Of the elction. Most
Of the Jesuits, 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
are not allowed either to leave the hall
or to touch anything but bread and
water until the election il over.
After having appointed Two sS7it'ni-
gers to assist the vicar in sorting and
reading the votes, each delegate viii
take a solemn oath in the name OF Je-
sus Christ's eternal wisdom, TO be faith
iul in the accomplishment Of their Of
fee. Then each delegate viii be pro-
rided with printed sheets on which in
side on the right they will write the
name Of the candidate and or their left
their own in disguised handwriting. to
further the secrecy of the vote. The
sheets will then be folded and sealed,
10 that in opening them for the scru'
tinv the name Of the voter will be
and will not be looked un-
less a irregularity ia suspected or that
the voter has voted for himself which
s strictly forbidden. This same oper-
alton will be repeated until one Of the
candidates has attained more than half
Of the votes. Once the majority Ia
gained by candidate he will be pro-
claimed elected and all present will rise,
approach him reverently and render him
HOMAGE by kissing his hand. A decree
will then be drafted recording the meet
ing and the results Of the vote. I'm
after, the general leading, the
delegate will 90 in procession to the
chapel, singing the. "Benedicto," and
after prayer they will leave the chapel
the TIE Deum. The "Black
Pope" will then receive the congratula-
tions Of MS friends.
A general Of the Jesuits is appointed
for life and from the day Of his election
Is tho absolute ruler Of the order, but
the work Of the congregation will con-
time for few days after September
3. for the election Of the generals as
who also are chosen for life,
Or, to be more exact, their appointments
which continue during the life of the
general as in his death, their functions
,ease.
The congregation will also appoint a
secretary for the general as monitor"
The office of the latter consisting in
advising the general, who, however, is
entirely Independent Of him. General
:, bo+h Ihese nositions are entrusted to