The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1913-07-10
PAGE TWO THE JEFF
A Modern Jesuit on the Use

error could go so far as to describe
the diabolical procedure of the In
quisitors as being regulated by
sincere desire to do justice" when
they poured molten lead into the
ears of their victims, tore out their
nails with pincers, and let water fall
on their heads till it found it's way
to their brainS-tO mention but
few Of the atrocities. Justice for
sooth! Was that justice? Was it not
rather the fiendish cruelty of human
devils imbued by the spirit of their
satanic father? And of all these
frightful torments, Rome's latest
apOlogist has not one word of CEN
sure, and he states that modern Ro-
manists should withhold their con-
domination Of such Internal iniqui-
ties. Truly Rome has not changed
as regards her, evil propensities,
which reflect themselves especially
in her Jesuit priests. Father"
Vermeersch would undoubtedly make
very capable modern Inquisitor.
Listen to what he writes in praise of
torture:
''Why should we not at once
frankly admit that torture is less to
be condemned in theory than in
practice, which is apt to be abused?"
(p. 1869
And again on the same page:
Gin admitting a moderate amount
of torture into the procedure against
heretics, Innocent w. showed him
self to be a Pope friendly to prog
ress.
''Father" Vermeersch appears to
have a great admiration for Nicholas
Eymeric, who for forty years was an
active Inquisitor, and was RESPONSE
BILE for many murders in the name
of religion. His famous Directory
Of Inquisitors, which, according to
this modern Jesuit, 'has become
classic" gives full directions for
Inquisitorial tortures, and instruc-
tons as to the best means of evading
certain laws which restricted the
power of Inquisitors. A few extracts
from this Directory may not be out
Of place. DR.. William Harris Rule,
in his History of the Inquisition,
gives a translation Of many extracts
from the Directory Of Eymeric, as
expended by his commentator, Fran
cisco Pena, and sanctioned by the
appreciation Of Pope Gregory XIII:
BOLD and strong Ones" says
Eymeric, "will bear the most severe
torments. Those who have been on
the rack before bear it with courage;
for they know how to adapt their
limbs to it, and they resist power
fully. While the torn entor
is getting ready, let the Inquisitor
and other grave men make fresh at
tempts to obtain a confession of the
truth. Let the tormentors terrify
him by all means, to brighten him
into confession. And after he is
stripped, let the Inquisitor take him
aside and make last effort. When
this has failed, let him be put to the
question by torture, beginning with
Interrogation on lesser points, and
then advancing to greater. If he
stands out, let them show him other
instruments of torture, and threaten
that he shall suffer them also. If he
will not confess, the torture may be
continued on a second or third day;
but, as it is not to be repeated (the
Jaws forbade repetition), those sue
cessive applications must be called
continuation. And if, after all, he
does not confess, he may be set at
liberty. Innocent w COM
manded the secular judges to put
heretics to torture; but that gave oc-
casiOn for scandalous publicity, and
now InQuisitors are empowered to
do it, and in case of irregularity,
that is to say, if the person dies in
their hands, they are instructed to