JESUITS

a famous religious community of the R.C. Church, founded, 1540, by a Span. soldier, St. Ignatius of Loyola. It came into existence, first as a band of mi ionaries destined for the conversion of the Turks, then, as the practical impo ibility of this task became apparent, it broadened into a society, whose work it should be to become a weapon, adaptable for every purpose the Church might need. To secure this object the more effectively, every outward sign of an especial Order with an especial aim was omitted. Monastic life and monastic habit alike were given up, To the triple vow, taken in all religious communities of the R.C. Church (poverty, chasity, obedience), St. Ignatius added a fourth, that of going without question or delay wherever the pope might see fit to send them for the salvation of souls, This was taken for the first time on Aug. 15, 1534. Soon after, 1540, a definite rule was composed and presented to Paul III. By a Bull, dated Sept. 27, 1540, Paul IIT. solemnly confirmed the new ‘Company of Jesus,’ and in April, 1541, St. Ignatius was elected the first General. His Book of Constitutions (first pub. 1558) shows the purposes of the society, his Spiritual Ezercises its inward force and efficacy. It is natural that the organization of Loyola should be military and autocratic, with all the advantages and disadvantages of such a system. The obedience demanded (save in matters of sin) is absolute. The General has practically unlimited power, though he can be deposed by a General Congregation of the whole society. The various grades into which the Order is divided are—(a) Profe ed, who, after several years, have been admitted to final vows. From these only can the Superiors and Profe ors of Theology be chosen; (6) Coadjutors, whether priests or lay-brothers, who carry on the affairs of the society; (c) Scholastic, who in their study and preaching are preparing themselves for the priesthood and their future work; (d) Novices, who by purely manual and spiritual tasks are eing trained and tested. The work of the society has been, through the influence of Claudio Aquaviva—General, 1581-1615—mainly educational and mi ionary; but preaching, natural science, and theology owe much to Jesuit enterprise. In the last-named department, the society has always learned to the broadest interpretation of moral principles, and thus gave color to the brilliant attack of Pascal’s Provincial Letters, the effects of which have been felt till our own day. |. ae its force and military organization made it feared and hated by political rulers, and it has been repeatedly suppre ed in various countries of Europe. After a career of splendid succe and triumphs, both mi ionary and intellectual, it became so unpopular that, ‘for the peace of the Church,’ Clement XIV., by a Bull of July 21, 1773, Dominus et Redempter Noster, without approving or denying any of the charges made against the society, suppre ed fit in all the states of Christen dom. But it was too useful and too powerful to suffer anything more than a temporary eclipse, and it was reestablished by Pius VII., Aug. 7, 1814—Solicit udo Omnium Eceleszaritum. It is still forbidden in certain countries of Hurope—Germany, Switzerland, Portugal, etc. In England its work is mainly educational, with colleges of 1908), an American philanthropist; 6. in West port, Conn. As a youth he entered the banking busine , retiring, in 1884, after having ama ed a large fortune. His money he devoted to many public benefits. He was one of the founders of the Young Men’s Christian A ociation, and he gave $100,000 to the Women’s Hospital and pualary large sums to Yale University and Williams College. He was most widely known, however, on account of his deep interest in Arctic ex- | pioration, giving strong backing to such expeditions, among them being the Jesu North Pacific Expedition...