The Restoration of the Jesuits.
THE recent change in the policy of Pope Leo XIII. is exciting more interest in European political and religious circles to-day than any other topic. The present pontificate was distinguished at the outset for its moderation, and for its skillful trimming of sails to avoid shipwreck upon political rocks. But at last Pope Leo has taken a step even in advance of his belligerent predecessor, by his letter confirming all the privileges of the Jesuit order—"the fertile mother of men distinguished for holiness and wisdom, and the guardian of solid, sound learning," to quote the language of the Papal brief. This famous order was established by a bull issued by Pope Paul III. on September 27, 1546, three hundred and forty years ago. Its members, chief among whom were Ignatius Loyola, St. Francis Xavier, Laynez, and Le Fevre, added to the usual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, a fourth vow of absolute submission to his Holiness the Pope as their supreme earthly lord and master; and they elaborated into a thousand forms of practical action the pernicious principle that one may do evil that good may come, or, in other words, that the end justifies the means. Under this false moral philosophy deceit, intrigue, lying, assassination, and almost every crime known to the courts, and many not thus known, were allowed, and even transformed from their own hideous depravity into virtuous conduct. The conscience of mankind could not stand such a doctrine when it worked itself out into manifold forms of political chicanery, fraud, violence, and civil revolution. And therefore the opposition with which the great University of the Sorbonne in Paris met this infamous order during the first ten years of its existence, crystallized finally in 1773 into a combined movement on the part of France, Spain, Naples, and Parma for its absolute suppression. These Powers, determining to rid themselves of such an incubus, secured from Ganganelli a written declaration that a Pope without acting against canonical laws was at liberty to suppress this order, and then they elected him Pope, with the name of Clement XIV., on purpose to put his opinion into practice. After hesitating four years to lift his hand against such a powerful and compact organization, Clement finally issued the famous bull: Dominus ac Redemptor noster, and the Society of Jesus went down externally. But times change and we change with them. The Jesuits, never guilty of the sin of idleness, kept up increasing activity, and resorted to every artifice to secure a recognition and liberty. Finally in 1801 Pius VII. permitted the Order, which had existed as a secret society, to reorganize itself in Russia. In 1814 the same Pope extended a similar privilege to all countries, thus virtually annulling the bull of his predecessor. Since that date the Jesuits have been persistent in their demands upon the several Popes to disavow the interdiction of Pope Clement. It might have been supposed impossible for the present mild and conciliatory pontiff—whose election was opposed by the Order—to bring his mind to this disavowal. Yet that is precisely what he has done, and henceforth the Catholicism of to-day is that fashioned by the Jesuits, the most implacable foes of Protestantism. It is the complete triumph of Ultramontanism, which proclaimed the Papal infallibility, and which would unite all Christendom in the absolute monarchy, to the utter repressal of all spontaneity and free institutions. And so it is, after generations of struggles and a most remarkable experience of vicissitudes, this Order at the moment of its deep humiliation in France rises into a splendid exaltation at Rome. The evidence of their renewed life and restoration to privileges has been showing itself in many ways, but especially in their open purchase of the magnificent Hotel Costanzi and much adjoining property, and in other preparations for doing some kind of extensive business. Denial is made by Cardinal Manning that they have regained completely all the pontifical favor which they once enjoyed, but the Cardinal makes admission as follows:— "What has now happened may be taken to be that without being absolutely restored to the position made for it by the bull of Paul III. it has been put by the present Pope into possession of privileges most important to its independent and successful administration in different parts of the world." Here, then, is a long step backward by Pope Leo XIII. This act of putting the Jesuits, whose name is a synonym for most that is bad, into possession of exclusive privileges bodes no good to society; to Governments, to mankind. Christendom has drunk of the Jesuit cup of abomination until nauseated and disgusted by the bitter dregs at the bottom. Many philanthropists of no particular creed, as well as Protestants of all creeds, were hoping that this prolific source of secret meddlesomeness with Governments, of tyranny, malignity, and a thousand infamous procedures, was forever checked and prospectively abolished. But just when its power seemed to be broken, it shows its perennial life by springing into new activities, and regaining its old privileges, or so many of them as to insure its independent and successful administration in different parts of the world. Let the world take sharp notice of this new move in the game of Papal lust for dominion regardless of the means employed. Prime ministers will henceforth have more diplomatic problems to puzzle over. Courts will be on the lookout for new and subtle combinations of the cunningest of intriguers. Everybody will glance nervously at those splendid buildings in Rome which signalize the Jesuit restoration, and will wonder what revolutions are being hatched therein.—Christian at Work.