LOYOLA AND THE EARLY JESUITS. ' 101 



ceived religious ideas of his time. He seems to have acted sincerely on his con- 

 victions at this period. But experience subdues the romantic in his nature. To 

 his devotion and enthusiasm is added a polished artfulness, and Loyola crystal- 

 lizes into the Jesnit. Ambitious and filled with concentrated enthusiam; hav- 

 ing a profound knowledge of the weakness and strength of human nature ; know- 

 ing perfectly how to turn virtue, vice or ambition to the advantage of the church; 

 possessed of a finesse, a flexibility, a duplicity, a dexterity in management almost 

 Machiavellian, preferring truth and gentle procedure — if convenient — but capa- 

 Dle of black deception and pitiless cruelty, if necessary ; believing the doctrines 

 of the church verbatim et literatim, and devoted heart and soul to its interests. 

 This was Loyola, and such is Jesuitism. In this organization the result of Loy- 

 ola's early military education is seen, in the strict code of discipline ; in the de- 

 pendence on and allegiance to the head, or general, who, in his turn, acknowl- 

 edges the Pope as his director; and, in the sharp distinctions between the differ- 

 ent grades. 



So skilfully has Loyola managed his "Constitutions," and so carefully is the 

 discipline applied to the Novices, that none but the most capable can reach the 

 highest and most influential grades, and all lose in the course of their training 

 their influentiality — becoming automatoa — guided only by the will of the "Sup- 

 erior." The vows of poverty and obedience wean them from the world and make 

 them devoted to the order. The discipline and instruction of the Society teach 

 them that the highest duty lies in working for the church. 



So in the i6th century, when the Romish organization was losing its power, 

 was staggering from blow after blow from Lutherism, the Jesuit force came for- 

 ward, instituted itself as a prop under the tottering edifice and gave a vitality to 

 the diseased Church, which has continued to this day. The missionary enter- 

 prise and flexible adaptability of the Jesuits, have largely caused the growth 

 and spread of the Church power in all directions and under adverse circum- 

 stances. From the days of Xavier, to the present, the Jesuit missionaries have 

 displayed heroic enterprise and energy. Most romantic are some of their histor- 

 ies; leaving civilization behind, crossing pathless oceans, fearless of death, plung- 

 ing into unknown lands, they have penetrated everywhere ; and to-night, the 

 vesper melody from the Jesuit Mission bell floats out on the air in every cHme. 

 Truly these men deserve respect for their undying devotion ! But, it is in the 

 courts, in the centres of civihzation, that the Jesuits have fought their most de- 

 termined battles and have applied all their arts. Striving with something more 

 than energy, with hope against hope ; now controlling kings and being the 

 power behind the throne ; plotting, deceiving, committing black crimes; losing 

 ground, being expelled vi et armis, struggHng back again into power; again shak- 

 en off, and finally trodden under foot ; never destroyed, but appearing again in a 

 new phase, relentless and almost resistless. 



What a wondrous history, theirs ! Animated, as it is, by the soul of one, 

 Ignatius Loyola, who died three centuries ago. 



