96 



WANDERINGS IN 



Second the iiext, by denying themselves, and taking up the cross ? 



Journey. ^ 



Was it fanatical to preach salvation to innumerable wild 

 hordes of Americans ? to clothe the naked? to encourage 

 the repenting sinner ? to aid the dying Christian ? The 

 fathers of the Society of Jesus did all this. And for this 

 their zeal is pronounced to be the most fanatical, directed 

 by the coolest policy. It will puzzle many a clear brain 

 to comprehend how it is possible, in the nature of things, 

 that zeal the most fanatical should be directed by the 

 coolest policy . Ah, Mr. Laureate, Mr. Laureate, that 

 " quidlibet audendi" of yours, may now and then gild 

 the poet, at the same time that it makes the historian cut 

 a sorry figure ! 



Could Father Nobrega rise from the tomb, he would 

 thus address you : — " Ungrateful Englishman, you have 

 drawn a great part of your information from the writings 

 of the Society of Jesus, and in return you attempt to 

 stain its character by telling your countrymen that ' we 

 taught the idolatry we believed !' In speaking of me, 

 you say, it was my happy fortune to be stationed in a 

 country where none but the good principles of my order 

 were called into action. Ungenerous laureate, the nar- 

 row policy of the times has kept your countrymen in the 

 dark with regard to the true character of the Society of 

 Jesus ; and you draw the bandage still tighter over their 

 eyes, by a malicious insinuation. I lived, and taught, 

 and died in Brazil, where you state that none but the 



