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Society pronounced。 The General stood in the place of God。 That
man was the happiest who was most mechanical。 Every novice had a
monitor； and every monitor was a spy。** So strict was the rule of
Loyola； that he kept Francis Borgia； Duke of Gandia； three years
out of the Society； because he refused to renounce all intercourse
with his family。***
* Ranke。
** Steinmetz； i。 p。 252。
*** Nicolini； p。 35。
The Jesuit was obliged to make all natural ties subordinate to the
will of the General。 And this General was a king more absolute
than any worldly monarch； because he reigned over the minds of his
subjects。 His kingdom was an imperium in imperio； he was chosen
for life and was responsible to no one； although he ruled for the
benefit of the Catholic Church。 In one sense a General of the
Jesuits resembled the prime minister of an absolute monarch；say
such a man as Richelieu； with unfettered power in the cause of
absolutism； and he ruled like Richelieu； through his spies； making
his subordinates tools and instruments。 The General appointed the
presidents of colleges and of the religious houses； he admitted or
dismissed； dispensed or punished； at his pleasure。 There was no
complaint； all obeyed his orders； and saw in him the representative
of Divine Providence。 Complaint was sin； resistance was ruin。 It
is hard for us to understand how any man could be brought
voluntarily to submit to such a despotism。 But the novice entering
the order had to go through terrible discipline；to be a servant；
anything； to live according to rigid rules； so that his spirit was
broken by mechanical duties。 He had to learn the virtues of
obedience before he could be fully enrolled in the Society。 He was
drilled for years by spiritual sergeants more rigorously than a
soldier in Napoleon's army： hence the efficiency of the body； it
was a spiritual army of the highest disciplined troops。 Loyola had
been a soldier； he knew what military discipline could do；how
impotent an army is without it； what an awful power it is with
discipline； and the severer the better。 The best soldier of a
modern army is he who has become an unconscious piece of machinery；
and it was this unreflecting； unconditional obedience which made
the Society so efficient； and the General himself； who controlled
it； such an awful power for good or for evil。 I am only speaking
of the organization； the machinery； the regime； of the Jesuits； not
of their character； not of their virtues or vices。 This
organization is to be spoken of as we speak of the discipline of an
army；wise or unwise； as it reached its end。 The original aim of
the Jesuits was the restoration of the Papal Church to its ancient
power； and for one hundred years； as I think； the restoration of
morals； higher education； greater zeal in preaching： in short； a
reformation within the Church。 Jesuitism was； of course； opposed
to Protestantism； it hated the Protestants； it hated their
religions creed and their emancipating and progressive spirit； it
hated religious liberty。
I need not dwell on other things which made this religious order so
successful；not merely their virtues and their mechanism； but
their adaptation to the changing spirit of the times。 They threw
away the old dresses of monastic life； they quitted the cloister
and places of meditation； they were preachers as well as scholars；
they accommodated themselves to the circumstances of the times；
they wore the ordinary dress of gentlemen； they remained men of the
world； of fine manners and cultivated speech； there was nothing
ascetic or repulsive about them； out in the world； they were all
things to all men； like politicians； in order to accomplish their
ends； they never were lazy； or profligate or luxurious。 If their
Order became enriched； they as individuals remained poor。 The
inferior members were not even ambitious； like good soldiers； they
thought of nothing but the work assigned to them。 Their pride and
glory were the prosperity of their Order；an intense esprit de
corps； never equalled by any body of men。 This； of course； while
it gave them efficiency； made them narrow。 They could see the
needle on the barn…door；they could not see the door itself。
Hence there could be no agreement with them； no argument with them；
except on ordinary matters； they were as zealous as Saul； seeking
to make proselytes。 They yielded nothing except in order to win；
they never compromised their Order in their cause。 Their fidelity
to their head was marvellous； and so long as they confined
themselves to the work of making people better； I think they
deserved praise。 I do not like their military organization； but I
should have no more right to abuse it than the organization of some
Protestant sects。 That is a matter of government； all sects and
all parties； Catholic and Protestant； have a right to choose their
own government to carry out their ends； even as military generals
have a right to organize their forces in their own way。 The
history of the Jesuits shows this；that an organization of forces；
or what we call discipline or government； is a great thing。 A
church without a government is a poor affair； so far as efficiency
is concerned。 All churches have something to learn from the
Jesuits in the way of discipline。 John Wesley learned something；
the Independents learned very little。
But there is another side to the Jesuits。 We have seen why they
succeeded； we have to inquire how they failed。 If history speaks
of the virtues of the early members； and the wonderful mechanism of
their Order； and their great success in consequence； it also speaks
of the errors they committed； by which they lost the confidence
they had gained。 From being the most popular of all the adherents
of the papal power； and of the ideas of the Dark Ages； they became
the most unpopular； they became so odious that the Pope was
obliged； by the pressure of public opinion and of the Bourbon
courts of Europe； to suppress their Order。 The fall of the Jesuits
was as significant as their rise。 I need not dwell on that fall；
which is one of the best known facts of history。
Why did the Jesuits become unpopular and lose their influence？
They gained the confidence of Catholic countries because they
deserved it； and they lost that confidence because they deserved to
lose it；in other words； because they degenerated； and this seems
to be the history of all institutions。 It is strange； it is
passing strange； that human societies and governments and
institutions should degenerate as soon as they become rich and
powerful； but such； is the fact；a sad commentary on the doctrine
of a necessary progress of the race； or the natural tendency to
good； which so many cherish； but than which nothing can be more
false； as proved by experience and the Scriptures。 Why were the
antediluvians swept away？ Why could not those races retain their
primitive revela