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Jewish nation； and a harlot to punish the Jesuits。 She availed
herself of their mistakes。
It seems that the Superior of the Jesuits at Martinique failed； for
the Jesuits embarked in commercial speculations while officiating
as missionaries。 The angry creditors of La Valette； the Jesuit
banker； demanded repayment from the Order。 They refused to pay his
debts。 The case was carried to the courts； and the highest
tribunal decided against them。 That was not the worst。 In the
course of the legal proceedings； the mysterious 〃rule〃 of the
Jesuitsthat which was so carefully concealed from the publicwas
demanded。 Then all was revealed；all that Pascal had accused them
of；and the whole nation was indignant。 A great storm was raised。
The Parliament of Paris decreed the constitution of the Society to
be fatal to all government。 The King wished to save them； for he
knew that they were the best supporters of the throne of
absolutism。 But he could not resist the pressure；the torrent of
public opinion； the entreaties of his mistress； the arguments of
his ministers。 He was compelled to demand from the Pope the
abrogation of their charter。 Other monarchs did the same； all the
Bourbon courts in Europe； for the king of Portugal narrowly escaped
assassination from a fanatical Jesuit。 Had the Jesuits consented
to a reform； they might not have fallen。 But they would make no
concessions。 Said Ricci； their General； Sint ut sunt； aut non
sint。 The PopeClement XIV。was obliged to part with his best
soldiers。 Europe； Catholic Europe； demanded the sacrifice；the
kings of Spain； of France； of Naples； of Portugal。 Compulsus feci；
compulsus feci； exclaimed the broken…hearted Pope；the feeble and
pious Ganganelli。 So that in 1773； by a papal decree； the Order
was suppressed； 669 colleges were closed； 223 missions were
abandoned； and more than 22；000 members were dispersed。 I do not
know what became of their property； which amounted to about two
hundred millions of dollars； in the various countries of Europe。
This seems to me to have been a clear case of religious
persecution； incited by jealous governments and the infidel or the
progressive spirit of the age； on the eve of the French Revolution。
It simply marks the hostilities which； for various reasons； they
had called out。 I am inclined to think that their faults were
greatly exaggerated； but it is certain that so severe and high…
handed a measure would not have been taken by the Pope had it not
seemed to him necessary to preserve the peace of the Church。 Had
they been innocent； the Pope would have lost his throne sooner than
commit so great a wrong on his most zealous servants。 It is
impossible for a Protestant to tell how far they were guilty of the
charges preferred against them。 I do not believe that their lives；
as a general thing； were a scandal sufficient to justify so
sweeping a measure； but their institution； their regime； their
organization； their constitution； were deemed hostile to liberty
and the progress of society。 And if zealous governmentsCatholic
princes themselvesshould feel that the Jesuits were opposed to
the true progress of nations； how much more reason had Protestants
to distrust them； and to rejoice in their fall！
And it was not until the French Revolution and the empire of
Napoleon had passed away； not until the Bourbons had been restored
（in August； 1814）； that the Order was re…established and again
protected by the Papal court。 They have now regained their ancient
power； and seem to have the confidence of Catholic Europe。 Some of
their most flourishing seminaries are in the United States。 They
are certainly not a scandal in this country； although their spirit
and organization are still maintained： regarded with some mistrust
by the strong Protestants； as a matter of course； as such a
powerful organization naturally would be； hostile still to the
circulation of the Scriptures among the people and free inquiry and
private judgment；in short； to all the ideas of the reformation。
But whatever they are； and however askance Protestants regard them；
they have in our country；this land of unbounded religious
toleration；the same right to their religion and their
ecclesiastical government that any other sects have； and if
Protestants would nullify their influence so far as disliked； they
must outshine them in virtues； in a religious life； in zeal； and in
devotion to the spiritual interests of the people。 If the Jesuits
keep better schools than Protestants they will be patronized； and
if they command the respect of the Catholics for their virtues and
intelligence； whatever may be the machinery of their organization；
they will retain their power； and not until they interfere with
elections and Protestant schools； or teach dangerous doctrines of
public morality； has our Government any right to interfere with
them。 They will stand or fall as they win the respect or excite
the wrath of enlightened nations。 But the principles they are
supposed to defend；expediency； casuistry； and hostility to free
inquiry and the circulation of the Scriptures in vernacular
languages；these are just causes of complaint and of unrelenting
opposition among all those who accept the great ideas of the
Protestant Reformation； since they are antagonistic to what we deem
most precious in our institutions。 So long as the contest shall
last between good and evil in this world； we have a right to
declaim against all encroachments on liberty and sound morality and
an evangelical piety from any quarter whatever； and we are recreant
to our duties unless we speak our minds。 Hence； from the light I
have； I regard the Society of Jesus as a questionable institution；
unfortunately planted among us； but which we cannot help； and can
attack； if at all； only with the weapons of reason and truth。
And yet I am free to say that for my part I prefer even the Jesuit
discipline and doctrines； much as I dislike them； to the unblushing
infidelity which has lately been propagated by those who call
themselves savans；and which seems to have reached and even
permeated many of the schools of science； the newspapers；
periodicals； clubs； and even pulpits of this materialistic though
progressive country。 I make war on the slavery of the will and a
religion of formal technicalities； but I prefer these evils to a
godless rationalism and the extinction of the light of faith。
AUTHORITIES。
Secreta Monita； Steinmetz's History of the Jesuits； Ranke's History
of the Popes； Spiritual Exercises； Encyclopaedia Britannica；
Biographie Universelle； Fall of the Jesuits； by St。 Priest； Lives
of Ignatius Loyola； Aquiviva； Lainez； Salmeron； Borgia； Xavier；
Bobadilla； Pascal's Provincial Letters； Bonhours' Cretineau；
Lingard's History of England； Tierney； Lettres Aedificantes； Jesuit
Missions； Memoires Secretes du Cardinal Dubois； Tanner's Societas
Jesu； Dodd's Church History。
JOH