from accredited historical authorities, and partly from the "Secreta Monita," or the hidden Rules of the Order-rules carefully concealed during that long period in which men felt the blow, without seeing the hand which struck it-rules, the discovery of which at once armed all Europe against the Society. The first copy of the "Secreta Monita" was discovered in the Jesuits' College at Paderborn, in Westphalia; and a second at Prague. A preface directs that they shall be communicated, even to the initiated, with the utmost caution; and as the result of personal experience, not as the written rules of the Order. And, in the case of their falling into the hands of strangers," they must be positively denied to be the rules of the society."

The founder of the society was, as is well known, Ignatius Loyola, one of those sly enthusiasts whose folly never so gets the better of their cunning as to prevent their pursuing the worst ends by the most efficient means. He soon overcame the reluctance of the court of Rome to establish a so ciety, of which all saw the inutility, and many the danger, by a general pledge to obey the papal mandate in every part of the world, without reward or support. And, under the sanction of a bull thus obtained, and granting every privilege which enthusiasm or art could desire, the society, in half a century, obtained settlements in every Catholic country; its members multiplied; its wealth increased; and all Europe felt the controuling influence of its genius and power. The rules of the Order were not, however, completed by the founder of the institution: they were enlarged and perfected by some of the most distinguished followers of Loyola; and, in particular, Lainez is supposed to have been the author of the "Secreta Monita."

The primary object of all the monastic orders (as is justly stated CHRIST. OBSERV, No, 159.

by the author of the pamphlet), is
to separate men from the world.
The object of Jesuitism, on the
contrary, was to make them masters
of the world. And the modes of
government in these distinct orders
correspond with their distinct
objects. The other orders are to
be considered as voluntary asso-
ciations, in which whatever affects
the whole body is regulated by the
common suffrage of all its members.
But Jesuitism was purely despotic.

ties from the several provinces, pos-
“A General chosen for life by depu-
sessed power that was supreme and
independent, extending to every per-
son and to every case. He, by his sole
authority, nominated provincials, rec-
tors, and every other officer employed
could remove them at pleasure.
in the government of the society, and
him was vested the sovereign admini-

In

stration of the revenues and funds of the Order. Every member belonging to it was at his disposal; and by his uncontroulable mandate he could impose on them any task, or employ them in what service soever he pleased. To his commands they were required to yield not only outward obedience, but to resign up to him the inclinations of their own understandings. They were their own wills, and the sentiments of to listen to his injunctions, as if they had been uttered by Christ himself. Under his direction they were to be only passive instruments, like clay in the hands of the potter, or mere ma chines incapable of resistance. Such a singular form of policy could not members of the Order, and to give a fail to impress its character on all the peculiar force to all its operations. There is not in the annals of mankind any example of such a perfect despotism exercised, be it observed, not over monks shut up in the cells of a convent, but over men, dispersed among all the nations of the earth.” p.5.

The trust thus reposed in the General of the Order required that he should be intimately acquainted with the powers and dispositions of the agents over whom he possessed such unlimited controul. Accordingly every possible security was taken for his acquiring such knowledge. Inspection of

the minutest kind was maintained; reports from every district of the society were multiplied; and tributary streams of information were incessantly rolling into the grand reservoir at Rome, to which the General alone possessed full access. M. de Chatolais has made a calculation of the number of reports thus transmitted. These amount to 6584 annually. Besides these are those communications which were called "Letters extraordinary." The provincials are bound not to confine themselves to the giving an account of the society, but are also to state the civil and political circumstances of the various commonwealths in which they reMost of these statements are to be conveyed by a particular cypher known only to the General. The account given by Robertson * of the system of espionage and inspection is so curious, that we have been tempted to extract it.

professed members. By these various methods, the superiors, under whose immediate inspection the novices are placed, acquire a thorough knowledge of their dispositions and taleuts. In order that the General, who is the soul that animates and moves the whole society, may have under his eye every thing necessary to inform or.direct him, the provincials and heads of the several houses are obliged to transmit to him regular and frequent reports concerning the members under their inspection. In these they descend into minute details with respect to the character of each person, his abilities natural or acquired, his temper, his experience in affairs, and the particular department for which he is best fitted. These reports, when digested and arranged, are entered into registers, kept on purpose, that the General may, at one comprehensive view, survey the state of the society in every corner of the earth; observe the quali

side.

"As the constitutions of the Order vest in the General such absolute dominion over all its members, they carefully provide for his being perfectly informed with respect to the character and abili

ties of his subjects. Every novice who offers himself as a candidate for enter

ing into the Order, is obliged to manifest his conscience to the superior, or to a person appointed by him; and in doing this is required to confess, not only his sins and defects, but to discover the inclinations, the passions, and the bent of his soul. This manifestation must be renewed every six months. The society, not satisfied with penetrating in this manner into the inmost recesses of the heart, directs each member to observe the words and actions of the novices; they are constituted spies upon their conduct; and are bound to disclose every thing of importance concerning them to the superior. In order that this scrutiny into their character may be as complete as possible, a long noviciate must expire, during which they pass through the several gradations of ranks in the society, and they must have attained the full age of thirty-three years before they can be permitted to take the final vows, by which they become

Charles V. Vol. ii. p. 431.

fications and talents of its members;

and thus choose, with perfect informa tion, the instruments which his absolute power can empley in any service for

which he thinks meet to destine them."

As the object. of the Order was to obtain influence in all quarters. of the globe, and among all classes of men, they naturally became missionaries, preachers, schoolmasters,

and confessors. And in a short
time they became almost the ex-
clusive, and certainly the most dis-
tinguished, instructors of youth in
every Catholic country. They were
the confessors of almost every Ca-
tholic monarch and person of dis-
tinguished rank. Their wealth,
notwithstanding a" vow of po-
verty" which they found little dif-
ficulty in evading, was immense.
They obtained a licence to trade
with the nations whom they un-
dertook to convert.
They made
themselves masters of an immense
province in South America. And
thus, although when Loyola, in
1540, petitioned the pope to autho
rize the institution of the Order, he
had only ten disciples, in the year
1608 the number of Jesuits amount-
ed to 10,581, In 1710 the Order
possessed 24 professed houses, 59
houses of probation, 341 residences,
612 colleges, 200 missions, 150

seminaries; and the society consisted of 19,998 members.

The characteristic principle of the Order is rightly stated by Dr. Robertson to be simply this, that its interests are to be promoted by all possible means, at all possible expenses. And the examiner of their records almost shudders to consider some of the means employed by the agents, and sanctioned by the rulers, of the institution. We shall here extract from the pamphlet before us some of the "Secreta Monita;" assuring our readers, that we have not malig nantly raked in them to seize the faulty parts, but that these extracts present a fair sample of the whole.

"Princes and distinguished persons must by all means be so managed that they may gain their ear, which will easily secure their hearts; so that all persons will become dependant upon them, and opposition be prevented. Since ecclesiastics secure the greatest favour by winking at the vices of the great, as in the case of incestuous marriages, &c. such persons must be led to hope that, through their aid, a dispensation may be obtained from the pope, which he will no doubt readily grant.It will further their object, if their members insinuate themselves into foreign embassies, but especially in those to the pope.-Favour must, above all, be obtained with the dependants and domestics of princes and noblemen, who, by presents and offices of piety, may be so far biassed as to impart intelligence of their employers' inclinations and intentions.-The marriages of the houses of Austria, Bourbon, and Poland, having benefited the society, similar alliances must be formed with the like object.Princesses and females of rank may be gained by women of their bed-chambers, who must therefore be particularly addressed, whereby there will be no seerets concealed from their members. Their confessors must allow greater latitude than those of other orders, in order that their penitents, being allured with such freedom, may relinquish others, and entirely depend on their direction and advice.-Prelates must be engaged to employ the Jesuits both for confessors and advisers. Care must be taken, when princes or prelates found either colleges or parish churches, that

the society always haye the right of presenting, and that the superior of the Jesuits, for the time being, be appointed to the cure, so that the whole govern may become dependant on the society. ment of that church and its parishioners Wherever the governors of academies thwart their designs, or the Catholics or Heretics oppose their foundations, they must endeavour, by the prelates, to secure the principal pulpits.-Their members, in directing the great, must seem to have nothing in view but God's glory, and not immediately, but by degrees, interfere in political and secular matnistration of public affairs is what they ters, solemnly affirming that the admiengage in with reluctance, and only as compelled by a sense of duty.-In order to induce rich widows to be liberal to the society, they must be provided with confessors who may urge their remaining unmarried, assuring them that they will thereby infallibly secure their salvation, and effectually escape the pains of purgatory.-That the widow may dispose of her property to the society, she must be told of those who have devoted themselves to the service of God, and be led to expect canonization from the court of Rome.-Confessors must also inquire of their penitents what family, relations, friends, and estate they possess, and what they have in expectancy, as also their intentions, which they must endeavour to mould in favour of the society.— Such members as make a scruple of acquiring riches for the society must be dismissed; and if they appeal to the provincials they must not be heard, but pressed with the statute which commands implicit obedience from all-Such as retain a love for other orders, for the poor, or their relations, must be dismissed, since they are likely to prove of little service. All before dismission must be prevailed upon to subscribe and make an oath, that they will never directly or indirectly either write or speak any thing to the disadvantage of the Order; and the superiors must keep an account in writing of the sins, failings, and vices which they formerly confess ed, to be used against them if occasion require, in order to prevent their future advancement in life: and noblemen and prelates, with whom they may have credit, must be prevailed upon to deny them their protection.-All must be caressed who are distinguished either for their talents, rank, or wealth, especially if they have friends attached to the so

ciety or possessed of power: such must be sent to Rome or some celebrated university for study; but if they prefer the provinces, the professors must influence which the Order of Jesuits veigle them into a surrender of their