A Curious Correspondence.

its eventful history . This , I will endeavour to show in the following sketch , which I trust may not be without some interest for your readers . The Society of Jesus was founded b y Ignatius Loyola , a Spanish noble , in 1534 ; ancl obtained Papal recognition from Paul HI . by the Bull Reejimini militantis ecclesice in 1540 . The period was one of upheaval , in which the old order of things was giving place to the new . It was the dawn of modern

thought , due to two great causes—Humanism ancl the Reformation . The Papal power had already been shaken to its very base ; while the Western Church , undermined by corruption , was rapidly falling into decay . The movement to which the Society of Jesus gave birth has been not inaptly termed "the Great Catholic Reaction , " or "the Counter-Reformation . " Its aim was to re-establish the Papal supremacy , ancl to infuse fresh life into the Church of

Rome . This it sought to attain by various means . Rebellious ancl apostate princes were to be overthrown , the Protestant heresy extirpated , and infidel Science suppressed . Instead of the rack ancl the stake , aid was to be sought from the pulpit and the confessional , from religious ceremonial , education , and missions .

It is a matter of some difficulty to ascertain the precise character of the Society from the accounts given of it b y its own members . They disclaim the designation both of monks and secular priests ; although , in the Bull of Clement XIV ., dissolving the Society , they were exjsressly classed amongst the former . In reality , they partake of the nature of both , although the privileges they secured were far more extensive than those enjoyed by either .

In addition to the three ordinary vows of obedience , poverty , and chastity , they were bound by a fourth vow to devote their lives to the constant and exclusive service of Christ and his Vicar on Earth , and to go without hesitation as missionaries whithersoever the latter mi ght send them . Later on , they were empowered to acquire property of every description for the benefit of the Society . They were dispensed , from all reli gious exercises , from reciting the

Canonical Hours , and from performing the public offices of the Church . They were given authorit y to appoint persons as Coadjutors from amongst the lait y and clergy , and to commute secular vows into other pious works . Above all , they were totally exempted from every kind of spiritual ancl temporal jurisdiction , save that of the Pope ancl the head of the order alone . The Jesuit form of government may be described as an absolute monarchy , of a partly theocratic , partly military type . Its head , who bears the title of General , is elected for life , and is invested with unlimited power , subject only

to the supremacy of the Pope . He is required , however , to pay attention to the advice tendered by certain counsellors , called his Assistants , each of whom has the superintendence of several Provinces . In every Province are Colonies , consisting of houses for the Novices ancl the Professed , and of seminaries , colleges , and missions . A Province is presided over b y its Provincial , a Colony by its Superior . To the General of the Order an Admonitor is attached , whose

function it is to remind him of his duties . Each Assistant Provincial and Superior has , also , an Admonitor and Counsellor , both of whom are appointed by the General . Visitors , too , are nominated b y the latter to supervise the Provincial governments . The records and accounts of the Society are kept by certain officers called Procurators , and the censorship of all works written by its members is entrusted to others called Revisors . On the death of the

General , a Provincial Congregation , composed of the Professed and certain of the Superiors , is at once summoned in every Province . It assembles under the presidency of the Provincial , and chooses two of its number to represent it at the election of the new ruler . The General Congregation , consisting of the Assistants , Provincials , and Representatives oE Provinces , afterwards meets at Rome , ancl proceeds to elect the General , his Assistants , and his Admonitor . The procedure which it follows is the same as that adopted at the election of a Pope . In the event of any changes being made in the Constitutions , they