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September 2, 1854 .J THE LEADER. 831
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A BA.TOH QE BOOKS.* TJie Shady Side is a...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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. Nigoli^I'S History Jes"Dits. Nkolinvs ...
noble family , but being the youngest of eleven children , was sent b y his father to be a page at the Court of Ferdinand "V . He despised the inactivity of Courts , became a soldier , acquired a character for bravery and dissipation , and finally -was wounded , as we have said , in the defence of Pampeluna against the French . The victors sent him to his father ' s castle to be cured . During the process of recovery , after he had devoured all the books of knight-errantry that could be procured , the disabled soldier fell in with the Lives of the . Saints . According to his biographer , lt he became deeply interested , and read it over and over again . The strange adventures of these saints—the praise , the adoration , the glorious renown which they acquired — so fired his mind , that he almost forgot lxis favourite paladins , ilis ardent ambition saw here a new career opened up to it . He longed to become a saint . " This
man was Ignatius Loyola , the founder of the Society of Jesus . He was born a fanatic and a hero . His fiery imagination made him a fanatic , and jhis iron will prepared bim to become a hero . He flinched from nothing . With laborious exactitude he served his apprenticeship for sainthood . So severe were his mortifications that the reward , in the language of a , Catholic biographer , was the " gift of healing the troubled consciences of others . " Wepass over his early struggles . Like the Apostles of a new faith , or the founder of a new sect , he encountered serious opposition . He began with a handful of disciples , among whom were Xavier , Le Favre , Lafnez , and Kodriguas . What must the master have been whom such men -were not unwilling to obey ! Bui , through the vista of persecution , Ignatius saw his end , and he had a will that could have removed mountains if they had lain in his path . Ori the 27 th of September , Paul ill . issued " the famous bull
Jtegimini Militanlis , Ecclesiai , approving of the new order under the name of the Society of Jesus . " Of course the Jesuit writers describe the recovery of Ignatius ias a miracle , and . the success of his order as the result of the iri > terposition of Heaven . ; The miracles may or may not -have been worked , it may or may not be true that the Apostle Peter came down from Heayen to superintend the setting of his disciple ' s leg ; hut if we Vish to acc 0 U ^ t . for the success of Ignatius Ijpyla , / we need go no farther than the constitutions of the Society . One will reignsthroughout the system . The General of the Order is , in every respect , supreme , arid the machinery is so perfect that the General may be almost said to have the attributes of JKyinity , — -bniiiiscience and omnipresence . The candidate , who seeks admission into the Order is strictly watched , during his year of probation . He is trader contmual
inspection , and in confession his inbst secret thoughts are inade known , to his priest , who carefully records them , for the benefit of the GetieraL And so throughout—by continual subjection to another ' s will , each member becomes an instrument in the hand of his order . It follows that nt one moraentj and for every , day arid hour , some thousands of the finest intellects : m the world are engaged with intense and submissive earnestness / in . carrying put the dictates of a master -will . The candidatei regards the Superior . * f as Christ the Lord , '' he is " moved and directed , just as if Tie were a corpse " Then , again , personal or intellectual defects are ; a sufficient reason for exclusion from the order . The Jesuit has no property , no individuality , he is merged in the great society -whose name once struck terror into the heart of Europe . ¦' . ¦"' . "¦ ¦ ¦ ' ' ¦' - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' ¦'¦ ¦ . ' ¦ '¦ ¦' ¦ ' . ¦ . . . - .- ' •¦ ¦' ¦ ¦ . ¦ . ¦' ¦ ' ¦ . ' . - . ' ¦ ¦'
A . singlofact will show : the vitality which was breathed into the Society by its founder . In the year 1556 , only sixteen years after its commencement , the Jesuits could number "twelve provinces , a hundred houses , and upwards of a thousand members , dispersed over the whole known world . " At that period , too , the General of the Order was in correspondence with nearl y all the kings and princes of Europe , allaying q uarrels , carrying on negotiations , and , above all , advancing the interests of his society . Meanwhile , Francis Xavier had advanced to the Celestial Empire . The scion of an illustrious family , this most eminent of missionaries was one of the earliest companions of Ignatius . At twenty-five he -was a professor of philosophy in Paris ; ten years afterwards he was setting out on a mission to India , clothed in rags , and with the certain prospect that his heroic exertions would he soon cut short by death . Here is a picture of the man on his arrival at Goa : ¦—
" There Xavier was horror-struck at the indescribable degradation in which ho found , not th « Indian idolaters , but the Povtuguoso Catholics , their own priests foremost in the path of vice . Tho contempt that these proud conquerors had for a feeble and despised race , the charm of the East , the \ vealth they found , the climate inspiring voluptuousness—all combined to banish from their breasts every sentiment of justice , slmme , and honesty . The history of their debauches and immoralities is really revolting . Thirst for gold and voluptuousness wero their two predominant passions ; and tho gold , acquired by infamous and cruel means , was dissipated , in revolting and degrading deeds . Bartoli gives us a fearful picture of tho demoralised condition of tho Portuguese in India . But , without trusting jinplioitly to all this historian ropresonts regarding their corruptions and licentiousness , wo know by other sources that tho corruption was extreme , and tnnt it was their dissolute lifo that induced tho Indians wlio had been converted to our religion , feeling ashamed of tho name of Christian , to return to their idols , Xavier thought it would bo useless to attempt converting tho idolator before ho had reformed tho morals of tho Christian ; but ho considered it neither prudent nor useful to attack so great an ovil directly and openly . Ho rightly judged that tho children would bo most easily forked upon , and \\ o resolved to reach this by exciting their love of novelties and unwonted sights . Ho arms luin & olf with a
hand-bell , winch ho swings ¦ with a powerful hand , throws away his hat , and oaila in a loud and impressive tone on the ( fathers to send their children to ho catechised . Tho novelty of tho fnot , tho noble and digaitiod countenance of a man dressed in rags , could not fail to axcito curiosity at least . Men , women , and children rush out to boo this strnng . 0 man , who draws along with him a crowd to tha oliurch . and thaxo , with passionate and iniprossivo eloquence , endeavours to inspire them ¦ with shamo for their conduct , and lectures to them on tho most essential rules of morality . Then hobegina to toaoh tho children tho rudiments of tho Christian reli g ion , and tlieso innocent cvoiUmoh love to listen to a man who shown himself tho kindest find gentloHfc companion , joy fully mixing in all their pnati » iea . A numberof children Boon becamo Wa constant auditors , and to say lie did uot work any Rood among thorn would UQ an Untruth . Nor dill lio oonllnn hm nnnstnlin . minis ! rv t . n tlin muti'iuillm-i n ( nliililiwin Tin .
wag , on tho contrary , indofatlgablo in his exertions to bo of use to ovary one . Ho took up Iiib fibodo in tho hospital , visited tho prisoner , assisted tho dying . With n flexibility chuxactoristio of tho system , and often employed for tho worst ends , ho mixed with nil classes , and spolio and acted in tho most suitable- manner to please them ' nil . Often might you have eoon him at tho same tablo with tho gamester—ofton did ho by hm gay humour rejoice this Uanquot table— often might ho have boon aeon in tho haunts oi doluuchuos ; and in all thoao placoa oxquialto good taste , combined with joHt or bittor sarcasm U-propos to time and placo , rondorod tho vlco either vUiiculoua or loathsome Mirny , to enjoy Xavier ' s friendship , renounced thoirproflignto halitn , and foil back to tho pnths of virtue . Hut it ia a gratuitous assertion , mid contradicted by Xavior liimuulf , that ttioanpoct of tho town wap ohangod by jus predications and oftttiohlBingH . Wo ropoat it again—no man has tho power to work suoh i ^ ° ° *? onl ^ ft ( r ° S P UCO for ono mor o quotation . It i « tho story of the death of Ignatius : —
But bis career was now drawing to an end . The different occupations—the direction of both the spiritual and temporal matters of the order , which was already widely spread the anxiety caused by the many conflicts in which the Society was engaged—the fear of defeat —the joy arising from success—his unrelenting activity—his uneasiness at seeing the pontin ' cial chair occupied by Carraffa , always adverse to the order—all these things contributed to shorten his days . His constitution , -which had fceen impaired in his youth , and in the cavern of Maut-eze , now gradually gave way ; and although no symptom of his approaching end was yet -visible , ' no paleness of countenance , not a sign in all his body , ' nevertheless he felt the vital principle fading away within him , and that nis last hour was rapidly drawing near . He tried the country air , and for this purpose went to a villa lately given by some riends for the use of the Roman college , but lie found no relief . His strength was fast failing him ; an unconquerable lassitu . d * e crept over his whole frame , and his intellect only remained clear and unchanged . He spoke of his illness , nay of his approaching end , to nobody . He returned to Rome , and threw himself urion a bed . A doctor was sent for bv tha
alarmed fathers , but heba . de them be of good cheer , ' for there was nothing tlie matter with the general' Ignatius smiled ; and when the physician was gone , he gave orders to us secretary , Polancus , to proceed to the holy father straightway to recommend the Society to his care , and to obtain a blessing for himself ( Ignatius ) , and indulgencies for his sins . Perhaps he made this last attempt to disarm , by his hamility , the inflexible Paul IV . ( Carrafta ) , and so render him favourable to the Society . He was mistaken . Paul sent the requested benison , but he did not change his mind towards the Society . However , Polancus reassured by the doctor , and wot seeing any danger himself , disregarded the order , postponing tie fulfilment of his mission till next day . Meanwhile , after Ignatius had attended till very late to some affairs concerning the Roman college , lie was left alone to rest . But what was the surprise and consternation of the fathers , on entering his room next morning , to ifind him breathing : his last ! The noise and confusion caused by ' such an unexpected event were great . Cordials , -doctor , confessor , were immediately sent for ; but , before any of them came- —before Polancus , who only now ran to the Pope , returned—Loyola had expired . His demise took place at five o ' clock on tie morning of the 31 st of July , 1556 , m / his > sixty-fith year . So ended a man who is es . tolled by the one party as a saint , execrated by- the other as a naonster . ; He was neither . Most assuredly ,-in the Protestant point or view , and by all those _ who advocate the cau . se of freedom of : conscience , and of a return to'the purity . of the primitive religionofChrist , rgnatiua ought to be detested lo nimaiittto tiae inourniui
aoove any ocaer mmyiQuai . ms oraer oeipngs giory or naying decked the . progress of the Keforrna'tion , and of having- ' kepia . great part of Etirbpe under fcheyoke of superstition and tyranny . . . . J , ¦¦ ¦ -. ' , ' . -v ^ ) . "'¦¦ " } ' - ' : } ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦' -. ' ' ¦ ' And here we are led tp mention a fact -which , -we thinkhasHthertobeen ^ iinnpticedthe indulgen . ee , we should say the ^^ impartiality , evinced by Protestant writers for these last ten years towards the Jesuits , and especially the founders of the order . The factmusfc be explained :. The Jesuits , from 1830 ; to the end of 18 ^ 8 , seerned to have lost all public favour , all influence and authority . Persecuted and hooted inFrance , Switzerland , Eussia , hated in their P"wn dominion , Italy , they were considered as a yana ^ uished enemy , deserying father conjniiseration . than laired . A reaction ensued ; in their favour . among their most decided opponents ; Generous souls rose up to dfefeiid these persecuted men , and stretched out a frieudlj hand to them , thus trodden upon by-allJ Carnod away with such chivalrous sentiments , they have enabeHished , witb ^; the colours of their iervid imaginations and the graces of their copious styles , whatever th ^^ Jesuit Tvritersi hay edelated ] 6 f their chie fs ^ V-aiid ; liave represented , Loyola and his cbnxjanions as herpes of roniarice rather than as realhistorical characters . Weleave these writers to reflect whether the Jesuits area vanouished enemy , or whether they are not still redoubtable and menacing foes . But with , deference to such distinguished writers as Macaulay , Taylor , Stephen , and others , we dare to assert that in writLne . about the Jesuits , thejr- were led astray by the above rpmantic sentiments ; and we should moreover warn them that their woi & s are quoted by the Jesuit vrritersCretineau , PeHico , & c , as brrefragable testimony of the sanctity of their members . "
We masfc bow recommend our readers to ; M . JTicolini' s book . To : b » ¦ written by ah Italian , the style and comtjosition are remarkable . Great care , and labour have been used , in the collection of the faetSj and , for persons who have not the time or will to consult more ambitions iistoiieSj M . Nicplini ' s work will serve every purpose .
September 2, 1854 .J The Leader. 831
September 2 , 1854 . J THE LEADER . 831
A Ba.Toh Qe Books.* Tjie Shady Side Is A...
A BA . TOH QE BOOKS . * TJie Shady Side is a picture of clerical life in America , the moral of the story being , that " flocks" are sadly deficient in , the discharge of their duties to their pastors . Establishment or no establishment , there is the same complaint from , the Unpaid pox'tion of the priesthood- The clergy ar $ shut out from all profitable occupation , and depaand to be paid in kind for their exclusion . In early times , this appeal was made with great success . The maxim was recognised , and the coiFers of tlie Church "were filled with offerings from the zeal of converts . Now-a-days , the case is different . la England , the condition of " poor curates" is one of the crying scandals of the wealthy establishment , and , if -we are to believe the Pastor ' s Wife , the voluntary principlo produces no better results . Edwcvrd Vernon } the hero of our story , passed through a successful career at College . la his cradle , life had been destined for tho ministry ; and , though tempted for . a time by the more brilliant prospects of the bar , he finally resolved , in obedience apparentl y to the wishes of a dying sister , " to dedicate himself to the great work of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ . " It was not without considerable miscivines
that ho arrived at this conclusion : at length he "was fully satisfied , and his reputation easily procured him an early " call . " Of the first eighteen months we hear little or nothing ; but at the end of that time Mr . yjeitNou marries , and his wife is chosen from a family who aro not his parishioners . This is " tlie head and front of his offending 5 " tho Jay of his marriage is the date of all his troubles . Mrs . Pritchardy a match-making old woman , was aggrieved ; Miss Olivia Cook was fairly insulted ; scarcely a woman was therein the parish , young or old , who did not resent the choice of her minister . The truth is , pf course , that clergymen liave no right to marry . Domestic cares arc incompatible with tlie discharge of spiritual functions , and a priest should close his heart against the sympathies of his kind . The rest 01 the story is very briolly told . Jidward Vemon passes from Salem to > Milloillc , from Mijloille to Obuy , but everywhere his expenses exceed his inoomo ; lus applications for money aro rudely rebuffed ; his sermons lose thoir vigour 5 Ins ministrations avo cold ; and ho dies at last of brain fever . His lifo , indeed , was not ono cloud of sorrow , but every joy was damped by tho consciousness of pinching poverty . k Wo cant honestly recommend The Shady Side . It is obviously a record of exporiencos , and ia written in a fresh , truthAil stylo that is extremely attractive . Wo have only room for one quotation . It is a description ok MUloillo , tho second scone of [ Edward Veruon ' s labours : — ~ * Tho Skadu Side . By 11 Pns tor ' s Wife . ConutnMo .- The Earnest Student . Gonah \ h \ o .-O « t 0 ? Harncs * . By Kir W . A'Bookott . J . J . Guilluumo . -- MacDerumtie Utetoru of Komi . Groombri ( l o .-7 V ( 0 Half Stoter * . » 7 Mb * Doynhnty . O _ li « man ami Hdl—Mo Sta Lima . liyJ . V . Ooonor . Ho < l K « on .- ^ « W ^ Keefi « yJ ' J ' ' ^ oper . Hoclgaon .- ^ efc 0 ( Works qf Dr . Chthmera . Vol . I . Ounntnblo «« J C j— itt ^« ta »» % » Pooplo ' a Isiditlon . Lonamixnu—Aformonitm . Lmmuuf- * to 3 ^ Na » ctom An Odo . He « rno . -- '/ Ww and hV * . « y J . A . L j > nfi ford Iugho 8 .- rAo X , a « j Payavf Diserth . 13 y W . 0 . Stnrbnoh . Snanddro and Qtley . —Pope's Worka . By Dr . Oroloy Adam Scott .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 2, 1854, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_02091854/page/15/
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