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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 revelation？ Why did the descendants of Noah become
almost idolaters before he was dead？ Why did the great Persian
Empire become as effeminate as the empires it had supplanted？ Why
did the Jewish nation steadily retrograde after David？ Why did not
civilization and Christianity save the Roman world？ Why did
Christianity itself become corrupted in four centuries？ Why did
not the Middle Ages preserve the evangelical doctrines of Augustine
and Jerome and Chrysostom and Ambrose？ Why did the light of the
glorious Reformation of Luther nearly go out in the German cities
and universities？ Why did the fervor of the Puritans burn out in
England in one hundred years？ Why have the doctrines of the
Pilgrim Fathers become unfashionable in those parts of New England
where they seemed to have taken the deepest root？ Why have so many
of the descendants of the disciples of George Fox become so liberal
and advanced as to be enamoured of silk dresses and laces and
diamonds and the ritualism of Episcopal churches？ Is it an
improvement to give up a simple life and lofty religious enthusiasm
for materialistic enjoyments and epicurean display？ Is there a
true advance in a university； when it exchanges its theological
teachings and its preparation of poor students for the Gospel
Ministry； for Schools of Technology and boat…clubs and
accommodations for the sons of the rich and worldly？
Now the Society of Jesus went through just such a transformation as
has taken place； almost within the memory of living men； in the
life and habits and ideas of the people of Boston and Philadelphia
and in the teachings of their universities。 Some may boldly say；
〃Why not？ This change indicates progress。〃 But this progress is
exactly similar to that progress which the Jesuits made in the
magnificence of their churches； in the wealth they had hoarded in
their colleges； in the fashionable character of their professors
and confessors and preachers； in the adaptation of their doctrines
to the taste of the rich and powerful； in the elegance and
arrogance and worldliness of their dignitaries。 Father La Chaise
was an elegant and most polished man of the world； and travelled in
a coach with six horses。 If he had not been such a man； he would
not have been selected by Louis XIV。 for his confidential and
influential confessor。 The change which took place among the
Jesuits arose from the same causes as the change which has taken
place among Methodists and Quakers and Puritans。 This change I
would not fiercely condemn； for some think it is progress。 But is
it progress in that religious life which early marked these people；
or a progress towards worldly and epicurean habits which they arose
to resist and combat？ The early Jesuits were perhaps fanatical；
strict； ascetic； religious； and narrow。 They sought by self…
denying labors and earnest exhortations； like Savonarola at
Florence； to take the Church out of the hands of the Devil； and the
people reverenced them； as they always have reverenced martyrs and
missionaries。 The later Jesuits sought to enjoy their wealth and
power and social position。 They becameas rich and prosperous
people generally becomeproud； ambitious； avaricious； and worldly。
They were as elegant； as scholarly； and as luxurious as the Fellows
of Oxford University； and the occupants of stalls in the English
cathedrals；that is all： as worldly as the professors of Yale and
Cambridge may become in half…a…century； if rich widows and brewers
and bankers without children shall some day make those universities
as well endowed as Jesuit colleges were in the eighteenth century。
That is the old story of our fallen humanity。 I would no more
abuse the Jesuits because they became confessors to the great； and
went into mercantile speculations； than I would rich and favored
clergymen in Protestant countries； who prefer ten per cent for
their money in California mines to four per cent in national
consols。
But the prosperity which the Jesuits had earned during their first
century of existence excited only envy； and destroyed the reverence
of the people； it had not made them odious； detestable。 It was the
means they adopted to perpetuate their influence； after early
virtues had passed away； which caused enlightened Catholic Europe
to mistrust them； and the Protestants absolutely to hate and vilify
them。
From the very first； the Society was distinguished for the esprit
de corps of its members。 Of all things which they loved best it
was the power and glory of the Society；just as Oxford Fellows
love the prestige of their university。 And this power and
influence the Jesuits determined to preserve at all hazards and by
any means； when virtues fled； they must find something else with
which to bolster themselves up： they must not part with their
power； the question was； how should they keep it？ First； they are
accused of having adopted the doctrine of expediency；that the end
justifies the means。 They did not invent this sophistry；it is as
old as our humanity。 Abraham used it when he told lies to the King
of Egypt； to save the honor of his wife； Caesar accepted it； when
he vindicated imperialism as the only way to save the Roman Empire
from anarchy； most politicians resort to it when they wish to gain
their ends。 Politicians have ever been as unscrupulous as the
Jesuits； in adopting expediency rather than eternal right。 It has
been a primal law of government； it lies at the basis of English
encroachments in India； and of the treatment of the aborigines in
this country by our government。 There is nothing new in the
doctrine of expediency。
But the Jesuits are accused of pushing this doctrine to its
remotest consequences； of being its most unhesitating defenders；
so that jesuitism and expediency are popularly convertible terms。
They are accused too of perverting education； of abusing the
confessional； of corrupting moral and political philosophy； of
conforming to the inclinations of the great。 They even went so far
as to inculcate mental reservation；thus attacking truth in its
most sacred citadel； the conscience of mankind；on which Pascal
was so severe。 They made habit and bad example almost a sufficient
exculpation from crime。 Perjury was allowable； if the perjured
were inwardly determined not to swear。 They invented the notion of
probabilities； according to which a person might follow any opinion
he pleased； although he knew it to be wrong； provided authors of
reputation had defended that opinion。 A man might fight a duel； if
by refusing to fight he would be stigmatized as a coward。 They did
not openly justify murder； treachery； and falsehood； but they
excused the same； if plausible reasons could be urged。 In their
missions they aimed at eclat； and hence merely nominal conversions
were accepted； because these swelled their numbers。 They gave the
crucifix； which covered up all sins； they permitted their converts
to retain their ancient habits and customs。 In order to be
popular； Robert de Nobili； it is said； traced his lineage to
Brahma； and one of their missionaries among the Indians told the
savages that Christ was a warrior who scalped women and children。
Anything for an outward success。 Under their teachings it was seen
what a light affair it was to bear the yoke of Christ。 So monarchs
retained in their service confessors who imposed such easy
obligations。 So ordinary people resorted to the guidance of such
leaders； who made themselves agreeable。 The Jesuit colleges were
filled with casuists。 Their whole moral philosophy； if we may
believe Arnauld and Pascal； was a tissue of casuistry； truth was
obscured in order to secure popularity； even the most diabolical
persecution was justified if heretics stood in the way。 Father Le
Tellier rejoiced in the slaughter of Saint Bartholomew； and Te
Deums were offered in the churches fo