ANTI-JESUIT LAW.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 21 August 1913, Page 7

ANTI-JESUIT LAW.

SUSPENSION DEMANDED.

POPE'S "PERSONAL FREEDOM."

By ToJeairaph—Prcfij" Association—Copyright ("Times" —Sydney "Sun" Special Cables:) (Reo. August 20, 7.5 p.m.) Berlin, August 20. The Roman Catholic Congress has resolved that the first condition for tho freedom of tho Roman Catli-olio Church, must l>9 the complete personal freedom of the Pope, and also the unreserved suspension .of the Jesuit law.

Tho Society of Jesus by St. Ignatius of Loyola in 1539, and it is interesting to note as a contemporary date the burning of the Papal bull of excommunication by Luther in 1520. The society grew rapidly, and was recognised by the Popes, and although the General or the Jesuits and the Pope were frequently unfriendly, the Jesuits always admitted his supremacy. One of the most important steps taken by the Jesuits was their ability to instruct, and for nearly three centuries they were accounted the best schoolmasters in Europe. But the most fatal part of the policy of the society was its activity, wealth, and importance as a great trading firm, with branch houses scattered- over the richest countries of the world. Thu.s becoming immensely wealthy and powerful, tho Jesuits began to take an active part in the secular policies of the world, and especially in Franco and Spain. This active policy began to make the various reigning Icings feel uneasy, and in J7G7 Charles 111 of Spain issued a. decree to expel the Jesuits trorn his dominions. Tho other Bourbon courts followed suit, and by threatening Roma eventually forced Pope Clement XIV to issue the famous breve Dominus ac Redemptar suppressing the Society of Jesus. At this time the society had 41 .provinces and 22,589 members, including 11,295 priests, and as direct resistance was impossible, the ex-Jesuits withdrew to the free-thinking countries of Russia and Prussia, Thus it came about that the Jesuits gain,; ed a substantial footing in Prussia. In 1814 the Pope .formally restored the society to corporate legal existence. In* South Germany, inclusive of Austria and Bavaria, their annals since their restoration have been uneventful; but in North Germany owing to the footing Frederick II had given them in Prussia, they became very powerful, especially .in the Rhine provinces, and _ gradually moulding the younger ' generation of clergy - after the close of the War of Liberation, succeeded in spreading ultramontane views aijiongst them, and so leading up to the difficulties with the Civil Government which resulted in the Falk laws, and their own expulsion by decree of the German Parliament (June 19, 1872). At the end of last year all Germany rang with echoes of the oonflict involving the Imperial Chancellor with the Vatican. Since then the German press has discussed the matter at great length.. The non-clerical press generally infered that the Emperor dreads the growing interference of the Vatican in the politics of his realm. On the other hand, the clerical dailies headed by the Germania, the great organ or the Roman Catholic Center Party, complained that the faithful are oppressedbecause they wish their clergy to be placed upon, an equality before the law with the v ministers of other denominations. It is now over 40 years ago since Bismarck effected the expulsion of the Jesuits and till quite recently that Pleasure has remained practically in forco with the exception of but slight modifications as regards individual members. But for tho last 20 years tho powerful Centre party in, the Reichstag has been striving to effect! the repeal of the 'whole antiJesuit law. The present Chancellor, Herr von Bethmann-Hollweg, has been directly in opposition to tho Centre party and even announced that if • th e ■ ■ Vatican created trouble its diplomatic relations with the Hohenzollern dynasty would bo suspended. At the present time the Centre party is over represented in the Reichstag, but, if the Chancellor was to effect a stupendous change in tho ReichstaE by a new apportionment, and it is in his power to do so, it would mean that ho would have to give the Socialists 140 seats or more. Now neither the Chancellor nor the Emperor is in favour of tho Socialists who are not helpful in voting money for tho Army or' Navy. There thus remains the prospect of a coalition, or at least .a compromise, between the Centro party and the Clioncellor. In the event of such a coalition the Centre party would be almost sure to stipulate for the suspension of the anti-Josuit law. "The..Pope aits like a prisoner in Ms Vatican over against the Italian king, who, from within the usurped Chambers of the Quirinal, governs on the lines of Napoleon's famous Code (I'hcugTi with somo figure of a Parliament), his mcdorn revolutionary State. The situation . has lasted forty years. It is unique, dramatic, pregnant of oonsequences. To sum up, the Papacy was for hundreds of years suzerain over kings, and the Holy Roman Empire ivas its armed defender. It is now tho head af a world-wide voluntary association which wields no sword but its faith, and which owes nothing to secuilar Governments. How so remarkable a transformation came to pass, and what it means politically, is the 'subject I have taken in hand. It is a chapter in the history of spiritual freedom. So long as the Vatican endures. CJaesarism will not have won the day."—Barry.