THE JESUIT CONSPIRAC~

THE SECRETOF

THE ORDER.

PLAN

DETECTED AND REVEALED BY

THE ABBATE LEONE.

'WITH A .PREFACE BY

I

M. VICTOR CONSIDERANT,Member of the National Aaembly of France, and of the Municipal Council of the Seine.

TRANSLA.TED, WITH THE AUTHOR'S SANCTION, FRO)[ THE

AUTHENTIC FRBNCH EDITION.

LONDON:

CHAPMAN AND HALL, 186 STRAND.

MDCCCXLVIIJ.

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

IN putting forth a publication like the present,the authenticity of which will undoubtedly bestrongly contested by those who are interested in sodoing-one, moreover, which does not belong to theclass of writings emanating from the Societary School,and which I edit in my own individual capacity, I ambound to accompany it with a testimonial, and withsome personal explanations.

I.I had long been aware of the existence of the

Secret Plan, of which I had received accounts frommany of my friends in Geneva. Their esteem andaffection for M. Leone were of a very warm nature.They spoke of him in terms that excluded all suspicionof fraud. The objects too of his constant studies, theelevation of his ideas, and his religious labours in theEdiftcateur, indicated a man ofserious character, loving•goodness, and pursuing truth with natural and sincereardour. Notwithstanding all these grounds for a favour­able prejudice, I confess that I could not bring myselfto believe what had been told me of the JesuitOonference.

b

INTRODUCTION.

1.THERE is no one but has devoted some attention tothe reappearance of the too famous Company of Jesuson the European stage. Many have rejoiced at theevent; a greater number have beheld it with deepsorrow or irritation.

To say the truth, there were various reasons why afact of this nature should interest governments andnations; for if ever the aim of that audacious Ordercould be achieved, every right and every liberty wouldbe at an end. I do not think I exaggerate in expres­sing myself thus; on the contrary, I am stronglypersuaded that those who read the disclosures made inthis work will share my opinion.

Let me be permitood, in the first place, to enterinto certain personal details, before I proceed to initiatethe public into the secret I am about to divulge. Iwill be as brief as possible.

In 1838, I voluntarily quitted Piedmont, mynative country, went to Switzerland, and settled in

B

SECRET PLAN OF THE JESUITS.

PART r.

NOVITIATE AND ECCLESIASTIC CAREER.

J.

AT the age of nineteen I had formed the resolution of enter­ing the church, and was finishing my studies at the Seminary

of Vercelli. I usually passed my vacations in the companyof Luigi Quarelli, arch-priest and cure of Langosco, my

native place. Incited by an eager thirst for knowledge, I

had, in the course of a few years, completely exhausted his

library; and often did this worthy man repeat to me, that80 far from learning being of any use to me, it would more

probably be an obstacle to my advancement in the church.

He now began to speak to me of the Jesnits. The power

of this order, its reverses, its recent restoration, the im­

penetrable mystery in which it has been enveloped since itsorigin, all contributed to exalt it in his eyes. Accordingto his account, none were admitted into it but such as

were distinguished for intellect, wealth, or station. He

spoke of it as the only order which, so far from repressing

the native energies of the mind, or the tendencies of genius,

did actually favour them in every way. This assertion he

substantiated by many striking examples./ .

PART II.

THE SECRET CONFERENCE.

I T will be as well, before giving the account of the Secret

Conference, to make some observations which may tend, asfar as possible, to compensate to the reader for the want of

what the tone and manner of the living voices have left for

ever present to my memory.I will first remark, that the list mentioned by the chief,

and in which were set down the special points to be dis­"cussed, proves that everything in these meetings was

arranged in the most precise manner.

If the reader carefully considers each discourse, he will

perceive that each person has his own peculiar and dis­

tinctive style. The voices of the several speakers served

me, instead of their faces, to know them one from the

other; each one had peculiarities which I have not forgotten.

One of the fathers, the second who spoke, and whom I"beard no more afterwards, surprised me by a most singular

pronunciation. I had never heard a voice so slow and

smooth, and oily. At the same time, no other speaker

was more prolix and diffuse, yet he was listened to with

the greatest attention. He was almost the only one who

occupied himself exclusively with the people, showing byH2

PART III.

PROOFS AND CONCLUSION.

I.

THE Jesuits have always spoken of themselves in terms ofthe most unmeasured pride.

When their society had reached the hundredth year of its

existence, they composed a book in its honour. Thesymbols which decorate the frontispiece of this worksufficiently prove that they esteem the humblest member

of their order as infinitely above the rest of mankind.

They call themselves "The Company of the Perfect."·

The contents of the volume accord with the arrogance of

its emblems.

The Jewish high-priest wore on his breast the jewelcalled the oracle. The order of the Jesuits considers itself,

under the New Alliance, as the oracle from whence thepope draws his inspiration.

They proclaim themselves "the masters of the world,

the most learned of mortal men, the doctors of the nations,

the Apollos, the Alexanders of theology, prophets descendedfrom heaven, who deliver the oracles in the recumenic

councils."

• Imago primi slEculi Societatis J eau, lib. iii., Orat. i., p. 409.

OF THE JESUITS. 261

Apostles were not spared, and it was taught that every­thing concerning them was mere fable. Finally, Christhimself was outraged worse than he had ever been byhis most rancorous enemies, and was accused of criminalintercourse with the Magdalen, the woman taken in adul­tery, and the woman of Samaria. Thus was absolute

irreligion preached, and for so long a time did this poisonflow from the pulpits. The Bible was scoffed at, andChristianity likened to a mythology.

My greatest strength has been derived from the docu­ments I have briefly alluded to; and but for them I shouldhave succumbed beneath the force of Dante's apothegm,which many a time recurs to my mind :-" A man shouldalways beware of uttering a truth which has all the aspectof a lie." But as I could count on such a revelation, athousand times stranger than the one I myself have just

made, I hesitated no longer, being convinced that in ourdays, more than ever, these words of Jesus must be fulfilled,"There is nothing hidden that shall not be broughtto light."

THE END.

ViHteUy Brothen &: Co. Printen and Engrayen, 136 Fleet Street.