CHAP. natural for such men to glory in their policy: but it was most perfidious; and many years did not elapse before it was arrested in its progress, when its authors and abettors were covered with disgrace, both in the eyes of the natives, and also of all Christians who had any regard for the Redeemer's glory, and for the salvation of mankind. It was not to be expected that the other orders of the Roman Church should passively observe these infamous proceedings. The dissatisfaction which some expressed at the preference shown to the Jesuits by Archbishop Menezes, has already been noticed; and their jealousy was now again roused by the missionaries of that company at Madura, whose shameful compromise of all that deserved the name of religion, furnished them with too just grounds for complaint. We have seen, and have yet to see, too much intolerance and cruelty in the conduct of the Franciscans, the Carmelites, and others, in their treatment of the poor Syrians, to give them credit on the present occasion for any better motive than personal feeling, or a mere regard for the credit of their respective companies. It must, however, be allowed, that if any of them had a sincere zeal for the honour of Christianity, apart from sectarian interests, there was sufficient cause to awaken their fears for its very existence in India. Such persons might well raise their voices against the proceedings at Madura, for they could not but see that religion itself was in jeopardy. How far these considerations entered into the motives of those who protested against the Jesuits' conduct, cannot now be determined. Suffice it to say, that they had truth on their side, when they charged them with "the most culpable indulgence, in tolerating and winking at all kinds of idolatrous superstitions among their proselytes; and with having themselves rather become converts to the idolatrous worship of the Hindoos, by conforming to many of their practices and superstitions, than making Indian converts to the Christian religion." These severe imputations were too soon confirmed. 18. When these tidings first reached Goa, where the Roman Church was then at the zenith of her prosperity, the city was thrown into commotion. The whole body of the missionaries and clergy of other orders, amazed at such unprecedented innovations, and alarmed for the consequences, loudly complained of them to the Roman pontiff. Paul V., who then wore the triple crown, immediately commanded the Archbishop of Goa to make diligent inquiry into the proceedings of the missionaries at Madura, and in the adjacent provinces. Upon the receipt of this order, that prelate assembled the best theologians and canonists he could procure, and their deliberations ended in the full confirmation of the complaints which the clergy had preferred. The Jesuits were convicted of all the charges brought against them. When this decision arrived at Rome, many persons, eminent for their station and learning, protested vehemently against such novelties. Cardinal Bellarmin was one of the first to condemn them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ," said he, " does not allow any one to have recourse to the least disguise, or false colouring, in order to recommend it. Much better would it be for the brahmins not to be converted to the faith, than 1 Abbe Dubois, pp. 7, 8. A. D. 1620. Protest of against their pro other orders ceedings. A. D. 1620. CHAP. The pope's endeavonrs to restrain unavailing. that the preachers of the Gospel should fear to proclaim it with that freedom and ingenuousness which became their ministry. The preaching of Christ crucified was foolishness to the Greeks, and a stumbling-block to the Jews. But did St. Paul and the rest of the Apostles desist on that account from preaching Christ crucified?" "I shall not enter," he continues, "into a discussion upon each charge brought against the Jesuit missionaries, but will merely say, that to imitate the brahmins, and to observe particular rites, seems to me to be diametrically opposed to the humility of Jesus Christ, and very dangerous to the faith. I cannot, therefore, pass over it in silence." 2 19. This was a just conclusion: but it made not the slightest impression upon Robert de them prove Nobili and his colleagues, nor upon their successors, who paid no regard to the doctrine of this learned cardinal, nor to the accusations proved against them. Not content with maintaining the people in these obnoxious customs, they undertook to justify themselves in the course they had taken, and endeavoured to convince the holy see, that it was only by tolerating such practices that they could hope to establish Christianity in India. Though they did not venture to deny the allegations of their opponents, yet they drew up an account of the facts objected to, with such dexterity, as greatly to disguise their reprehensible character. This they had the assurance to accompany with an earnest request, that the Pope would grant them a special constitution, authorizing them to impose 2 This cardinal, be it remembered, was uncle to Robert de Nobili. His candour, therefore, on this occasion is the more worthy of notice. Memoires du P. Norbert. Liv. i. silence on all persons who should speak against their opinions and measures relating to the Indian customs. This was a bold request, it amounted indeed to a demand; and, had it encountered the haughty and violent spirit of Paul V., it might have led to a more immediate result. It arrived, however, when Gregory XV., filled the papal chair. He was raised to the pontificate in 1621, and he seems to have been of a milder disposition than his predecessor, though equally severe and unjust against those who had separated from the Church of Rome. This pontiff is supposed to have entertained a favourable disposition towards the Jesuits; but he did not give himself up to their counsels: and, though induced to grant them a special constitution, yet he refused to concede exactly what they desired. While couched in such moderate terms, that no decisive opinion was expressed on the question at issue; yet he gave the missionaries clearly to understand, that, if there were the least idolatry or superstition in the practices complained of, they were absolutely to abandon them, whatever consequences might ensue. When the Jesuits at Rome found that the constitution they had desired was to be qualified with restrictions which, they foresaw, would prove inconvenient to their cause in India, they grew much less urgent to have it completed and despatched-another proof that their primary object was to further the interests of their own order, rather than the cause of Christianity. They succeeded in causing some delay; but after a time the instrument was finished, and transmitted to India. The missionaries at Madura received it in the year 1623, and greatly were they disappointed and chagrined at its terms. A. D. 1621. A. D. 1621. A. D. 1623. CHAP. Concluding remarks. A. D. 1656. Instead of publishing it, as required, they contrived toconceal it from the Capuchins and others, who are said not to have known of its existence before the year 1680 and all this time they persevered in their obnoxious course. The Pope, imperfectly informed upon the merits of the case, had granted them some license, of which they did not fail to take advantage; and instead of confining themselves within the limits he had prescribed, they continued to pursue the course which had excited so much opposition, setting the whole of the authorities in India, and even the pontiff himself, at defiance.3 From the natives they met with little opposition, and their success was almost uninterrupted, until the brahmins detected their imposture. For they did discover at last that these pretended brahmins were Europeans in disguise, and from that moment conversions ceased.4 At what time this exposure took place is uncertain; but as it appears to have been about the middle of the following century, it would be premature further to anticipate our narrative. 20. Robert de Nobili died in the year 1656,5 after having laboured forty-five years in the manner that has been described. He was succeeded by others, who carried on the work in the same spirit; but there is no satisfaction in following them. At every stage of their career, we cannot but feel that some apology is due for introducing into the present work, proceedings 5 Hyacinthe de Magistris. Relation de ce qui, &c. chap. XXX. There is some discrepancy in these dates. We have seen, section 3, that R. de Nobili is said to have commenced his labours in 1606, which would make the year of his death 1651. Vide Memoires du P. Norbert, tom. i. p. 14. |