Attention was called to this condition of things by the Congregation of the Society which elected Father Martin to the post of General of the Jesuits in 1892. As a result he appointed a corps of distinguished writers to co-operate in the production of a universal history of the Society, which was to be colossal in size, based on the most authentic documents, and in line with the latest and most exacting requirements of recent scientific historiography. On the completion of the various parts, they are to be co-ordinated and then translated into several languages, so as to supply material for minor histories within the reach of the general public. Such a scheme necessarily supposes a very considerable time before the completion of the entire work, and, as matter of fact, although several volumes have already appeared in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian, the authors are still discussing events that occurred two centuries ago. Happily their researches have thrown much light on the early history of the Order; an immense number of _documents inédits_, published by Carayon and others, have given us a more intimate knowledge of the intermediate period; many biographies have been written, and the huge volume of the "Liber sæcularis" by Albers brings the record down to our own days. Thus, though much valuable information has already been made available for the general reader the great collaborative work is far from completion. Hence the present history of the Jesuits. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I ORIGIN PAGE The Name--Opprobrious meanings--Caricatures of the Founder--Purpose of the Order--Early life of Ignatius-- Pampeluna--Conversion--Manresa--The Exercises--Authorship --Journey to Palestine--The Universities--Life in Paris-- First Companions--Montmartre First Vows--Assembly at Venice. Failure to reach Palestine--First Journey to Rome --Ordination to the Priesthood--Labors in Italy--Submits the Constitutions for Papal Approval--Guidiccioni's opposition--Issue of the Bull _Regimini_--Sketch of the Institute--Crypto-Jesuits 1-35 CHAPTER II INITIAL ACTIVITIES Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy--Election of Ignatius--Jesuits in Ireland--"The Scotch Doctor"--Faber and Melanchthon--Le Jay--Bobadilla--Council of Trent-- Laínez, Salmerón, Canisius--The Catechism--Opposition in Spain--Cano--Pius V--First Missions to America--The French Parliaments--Postel--Foundation of the Collegium Germanicum at Rome--Similar Establishments in Germany-- Clermont and other Colleges in France--Colloque de Poissy. 36-71 CHAPTER III ENDS OF THE EARTH