The Jesuits

Hoare, Edward, 1812-1894Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.2

Word count: 93K words
Chapters: 10

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Jesuits by Edward HoareAuthor: Hoare, Edward, 1812-1894,Language: English, Class: BX: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: Churches, Church movements, Release Date: May 10, 2016

Editor's review

This booklet by Edward Hoare examines the Jesuits from the perspective of a nineteenth-century Anglican clergyman and is openly polemical in character. Its value lies not in offering a neutral general history of the order, but in showing how Protestant authors of the period understood Jesuit organization, vows, and role in the Church, and in the criticisms they built on that understanding. Readers can observe the rhetoric, framing of questions, and argumentative strategies of nineteenth-century religious controversy, making it a primary source for the study of religious image-making and interconfessional interaction. Short and strongly partisan, it rewards close reading with a questioning mind: which facts does the author cite, which inferences does he draw, and which judgments carry the prejudices of his age. It is best read alongside neutral scholarship on the Jesuits, distinguishing historical statement from polemical evaluation and avoiding the mistake of taking its claims as settled history.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying nineteenth-century religious controversy and confessional images
Students interested in Jesuit history and Protestant responses to it
University students needing primary texts for textual and rhetorical analysis
Mature readers able to read polemical writing with a critical eye

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking a neutral, systematic general history of the Jesuits
General readers with no interest in religious controversy or confessional issues
Readers likely to mistake polemical claims for historical fact

Reading tips

Begin with a neutral short history of the Jesuits, then read this book to recognize the author's stance and selections.
Mark factual statements and evaluative judgments as you read, distinguishing evidence from argument.
Read alongside contemporary Protestant or Catholic texts to observe differences in image-making.
After finishing, list the author's core accusations and evidence, and test whether his arguments hold.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can this book be read as a general history of the Jesuits?

No. It is a polemical booklet by a nineteenth-century Protestant author, focused on criticism and defense rather than a systematic account of the order's historical development. Its selection and evaluation of facts are clearly tendentious. For a general history, seek neutral scholarship; this book is better used as a document of controversy and period attitudes.

Are the views in the book objective?

Do not expect objectivity or neutrality. Written by an Anglican clergyman, it is critical of Jesuit organization and role, and its arguments carry the prejudices and rhetorical habits of its time. Readers should treat it as the expression of one side, check the facts, and consult multiple studies to form a balanced judgment.

How difficult is the English?

The original is nineteenth-century English polemic, with long sentences and many religious terms and proper names, making it harder than modern popular writing. Strong English readers can read it smoothly; others may benefit from background materials or a translation, grasping the arguments first and details later.

Comments

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About the author

Hoare, Edward, 1812-1894 Author

Edward Hoare (1812–1894) was a prolific nineteenth-century Christian author, with 32 works held in the collection. His writing centres on sermons and theological discussion, covering daily devotion, redemption, sanctification, the Lord's Supper, and hope for Jerusalem. His representative works show that he served readers with sermon collections such as Sermons for the Day, while addressing systematic theology in works like Sanctification, Redemption, and Evolution. The Doctrine of the Lord's Supper. As Taught by the Church of England reflects his attention to Anglican teaching, and Sermons on the Scriptural Principles of our Protestant Church shows an apologetic aim and a concern to clarify confessional positions. Because public information is limited, biographical details are difficult to verify, but the surviving works reveal a scriptural, sober, and plain style, with emphasis on doctrinal clarity and practical application for believers; these writings had some influence among English-speaking Protestant readers of his time.