You remember the Gordon riots, and all the tales about the Jesuits being behind the King's madness and many other things. By the way, Stephen, those Fathers were not Jesuits, I suppose? I did not like to ask straight out.' 'Of course not, Jack. They were suppressed long ago. Clement XIV put them down in the seventies, and a very good day's work he did. Sure, they have been trying to creep back on one legalistic pretext or another and I dare say they will soon make a sad nuisance of themselves again, turning out atheists from their schools by the score; but these gentlemen had nothing to do with them, near or far.
The conversation revolves around historical events, particularly the Gordon riots and the controversy surrounding Jesuits' influence. One character recalls the popular belief that Jesuits were behind the chaos caused by the King's actions, prompting some curiosity about their involvement. However, another character clarifies that these men were not Jesuits, as the order had been suppressed years prior under Pope Clement XIV, who successfully disbanded the group in the 1770s.
The dialogue highlights the lingering perception of the Jesuits' role in societal issues despite their formal suppression. The speaker expresses concern about the possibility of Jesuits attempting to re-establish themselves and suggests they might spread atheistic ideas through their educational institutions. This exchange captures the tension between historical narratives and contemporary concerns about religious influence in politics and education.
