John Constable (Jesuit) facts for kids
John Constable (born around 1676 or 1678 in Lincolnshire, England – died 28 March 1743) was an English Jesuit writer. He was known for debating different ideas, often using the pen-name Clerophilus Alethes.
About John Constable
John Constable joined the Society of Jesus, a group of Catholic priests and brothers, in 1695. He spent many years working with the Fitzherbert family in a place called Swinnerton. He was buried there after he passed away.
His Writings and Debates
John Constable was a "controversial writer." This means he wrote about different ideas and often debated with other writers. He used his writings to share his views and argue against opinions he disagreed with.
Who Constable Debated
Constable had two main people he often debated through his writings:
- The Abbé Courayer: This French writer supported the way the Anglican Church (Church of England) chose its priests. Courayer came to England in 1728 and was very popular.
- Charles Dodd: This was a pen-name for Hugh Tootell. Constable believed that Dodd wrote unfairly about Jesuits, and he challenged Dodd's ideas.
Constable's Main Books
John Constable wrote several important books and papers. These often responded to other writers' ideas:
- Remarks on Courayer's Book in Defense of English Ordinations: This book argued against Courayer's ideas about how Anglican priests were chosen. Constable believed their way was not valid.
- The Stratagem Discovered: Written under his pen-name "Clerophilus Alethes," this book suggested that Courayer was not truly defending the Anglican Church's practices. It was a response to another book from 1727.
- Doctrine of Antiquity concerning the Eucharist: Also written as "Clerophilus Alethes," this book from 1736 discussed old beliefs about the Eucharist, a Christian ceremony.
- Specimen of Amendments proposed to the Compiler of 'The Church History of England': In 1741, Constable offered suggestions for changes to a book called The Church History of England.
- Advice to the Author of 'The Church History of England': This was another piece of advice he wrote, which is now kept as a handwritten document at Stonyhurst.
Other writings by Constable have also been listed by a historian named Joseph Gillow.
