Fall in Jesuit membership

THE Society ofJesus, the largest religious order, has lost one-fourth of its membership in the last 13 years, according to the Jesuit Year Book published last week. Membership has dropped from 35,968 in 1964-65 to 28,020 in 1977-78. An increase to 458 from 356 last year in the number of candidates recommended for stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministry in the Church of England has been announced by its advisory council for the Church's Ministry.