What does Thomas hardy mean by the president of immortals?

In Thomas Hardy's novel "Tess of the d'Urbervilles," the phrase "the President of the Immortals" refers to a higher power or fate that determines the course of human lives. It portrays a sense of inevitability and bleakness in the characters' destinies. Hardy suggests that individuals are powerless against this force, which shapes their lives regardless of their choices or actions.