rs, collecting the Brothers about him in their
vacations, and making it a home for the sick and weary, and a place
where postulants might make proof of their profession. We shall not
follow his footsteps during this time, except to say that the work
flourished wonderfully well under his hand, as it always did,
notwithstanding all kinds of difficulties. We may produce, however, a
striking document of self-dedication which belongs to this period. The
Brothers seem to have been strongly moved by the desire of making their
vows perpetual, instead of only for three years; the Superior opposed
the innovation, but finding them resolute, he at length gave way, and
commenced the new system by a formal dedication of himself, expressed in
the following remarkable words:--

'Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, prostrate in
deepest reverence before Thine infinite and adorable
Majesty, I consecrate myself wholly to Thee, to seek Thy
glory in all ways possible to me, or to which Thou shalt
call me. And to this end I, Jean Baptiste de la Salle,
Priest, promise and vow to unite myself to, and abide in
society with, the Brothers [here follow twelve names], and
in union and association with them to hold free schools in
any place whatsoever (even though, in order to do so, I
should have to beg for alms, and live on dry bread), or to
do in the said Society any work which may be appointed for
me, whether by the Community or by the Superior who shall
have the direction of it. For which reason I promise and vow
obedience as well to the Society itself as to the Superior
of it. And these vows of association with, and steadfastness
in, the said Community, and of obedience, I promise to keep
inviolable during my whole life; in witness whereof I have
signed. Done at Vaugirard, this sixth day of June, being the
Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, in the year 1694.

'(Signed) DE LA SALLE.'

Having taken this step, De la Salle made a great effort to divest
himself of his post as Superior, but in vain. He argued, but the
Brothers were not convinced. He insisted upon an election, and every
single vote was given for him. He begged for a second voting, but the
result was the same. The Brothers said it would be time enough for them
to elect his successor, when death had deprived them of him. So in his
post of Superior he remained; and doubtless the