all mysteries, and unfolds all
difficulties. . . .

"No external event of any kind or character induces me to take this
step. If what does is delusion, what to name my former life I am at a
loss to know. . .

"The heads of the college here appear to be men of good character,
devoted to the Church, innocent of the Protestant world of
literature, philosophy, etc. The president is a very social, frank,
warm-hearted man, of more extensive acquaintance in the world of
letters."

________________________

CHAPTER XVII

ACROSS THE THRESHOLD

FROM Worcester Isaac went on to New York, stopping on the way to make
a brief visit to the Fourierite community in New Jersey, known as the
North American Phalanx. He probably had some personal acquaintances
there whom he hoped to inoculate with his newly-found certitude. He
reached home June 20, 1844, and five days later presented his letter
to Bishop McCloskey. Concerning the acquaintance then begun, which,
on the bishop's part, soon took the form of a discerning and wise
direction, and eventually deepened into a life-long friendship, we
shall have more to say hereafter. The diary chronicles their first
meeting and gives the reason of the brief delay which ensued before
Isaac was admitted to conditional baptism. The bulk of the entries
made between this date and that of his formal reception into the
Church, the first of August, contains spiritual doctrine of a kind so
eminently characteristic of Father Hecker throughout his life that we
continue to make extracts from it:

"New York, June 25, 1844.--This morning I went to see Bishop
McCloskey. I found him a man of fine character, mild disposition, and
of a broader education than any of the Catholics I have had the
pleasure of meeting. He was acquainted with Brownson's writings and
Emerson's, and personally knew Mr. Channing, whom he had met at Rome.
He loaned me some books on matters pertaining to the Church. He is to
be gone for a fortnight from New York, and I am to wait until he
comes back before I take any further steps toward being united with
the Church."

"July 5, 1844.--It is the duty of every man to do that which
expresses the divine life which stirs within him, and to do nothing
which is inconformable to it. So far as he falls short of this, so
far he falls short of his duty, his perfection, and divine beauty. I
think we may say with very great certainty that this is the only way
to obtain happiness in this w