London. We have before us a letter from Isaac Hecker to his brothers,
dated the 29th of August, saying that they had been in London three
days after a pleasant voyage, and expressing deep joy at nearing the
place of retirement and prayer for which he had been longing. He asks
them to write to Brownson and especially to assure his mother of his
happiness.

McMaster insisted on visiting Newman at Littlemore, and afterwards
gave a glowing account of his visit. He had been received by the
great man, who did not enter the Church till a few months later, with
the utmost kindness. He found him standing in his library, reading a
book. He asked many questions about the tendency of men's minds in
America, and was especially interested in Arthur Carey, with whose
influence among American Episcopalians and early death the reader has
been made acquainted. They lodged at a decent little inn over a
pastry cook's shop and did not go sight-seeing to any extent.
McMaster's companions did not wait for his return from Oxford, but
when the packet sailed for Antwerp, which was Sunday, the 30th of
August, they went down to Folkestone and took passage. They arrived
the following morning, and, armed with a letter from Father Rumpler
to a Madame Marchand, a warm friend of the congregation, they went
straight to the nearest Church to inquire the way to her house. It
happened to be the Jesuit church, and one of the fathers kindly
guided them to the lady's house. She was delighted to serve them;
gave them an excellent dinner, and, after they had visited Rubens'
great picture, the Descent from the Cross, set them forth on their
journey; but the "yea, yea and nay, nay" of Scripture, or rather
_jah, jah, nein, nein,_ was their only conversation with the good
lady, for although young Walworth could speak French and Isaac
German, she knew nothing but Flemish. Distances are not great in
little Belgium, and so before night they were at St. Trond, a little
city about thirty-five miles southeast of Antwerp and twenty miles
from Liege. Here they were soon joined by Mr. McMaster, and their
novitiate began. Isaac Hecker was now twenty-five years and nine
months old.

________________________

CHAPTER XXI

BROTHER HECKER

THE Redemptorist novitiate at St. Trond, as well as the house of
studies at Wittem, Holland, had been established be the immediate
disciples of St. Clement Hofbauer. That great servant of God had
introduced the Congregation of th