o erect a
large cross out of doors in front of the church as one of the closing
ceremonies of the mission.

Fathers Hecker, Hewit, and Walworth, led by Father Bernard, made a
unique band of missionaries, one, we think, hardly equalled since
they yielded their place to others. Each was a man of marked
individuality, whose distinct personality was by no means obscured by
the strict conformity to rule evident in their behavior. Fathers
Hewit and Walworth were orators, differing much from each other, both
full of power. Father Hecker was a born persuader of men, and could
teach as a gift of nature, earnest in mind and manner. His two
companions saw him learn by hard work how so to modulate his voice
and to manage it and his manner as to exactly suit himself to his
duties as the instructor of the band, while they delivered finished
discourses at the night services, many of them masterpieces of
mission oratory. Their very poise and glance on the platform stilled
the church, and their noble rhetoric clothed appeals to the
intelligence and to the heart in most attractive garb. In Father
Hecker you saw a man who wanted to persuade you because he was right
and knew it, and because he was deeply interested in your welfare. He
sought no display, and yet held you fast to him by eye and ear. He
had no tricks to catch applause, for he had no vanity. He said what
he liked, for he was totally devoid of diffidence or awkwardness, and
his best aid was his invariable equipment of an earnest purpose. "But
I don't believe," said Father Walworth to the writer, "that
Demosthenes ever worked through greater difficulties than Father
Hecker in making himself a good public speaker."

Father Bernard managed the missions for the first year, and dealt
with the pastors as superior of the band, meanwhile devouring more
than his share of the work in the confessional. The least experience
shows that there can be little of the discipline of the barracks
order on the missions, and all the fathers must of necessity consult
together, the superior leading in the observance of such community
devotional customs as are possible, and setting a good example in
stooping to the burdens which all must bear. As to Father Bernard,
the Americans could only admire and love him. In his own tongue a
renowned orator, he yet never preached in English while with these
three men unless on rare occasions, such as when one of them was
prevented by sickness. From him they rece