eptember, a distinguished convert from the
Episcopal ministry of the city of Baltimore. Much we would say of
him, his eloquence and his very amiable traits of character, but all
this and more is well said by Father Hewit, in his memoir of Father
Baker, published after the latter's death in 1865 (Catholic
Publication Society Co.) This increase of members allowed a division
of the band for smaller-sized missions.

In our judgment those men were a band of missionaries the like of
whom have not served the great cause among the English-speaking races
these recent generations. Fathers Walworth, Hewit, and Deshon have
survived their companions of those early days, and may they long
remain with us, calm and beautiful and devout old veterans of the
divine warfare of peace!

Father Hecker gave several retreats to religious communities of men
and of women during the six or seven years we are considering,
devoting for the purpose portions of the summer months usually
unoccupied by missions. Copies of notes of his conferences, taken
down by some of his hearers, are in our possession and may aid us
further on in giving the reader a view of his spiritual doctrine.

The following extract from the Roman statement summarizes what we
have been telling in this chapter, and introduces the reader to
Father Hecker's first missionary activity as a writer:

"My superiors sent me back to the United States, and on my return
being asked by my immediate superior in what way he could best employ
me, my reply was, in taking care of the sick, the poor, and the
prisoners. The stupidity which still reigned over my intellectual
faculties, and the helplessness of my will, and my sympathy with
those classes led me to choose such a sphere of action as most
suitable to my then condition. And although the conversion of the
non-Catholics of my fellow-countrymen was ever before my mind, yet
God left me in ignorance how this was to be accomplished. Such strong
and deep impulses, and so vast in their reach, took possession of my
soul on my return to the United States in regard to the conversion of
the American people, that on manifesting my interior to one of the
most spiritually enlightened and experienced fathers of the
congregation on the subject to obtain his direction, he bade me not
to resist these interior movements, they came from God; and that God
would yet employ me in accordance with them. Such were his words.
After a few weeks in the United State