of the views of the Society of Jesus. At that time it was
the official organ of Pius IX., who read all its articles in the
proofs, and it went everywhere in Catholic circles. The editors
became fast friends of Father Hecker, though we are not aware that
they took sides in his case. His article was divided in the editing,
and appeared in two successive numbers of the magazine. It attracted
wide attention, being translated and printed in the chief Catholic
periodicals of France, Belgium, and Germany, and published by Mr.
McMaster in the _Freeman's Journal._ In Rome it served a good
purpose. To some its views were startling, but its tone was fresh and
enlivening. It undertook to show that the freest nation in the world
was the most inviting field for the Catholic propagandist. We suppose
that the author's main purpose in writing was but to invite attention
to America, yet he so affected public opinion in Rome as to
materially assist the adjustment of the difficulty pending before the
high tribunals. Cardinal Barnabo was quite urgent with Father Hecker
that he should write more of the same kind, but either his
occupations or his expectation of an early return home hindered his
doing so. As it was, he had caused himself and the American Fathers
to be viewed by men generally through the medium of the great
question of the relation of religion to the young Republic of the
Western World. That topic was fortunate in having him for its
exponent. He was an object-lesson of the aspirations of enlightened
Catholic Americans as well as an exalted type of Catholic missionary
zeal. Very few men of discernment ever really knew Father Hecker but
to admire him and to be ready to be persuaded by him of his
life-thesis: that a free man tends to be a good Catholic, and a free
nation is the most promising field for apostolic zeal.

Soon after his arrival in Rome he made the acquaintance of George L.
Brown, an American artist of some note, and a non-Catholic. He was an
earnest man, and Father Hecker attacked him at once on the score of
religion, and before December had received him into the Church. This
event made quite a stir in Rome. The city was always full of artists
and their patrons, and Mr. Brown's conversion, together with the
articles in the _Civilta,_ influenced in Father Hecker's favor many
persons whom he could not directly reach. This was especially the
case with the Pope, to whose notice such matters were brought by
Archbishop B