ad the works of Catholics. See
both sides. Examine, and be fair; for AMERICANS LOVE FAIR PLAY.

In preparing these little messengers of truth every style of writing
was used, narrative, allegory, dialogue, and positive argument. They
are as good reading to-day as when first issued, and the volume which
they form may be placed in an inquirer's hands with excellent effect.
To keep them agoing Father Hecker laid all his friends of any
literary ability under contribution, the series being opened by
Archbishop Spalding with a tract on _Religious Indifferentism._ Did
space permit, an entire list of the subjects dealt with might be
given, and the reader could the better see how they embrace the
entire controversy between Catholics and Protestants and infidels,
many of the tracts being masterpieces of popular argumentation.

As to the business side of these enterprises, Father Hecker confided
it to Mr. Lawrence Kehoe, who was publisher of _The Catholic
World_ and of _The Young Catholic_ from their beginning until the
Paulists became their own publishers, shortly before Mr. Kehoe's
death. He was placed in charge of the Publication Society as manager
when it was started, and so continued until the formation of the
present firm, remaining then the active partner in its management. No
more ardent advocate of a good cause could be desired than Lawrence
Kehoe. Father Hecker cherished him as a friend, and he was his
zealous and efficient agent in his entire Apostolate of the Press.

The purpose of the Publication Society was missionary, and the
intention was that its books, tracts, and pamphlets should be either
given away or sold at cost price, or below it. Therefore it was
necessary to secure funds for the running expenses. The reader has
seen that this was to have been done by the contributions of
subsidiary societies. To aid in the formation of these and to solicit
contributions in money, circulars were sent to all the clergy of the
United States. Only a few made any practical response. But the
meeting of the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1866, the same
year the Society was founded, was opportune. The bishops were induced
to take the matter up, and a decree, of which the following is a
translation, was enacted. After speaking of the need of supplying
Catholic literature at a low price the Council proceeds:

"Since a society with this object in view, known as The Catholic
Publication Society, has been founded in New Yo