fiction or in any of the
by-roads of literature. Poetry, however, in its higher forms, or with
a strong ethical tendency, he was very fond of. Perhaps his favorite
among the poets was Coventry Patmore.

After returning to New York Father Hecker, besides supervising the
editorial work of _The Catholic World,_ wrote an occasional article
for its pages. The more important of these, twelve in number, with
the Exposition as a leader, were published in a volume already
mentioned, _The Church and the Age._ This book appeared in 1887, and
contains his views of the religious problems in Europe and America,
and also some controversial writings against orthodox Protestantism
and Unitarianism. These are well-written, clean-cut, and aggressive
pieces of polemical writing, whether against the errors of
Protestants or of infidels. _The Church and the Age_ is the best
exhibit of the author's opinions and principles on topics of
religious interest and those of race and epoch having a religious
bearing. He has left a considerable amount of unpublished matter,
notably some essays on how God is known, the reality of ideas, and
the Trinity, together with much on spiritual subjects. Let us hope
that these and more of his unpublished writings will some day be
given to the public. He always found difficulty in preparing matter
for the press. Using a pencil and a rubber eraser, he often
positively wore the paper through with writing, correcting, and
writing again. He seemed scrupulous about such matters, and in these
circumstances he lacked the immediate expression of his thoughts
which came to him so spontaneously in his letters and diaries, as
well as in his public speaking. But he dictated readily, and with a
result of reaching quickly the form of words he would finally be
content with. By this means he prepared his articles on Doctor
Brownson, which appeared in _The Catholic World_ between April and
November, 1887.

His intercourse with the members of the community was naturally much
interfered with by his illness. But he loved to listen to them
speaking of their work, was greatly interested in the building and
decorating of the new church, and when the missionaries came home was
eager to hear them tell of their success. He would invariably suggest
that we should study how to extend our preaching outside the regular
missions, so as to take in non-Catholics. He was also alive to
opportunities for stimulating others, in and out of the comm