concerning whom some reserve was natural and
prudent.

With Bishop Fenwick, who was already in failing health, the new
candidate for admission to the fold seems to have had very little
intercourse. As we have seen, the journal makes only a passing
reference to him, but is more explicit with regard to his coadjutor.
Certain points in their interview which remained ever fresh in his
memory were, at the time, cast into the shade by his deep
preoccupation with what may, perhaps, be called the spiritual as
distinguished from the intellectual side of the Church. That in her
which makes her the tender and bountiful mother of the simple was
what chiefly attracted him, just as others are mainly drawn to her as
the adequate teacher and guide of the intellect. If he found the door
at which he was knocking something hard in turning on its hinges; if
the vestibule into which he was ushered seemed a trifle narrower than
he had expected at the entrance of a temple so world-wide; his
satisfaction at having determined upon entrance made all other
considerations for the moment dwindle. But that the impressions he
received were permanent, in their suggestiveness at least, is
witnessed by an article in this magazine for April, 1887, entitled
"Dr. Brownson and Bishop Fitzpatrick," as well as by the several
references to this period which occur in the memoranda.

In the article just named Father Hecker threw into a paragraph or
two, which we subjoin, the substance of his first, and perhaps at
this time his only, interview with Bishop Fitzpatrick:

"It was always difficult to detect how much of conviction and how
much of banter there was in his treatment of men engaged in the
actual intellectual movement of our times. I found such to be the
case in my own intercourse with him. He always attacked me in a
bantering way, but, I thought, half in earnest too. Hence I never
found it advisable to enter into argument with him. How can you argue
with a man, a brilliant wit and an accomplished theologian, who
continually flashes back and forth between first principles and
witticisms? When I would undertake to grapple with him on first
principles he would throw me off with a joke, and while I was
parrying the joke he was back again upon first principles.

"An illustration of his way of treating men and questions was his
reception of me when I presented myself to him, some months before
Dr. Brownson did, for reception into the Church. 'What truths w