New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MEMOIR OF FATHER BAKER.

~ Lawrence henoe
The portrait which forms TIE frontisriece TO TINS
volume appears to represent one OF the con'en'.
bstve, sanity seraphic spirits Of the carry ages oi
Christianity, rather than 9 man whose lie was cast
mid the hustle, and activity, and worldly minded
ness OF the nineteenth century. The impression Is
son6rmed BY the perusal Of the memoir. II intro
cee us to type Of character which is rarein these
nsys. ard reminds Of strain of medieval music.
Father Baker was fully imbued with the spirt OF
he Catholic church at the period when faith was
supposed to command miracles at will, and the
esalities of earth were rradiGted with Visions OF
heaven lie was brought up among the Methodis's'
bat In cary manhood joined the Episcopal COM
nnnion, and resolved to prepare himself for the
ministry. lie took orders In due course, sNhoueh
he soon showed strong taste for the doctrines ana
ritual of the Roman church. The commencement
Of his lsbors as an Episcopal clergyman is graph
sally described by his bioGapher.
Franci, PaSer Was ordained deacon on the 18th OF
yeSruary. le43 and In the following august wss up,
he interval he WAS performing occasional duV ID
assisting the rectors Of different parishes IN BALTIMORE
sneer the Bishops direction HIS hrst sermon Sa WIS
tsy afternoon Of his ordination day. when was We
second Sunday of Lent On the evening Of the shne
6ay he preached NJ 81. tcitTS Ibe Wal as thHcH
nom the Epist John w. And this is the victory
Met overcOmeth the world even or faith ~ was
beautiful sermon and perfectly Catholic In ifs doct ne
and tone / regret that il IL not extant. for thnk
Mst il il were It would be worthy Of place smong The
sermons published in this volume. In II he e4tOnea
Me Of ysginy IN glowing language A the means OF
sbeer union with Christ and Its Whole rope wss 70
rresen, the lives Of those ho have renounced tho
= models ~ the highest Christian perfection rtdu
prayers for him that evening. and we walked nome
sfsiward together. We separated in silence heltnei
a Us pressing thoughts. hut both seeming to feel
hind OF blank aud unvil lug sense Of disappointment
- dimy conscious hst our psy ra1 TInrcb
Ma eloQueDce took the congregation competey
hy surprise. His quiet, unassuminG character nsu n'
prepared his friends TO expect that be would mall
lest 20 much power prescher From Una time DIS
reputation vas fxed az the highest point AID ne swaye
sostained It, There were seyeralyery excellent preach
era In the MARYLAND Diocese, but believe II was gene
All, admitted that Nj. Baker surpassed them all and
che most intellectual and cultivated people ever looked
vpon bis aft riding to their inds ana oearS
ops Of the choicest bouquets they were capable OF
Dying have never known young elers y'nan 70 De
more generally and warmly admired and loved thap
Nj Baker. Nevertheless. applause and popularity ca
lot affect him in the least and the pure mirror OF his
psul was never tarnisLed by vanity and cell com
elscency. Even then, bis spontaneous desires ana
opgings seemed to forecast the aPosloc VOCATION Wcn
Was In store for him He had ardent desire for
religious life and was especially attracted by The char
octer and lie of Nicholas Ferrar and by the history OF
She little religious community |nacn 10 ssd sho,
Ne prscticability of establishing religious bouse
which wosld give the opportunity OF working among
Che neglected nasses OF the people and looked sDou
sr some suitable building for this purpose. There was
scheme talked Of for establishing monastc ana ins
onary institute the eastern shore of Maryland ana
there were eight ten Siergymen VINO T Paan D ssd
sen courae eous enough to begin But the fear OF
Low Churchmeu prevailed. and nothing was ever DONE
After long conflict Of feeling and experience
Mr. Baker finally decided 10 enter the ancient fold
Of the Roman Catholic Church. His conversion,
We are told, was the logical sequence Of his former
Hfe, both intellectual and spiritual. 1.-THE partic-
ular events which Immediately preceded it were
Ike the stroke of the hammer on the mould Of boil,
already completely cast and finished beneath it,
and waiting only the SCATTERING of its earthern
shell TO ring out with clear and musical sound.
With his ardent temperament, and tho singular
Septh Of his religious feelings, il was no wender
nat he soon made up his mind TO leave the ranks
II the secular clergy and join religious order.
The process which led to this determination is set
forth in an interesting passage of the memoir.
ia, not to be supI o ed that Mr. Baker could hesitate
hang al 10 hin vocation He had In his youth de heated
himself 70 the ministry OF Christ but had mistaken
se claimant Of delegated power 10 confer The charac
ser and mission Of the priesthood Tor the true one Nine
yesrs Sd been spent not uselessy: Tor the good exam
Vie and eloquent Instructions Of wise and yiriu us
nan are always ssutsry: end he has been slowly pre-
pairing himself the feeble ght ana i~prr'ec, grace
sscramema He now thirty'three years Of age
An the full bloom OF bis natural powers with nl his
hoy aspirations and purposes riprned snd perfected
with . thorough knowledge Of Catholic theology. ex
eepting only it's specially technical and professional
branches. with al the habits suited if eaceruotai
N bis Own mind was one Of humility and when this
vas settled By the decision Of bis con.essor aud OF h
bishop his course clear before him. He might
still have chosen to remain in bis own home and family
while preparing for ordination. lie might have re-