The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-11

sailed for Belgium to study for ordina-
ton at St. Trond. He took his VOWS in
1896 and was ordained priest in Clap
ham, England, in 184o, after a severe
course of mental and bodily discipline,
in which he subjugated the flesh by fast
ing and the wearing of a haircloth shirt.
He was sent back to America as mis-
sionary in 1851 and went to the Redempt-
orist Convent in Third street, where he
found Father Augustine F. Hewitt, a
convert like himself. He labored in the
missions of the. e.order for six years, when
the American priests decided that they
would like Redemptorist foundation in
the United States. The idea was not en-
couraged by the order, and the priests
drew lots to select one of their number
to go to Rome and ask there for what
they wanted. The lot fell to Father
Hecker.
He was expelled from the order when
he arrived at Rome because i'll going
there he was held to have violated his
yow of obedience. He felt this punish
ment keenly, but he persisted in his pur-
pose, and after many discouragements
and vexatious delays he succeeded in see
ing the Pope. He laid his case before the
Supreme Pontiff, saying that he asked
only justice and would abide by the re-
suit. Finally he triumphed, and the
American fathers were relieved from
their Redemptorist VOWS and granted
power to form their own organization
under the authority of the Holy See.
Father Hecker, Father George Deshon,
who is now the Superior OF the order,
Father Clarence Walworth, Father Aug
ustine Hewitt, and Father Francis Baker
were mentioned in the decree. Father
Hecker returned to New York, and in
1858 they founded the Missionary Priests
of St. Paul the Apostle, who are known
today as the Paulist Fathers.
Archbishop Hughes gave them the nee
essary authority. They adopted habit
of black similar to that worn by the STU
dents of the Propaganda at Rome, and
in place of taking formal vows they we're
allowed to bind themselves by perpetu-
al voluntary agreement to observe chas-
tity obedience, poverty, and to place mis-
sion work first and parish work next
They left the convent in Third street,
and at first had no shelter; but George
Hecker took his family to the country
and gave them the use OF his house in the
summer of 1855 They raised funds and
purchased the site where St. Paul's
Church and the Paulist Convent now
stand, between Fifty-nintl, and Sixtieth
streets, in Columbus avenue The cor
rer stone OF the church was laid in the
following year.
They engaged actively in mission work,
which was extended to all the leading
cities in the United States and Canada.
To aid in making converts Father Heck
er founded the Catholic World in 1865
and the Young Catholic five years later.
His health broke down in 1871, owing
to the austerities OF his training for the
priesthood, and the remainder of his life
was largely spent in travel in fruitless
efforts to recover it. He died in 1888,
leaving behind body Of priests who hold
his memory in deepest reverence and who
regard themselves in manner as his
disciples.
In addition to numerous addresses and
contributions to the Paulst periodicals,
lie wrote two books, "Questions of the
Soul" and aspirations of Nature"
In 1892, three years after the death Of
Father Hecker, his biography appeared.
1t was prepared by his old friend and
companion in the Order of St. Paul,
Father Elliott, who had access to his
journals and other documents. 1t had
been submitted to the approval OF Father
Hewitt the then head OF the order, and as
such its censor deputatis, and it bore the
inprimatur of Archbishop Corrigan. The
laudatory introduction by Archbishop
Ireland added to its ecclesiastical value as
work that could be safely placed in the
hands OF all Catholic readers. 1t was
generally recognized among English
speaking people as the life of sanity
and devoted man, who had spent himself
in the work OF preaching to Americans
what the church really was and OF per-
suading them that she assaicd neither
their personal independence nor their ma
tional institutions, while calling upon
them to recognize her divine authority.
1t was therefore with interest and pleas
ure that these people heard Of French
translation OF the life which was to ap-
pear. with an introduction by Able
Klein, we'll known as Catholic theolog-
ian and literary and plilosophic critic.
But the book, when it came out in its
French form, proved disappointment to
the friends of Father Hecker. Worse
than that, it has proved beginning of
strife and controversy among his enemies
sucl, as neither Father Elliott nor Father
Hecker could have anticipated.
But the sentence which has excited
chiefest alarm at Rome occurs in a quo
tation from Father Hecker's summary Of
what he considered the present him
drances to the triumph OF Catholicism.
1t was this falsely adapted passage
which especially attracted the attention Of
NJ. Meignan, priest OF the Brothers Of