There was also difference in matters of devotion, for Isaac Hecker had little or no religious training, and as to the traditional forms of religious practice he was very backward.  The others had long since familiarized themselves with all Catholic usages.  Young Walworth taught young Hecker how to say the rosary and initiated him, doubtless, into other common practices, which he assumed with the simplicity and docility of the child of guileless nature that he was.

The ship, as we have said, was bound to London, but our party were too impatient to wait till the end of the voyage and left her at Portsmouth in the pilot’s boat; the sea was running high, but so were their spirits, and although the boat was tossed about in a way to scare a landsman, they gladly went ashore and took the cars to London.  We have before us a letter from Isaac Hecker to his brothers, dated the 29th of August, saying that they had been in London three days after a pleasant voyage, and expressing deep joy at nearing the place of retirement and prayer for which he had been longing.  He asks them to write to Brownson and especially to assure his mother of his happiness.

McMaster insisted on visiting Newman at Littlemore, and afterwards gave a glowing account of his visit.  He had been received by the great man, who did not enter the Church till a few months later, with the utmost kindness.  He found him standing in his library, reading a book.  He asked many questions about the tendency of men’s minds in America, and was especially interested in Arthur Carey, with whose influence among American Episcopalians and early death the reader has been made acquainted.  They lodged at a decent little inn over a pastry cook’s shop and did not go sight-seeing to any extent.  McMaster’s companions did not wait for his return from Oxford, but when the packet sailed for Antwerp, which was Sunday, the 30th of August, they went down to Folkestone and took passage.  They arrived the following morning, and, armed with a letter from Father Rumpler to a Madame Marchand, a warm friend of the congregation, they went straight to the nearest Church to inquire the way to her house.  It happened to be the Jesuit church, and one of the fathers kindly guided them to the lady’s house.  She was delighted to serve them; gave them an excellent dinner, and, after they had visited Rubens’ great picture, the Descent from the Cross, set them forth on their journey; but the “yea, yea and nay, nay” of Scripture, or rather jah, jah, nein, nein, was their only conversation with the good lady, for although young Walworth could speak French and Isaac German, she knew nothing but Flemish.  Distances are not great in little Belgium, and so before night they were at St. Trond, a little city about thirty-five miles southeast of Antwerp and twenty miles from Liege.  Here they were soon joined by Mr. McMaster, and their novitiate began.  Isaac Hecker was now twenty-five years and nine months old.