whose original tongues and whose perplexed exegesis are quite unknown to the vast mass of mankind.  And Father Hecker recognized that the elementary truths of reason and the aspirations of humanity for better things are not unknown to any man or woman; these are everybody’s personal means of testing truth.  To pass them by in order to apply the remoter test of revelation is either to admit that Protestantism is not against the dictates of reason and man’s aspirations, or to commence the argument against it at the wrong end.

In a letter to Cardinal Barnabo written in July, 1863, Father Hecker gives an account of how he went to work to secure and interest a non-Catholic audience: 

“For several years past it has seemed to me that some more effectual means should be taken to reach the Protestant community.  This last winter I ventured with this view upon an experiment.  In three different cities I gave, in a large public hall, a course of conferences on religion, one every evening from Sunday to Sunday inclusive.  The expense of the hall was paid by the priest of the place, the lectures were all free, and addressed exclusively to Protestants.  The halls were crowded at each place, and that my audiences might be such as I desired to address, I begged Catholics to stay away.  At the close of one of my lectures there were present twenty-five hundred persons, chiefly Protestants.

“My method was as follows:  In treating any doctrine of our holy faith with a view to convincing my audience, I considered first what want in our nature it was related to, and to which it addressed itself.  This want being discovered, I developed and illustrated it until my hearers were fully convinced of its existence and importance.  Then the question came up, Which religion recognizes this element or want of our nature, and meets all its legitimate demands?  Does Protestantism?  Its answers were given, and found either hostile or incomplete.  Then the Catholic Church was interrogated:  and she was found to recognize this want, and her answers adequate and satisfactory.  These answers were then shown to be supported by the authority of Holy Scriptures.

“The interest shown by my audience was remarkable, and the effect of this method was equal to my hopes.  My experience convinces me that, if this work were continued, it would prepare the way for a great change of religion in this country, more particularly at the present time, when the public mind is favorably disposed to consider the claims of the Catholic Church.”

The “want in our nature” appealed to was often in the political order, such as the love of liberty or man’s capacity for self-government.  This he dwelt upon at considerable length in the opening part of his lecture, viewing it as a philosopher would, and extending its application, as far as possible, to men generally.  He thus chose his criterion for comparison of the two claimants in the religious world.  His triumph was, therefore, often in an