The bulk of the entries made between this date and that of his formal reception into the Church, the first of August, contains spiritual doctrine of a kind so eminently characteristic of Father Hecker throughout his life that we continue to make extracts from it: "New York, June 25, 1844 .-- This morning I went to see Bishop McCloskey.

I found him a man of fine character, mild disposition, and of a broader education than any of the Catholics I have had the pleasure of meeting.

He was acquainted with Brownson's writings and Emerson's, and personally knew Mr.Channing, whom he had met at Rome.
He loaned me some books on matters pertaining to the Church.

He is to be gone for a fortnight from New York, and I am to wait until he comes back before I take any further steps toward being united with the Church." "July 5, 1844 .-- It is the duty of every man to do that which expresses the divine life which stirs within him, and to do nothing which is inconformable to it.

So far as he falls short of this, so far he falls short of his duty, his perfection, and divine beauty.