We cannot even surmise what word was sent to Father de Held about this curious young man, whom early one summer's morning three years before he had seen flitting into Baltimore and out of it, taking with him the Provincial's leave to enter the novitiate.
Perhaps the case had been sent to him because it was too perplexing for any authority less than his to settle.

At any rate, it placed him in an awkward position, to decide the case of this lone applicant for orders, who had made no studies and could make none, and yet who was of so marked a character, so full of life, so zealous, working willingly about the church, eagerly working in the kitchen, talking deep philosophy and forming plans for the conversion of nations.

His case was peculiar.

The difficulty was not confined to the question of divinity studies.

Brother Hecker's general education was scant, and his English [sic] was still faulty.