Page 132 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

YEAR OF REVOLUTIONS 1I1
unique experience for any of Brother Ryken's under-
takings. In its first year of operation it yielded an income
of 2,133.50 francs.
On October l, 1848, the persistent tolling of the bell
in the Cathedral tower announced the passing of His
Excellency, Francis Renatus Boussen, and this was sad
news for Brother Ryken, who as the head of a diocesan
religious foundation had to have episcopal approval.
The new bishop would know nothing of Ryken's years
of travail.
Early in October, after the funeral obsequies, the
Founder set out for Germany. For some months not a
single candidate had arrived at "Het Walletje." His re-
cruiting had not'been too successful among the Flemings,
and among the Walloons, the French-speaking Belgians,
he enrolled Brother Alphonse Tomballe and that was
about all. In the past his best field had been his native
Holland, but recently the attraction of several Brother-
hoods founded in that country had reduced the number
of applicants to the Xaverian Brothers. Troublesome
King William I had resigned in 1840, and his son and
successor, within hours of taking office, had signed two
bills for the relief of religious communities. The Calvin-
ist protest was uproarious.
As a preliminary to his visit to Germany, which loomed
up at the one place where he could recruit freely, Brother
Ryken had sent ahead to several of his priest-friends a
notice that he asked to have printed in the local Cath-
olic papers: "If any young men are desirous of entering
the Congregation of the Xaverian Brothers, whose prin-
cipal work is the instruction and education of youth,
even in foreign countries, they should call on the Su-
perior visiting ..r!..!..!..!......., Munster, on the following
days ................." He enclosed his itinerary, asking these