Page 64 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

44 TRoUBLE AT HoME

to express himself strongly against my plan, saying
among other things that after ten years of strenuous
eftort I would not have succeeded in forming two or
three Brothers qualified to be sent to America.
"If you joined the Christian Brothers, there could
easily be found-one among so many, but by your
own efiorts you will not succeed."
I ventured to reply that Father Van de Kerckhove
had promised that in case of failure, he would rec-
ommend me to Very Rev. Father Glorieux.*
"I will forbid him to do so," the Provincial said
at once. "Besides, what will you live on?"
"On Divine Providence," I retorted.
Ffe remained silent for a moment. Then he went
on: "Certainly it would be a nice and excellent
work, could it succeed. It would take a saint to
accomplish such a work. It is impossible for you."
"Well, Reverend Father," I asked, "how is it that
you are against it?"
"Because I do not see anything favorable to it.
When one declares war, he has counted his soldiers;
if you want to build a tower, you count your money.
That," he said, "is the teaching of Our Lord."
"I asked advice on everything," I told him. "I
have always obeyed Father Van de Kerckhove. Here
are the letters I have submitted to his decision. You
can note his corrections and improvements. What
more could I do than that to seek advice and obey
punctually?"
"From his side," the Provincial declared, "that
was imprudent."
* In 1830 Father Glorieux had founded the Brothers of
Good Works, later knowq as the Brothers of Our Lady of
Lourdes.