Page 69 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

Chapter 8

A START IS MADE

N SErTEMBEn I0, 1838, ten weeks after his return to
Bruges from the United States, Theodore Ryken
was happy to inform Bishop Boussen that he had been
success{ul in finding a religious community which would
accept him and his companions for the period of
testing of their vocations as prescribed by His Ex-
cellency: "The letter of recommendation which you had
the goodness to give me has borne excellent results. . . .
I shall be able with nvo companions to stay when we
wish at the Brothers of Charity in Ghent. They have
pointed out to me that it is possible that my companions
rnay be drawn to join them. They have previously had
such an experience with provisional pensionnaires.
"The good Brothers have received me cordially and
have lodged me comfortably, doubtless out of considera-
tion for Your Excellency. . . . As far as I have learned,
the charge for our lodging will be very little-perhaps
nothing. That would be welcome to me.
"Many thanks, Your Excellency, for the considerable
aid given by you to an undertaking which can efiect
the salvation of thousands and thousands of innocent
children."
The three probationaries remained at the mother-
house of the Brothers of Charity for six months.
fn March, 1839, Bishop Boussen informed Ryken that
a change had to be made. "I had the pleasure," he
wrote, "to meet Brother Superior and spoke to him of
the plan I had proposed to you but I was unable ro ob-
tain his consent. His advice is that you go alone for