Page 97 - March On! God will Provide by Brother Aubert

76 RYKEN KEEPS TRYING
possession of "FIet Waletje" on a day-to-day basis. Felix
Dujardin could not bring himself to order a forced sale.
On January 5, 1846, Cornelia Ryken died suddenly at
Tilburg, Holland. "In less than an hour," Brother
Ryken informed the Abbess of the Collettines in Bruges,
"she passed from iife to death. Being unconscious, she
received only absolution and extreme unction. As long
as she was able to speak, she called on the names of
Jesus and Mary. On New Year's Day she had been to
communion. Be good enough to recommend her to the
prayers of the community."
On his return trip from Tilburg, the Founder stopped
at St. Trond to visit at the normal school. Here there
was a letter waiting for him from Brother Alphonse
Tomballe, the vicar at "FIet Walletje" during his
absence.
Brother Alphonse was writing as per the orders he had
received on the Founder's hurried departure from Bruges
for Tilburg: "I have absolutely nothing to report. All
goes well at the house. We continue to pray, to apply
the plenary indulgences gained at Holy Communion and
by the Stations of the Cross for the repose of the soul of
your late sister as you directed."
Presently Brother Ryken was back in Bruges and once
again immersed in his multitudinous activities. One of
the first letters he wrote was a very detailed inquiry
concerning the giving of marks or grades for school
work. He must have heard something about this mys-
terious art from the trvo Brothers at the normal school,
but he was not completely satisfied with their explana-
tion, so he sought expert advice. He addressed his in-
quiry to a schoolmaster friend who had years of expe-
rience. From references in the letter to "monitors" it
is apparent that the Xaverians had adopted the Lancas-
trian System or some modification of it.