ORESTES A. BROWNSON COLLECTED AND ARRANGED BY HENRY F. BROWNSON. VOLUME V. CONTAINING THE CONVERT AND THE FIRST PART OF THE WRITINGS IN DEFENCE OF THE CHURCH. DETROIT: THORNDIKE NOURSE, PUBLISHER. THE CONVERT; OR, LEAVES FROM MY EXPERIENCE. To the RIGHT REVEREND JOHN BERNARD FITZPATRICK, D. D., This unpretending volume is most respectfully dedicated as a feeble mark of PREFACE. THE Volume here offered to the reading public is no work of fiction, and the person who gives an account of himself is no imaginary person around whom I have chosen to weave passages from my own experience. The person who tells his story is myself, and I have aimed to tell my story, so far as it bears on my religious convictions and experience, with simplicity, frankness, and truthfulness. The book, whatever else it may or may not be, is an honest book. my I bave traced, with all the fidelity I am master of, my entire religious life from my earliest recollection down to admission into the bosom of the Catholic Church. I have concealed none of my errors, disguised none of my changes, and sought to represent myself at no period as better or worse than I was. My aim has been, neither to vindicate nor to condemn myself, but simply to tell the truth. Though I am the hero of my book, and speak in the first person, I trust the reader will not find me immoderately egotistic. I have not written to give myself importance in the eyes of the public, or from a feeling that my story, simply as mine, could have any great interest or value. Nearly all that is contained in the volume derives whatever value or importance it may have, from sources independent of my personality. What is related as matter of fact, unless my memory has played me tricks, may be read with entire confidence. The principles and reasonings set forth, and the judgments VOL, V.-1 |