^o Life of The 



and I shuddered at the sight of what it had so 

 carefully concealed from my view." Oertel's Rea- 

 sons for becoming a Catholic, p. 24. 



It was at this time that accident made him ac- 

 quainted with the pastor of St. Mary's, Rev. Wm, 

 Quarter; and the kind, affable and gentlemanly 

 manners of this zealous priest so captivated Mr. 

 Oertel, that he opened to him his heart. "Rev. Mr. 

 Quarter cheerfully extended his hand," says he, "to 

 support my weakness, and gave his advice to cheer 

 my mind." He furnished him with works which 

 explained correctly the Catholic doctrines and 

 practices, and he elucidated whatever might seem 

 obscure. Mr. Oertel was a finished scholar, and an 

 excellent theologian, and was the very man able to 

 detect an error in the instructions thus imparted to 

 him, if one existed. He had already detected the 

 errors in his former belief, and was now the more 

 alive to the possibility of deceptions, particularly in 

 the teachings of a Church upon which he had hitherto 

 looked with aversion. 



But he applied to this Church the marks by 

 which he knew that her claims to authority were to 

 be tested. The mark of unity could be applied to her 

 for "all her members agree in one faith, are all in one 

 communion, and are all under one head." The 

 mark of sanctity could be applied to her: for "she 

 teaches a holy doctrine, invites all to a holy life, 

 and is distinguished by the eminent sanctity of so 

 many thousands of her children." The mark of 

 Catholicity could be applied to her: for "she teaches 



