L E T T E R S

647Letter Nr. 162[To V. Wielogłowski]Paris, November 23, 1838 872My dearest Valerian!Thanks and praise to God for all the holy sentiments and eager dedicationwith which your heart is filled, as well as for the holy humility and deference withwhich you seek fraternal counsel in all that you intend to do.Well, my definite advice is: No! This is not the time. We cannot, we haveno need to realize our plan for a House 873 now. An I am asking you to hold up fornow on any steps you may have taken in that direction. It seems to me that rightnow it would be the source of more trouble, new difficulties and opposition, thanany definite spiritual good.The main reason: Because it lacks the foundation for such a domesticChristian community; confreres who can and want to bind themselves together ina spirit of complete confidence, love and unity. The all-loving God, who knowsall things, will accept the offering of your pure intentions and upright purposes.Therefore, without even offering others, such as Miłkowski 874 andSłużalski 875 , an explanation of your reasons, postpone this business to some laterdate at least until we meet.A worthwhile, and perhaps necessary, reform that you might introduce intoyour life as I mentioned it above is to accept visits only during certain hours, andto designate other hours daily for work behind closed doors not to be spent872 The date has been established according to the content of the letter and Jański’s Diary.873 B. Jański and V. Wielogłowski intended to establish a new center for religious activity inVersailles. Jański changed these plans and opened a new center in Paris rue Vavin 13, fromSeptember, 1838.874 Louis Miłkowski (1797-1867) from Poznań. An insurgent, emigrated from Cracow in 1836; amember of Polish Democratic Society. He returned to Poland, where he directed religiousactivities in Greater Poland in the spirit of Jański. He was a member of the Brotherhood of thePolish League, President of the Supreme Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and thefounder of many libraries.875 Henry Służalski, a litte-known friend of Wielogłowski from Versailles. He was to enter thenew House together with Miłkowski.