The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-07

Another Crop Of Scandals in
the City Of Churches.
A CATHOLIC PRIEST INVOLVED
Alleged Clandestine Correspondence Inter-
cepted-The Clergyman Gone
I'm Retreat"

In Retreat"
Another scandal case has cropped out in the
City OF Churches. This time the clerical victim Is
Catholic priest the pastor OF new parish in
the neighborhOod of South Brooklyn. II would
appear that the OF this last express
sion OF the Brooklyn sin have been Kept sedu-
lousy quiet, but reached the ears OF newspaper
reporter yesterday. Among the most favored and
respected young priests OF the diocese OF
Brooklyn was the Rev. Michael Hickey,
whose name has become familiar to Brook
lynites in connection with collection for
The building OF new church IN the
parish OF 81. Michaeps, located In Gowanus. but
extending considerable distance 10 the south
In the direction OF Bay Ridge. The reverend gen.
tleman's connection with city parishes has made
him popular down here In fact few men OF his
age and calling at the other side OF the river are
better known among the Catholic population or
Brooklyn. Mr.. Hickey's first mission was at the
Cathedral In Jay street, where he won golden
opinions among Dr. LOughlin's congregation. He
was brought into immediate contact with the
Bishop himself and, judging from subsequent
events, completely won his confidence, and II the
congregation are TO be believed, deservedly.
After considerable service as a curate at
the Cathedral Mr.. Hickey was promoted TO
the assistant pastorship of the cathedral church
in Twenty first street, Gowanus. o vacancy occur
ring In that parish.
When a vacancy occurred in the new parish of
st. Michael's, further sodth, the young priest,
whose sermons were brilliant enough to attract
LARGE CONGREGATIONS
to his church, was translated from his assistant
pastOrship aud made parish priest OF the new
charge. At his ADVENT the parish had no church,
and the congregation worshipped In roomy
Eprri
street. 1t appears, however. that before his ar
rival committee OF men had been appointed to
collect money in the parish and throughout the
city generally, looking toward the erection of q
sultab bile house Of worship for the flock. IL would
appear that the new pastor was under the lmpres-
sion that this committee were rather oatory in
their work, for prominent member OF
the congregation OF st. Mlchael's church,
who Is IN the real estate business In the
neighborhood. informed a HERALD reporter that
shortly alter Father Hickey's advent TO his new
charge he practically took the business OF collect
ing money LOT tne erection OF the new church out
OF the hands OF this committee aud turned 1t over
to committee OF ladies named by himself. 1t IL
said that he alleged ground for this that where
man would get rebuff in collecting for q re-
ligous purpose q lady would be sure TO meet with
kind OF success. The result, 1t Is alleged, was
tnas several members OF the church became
|
the Rev. :AO MIR. Hickey had, as 1t us IS
cess. He had introduced fairs, lectures and con-
certs the receipts OF which were TO be devoted 10
the erection OF the new parOchal church. THESE,
it Is claimed paid handsomely; but at last DIS.
satisfaction OF some OF tue parshioners found ex-
preston, as no steps had been taken toward the
erection or the building or the purchase OF site
for 1t, Notwithstanding the fact That
GREAT DEAL OF MONEY
had been collected for THIS purpose. The pressure
became SO great that Mr.. hickey was asked Tor
detailed statement OF moneys collected, but
there was no response Tor some time. AT last,
In the early part OF January, the reverend gentle.
man purchased plot OF ground on the corner Of
on which presumably the new church was to be
erected. 1t appears that Mr.. Hickey bought thus
property in his own name. put his friends allege
es Tor this that he could make the purchase
at o mucn cheaper rate as y private individual
than as representing q church corporation. At all
events Inc property was purchased IN his name,
but no steps have yet been taken toward the cree
ton OF the new church. and meantime, IL ID said,
some memuers OF tue congregation again became
In the midst of all this trouble another cloud, ir
IS SAID, has lOOmed up which threatens to obscure
the future OF the new parish aud seriously involve
the reputation OF the Rev. MT. Hickey. On last
Sunday week Mr. Hickey celebrated mass at st.
Micnaels church. but there was no sermon. On
last saturday morning. according to the state
ment OF a prominent MEMBER Ol the cOnRrega-
tion, gentleman. also a member Of the congreGa-
tton called on the reverend gentleman ana said
nicste to MN it is SAID that very stormy inter.
view ensued. during which the cergym visitor
demanded his ltne priest's prompt retirement from
his pastOrate. 1t ID alleged, Also that at nrst the
young priest treated ms visitor with something
BORDERING ON CONTEMPT,
and at last that the gentleman whose name has
been mentioned privately in connection with the
matter. ended the dispute by producing from his
pocket bundle OF letters in his the cergyman's)
handwriting These letters, 1t Is said he declared
were addressed to MS daughter, who was then an
inmate or a boarding school IN the vicinity OF
Brooklyn, and he had in tercepted them. me let
ters IL 10 said, were OF such character that they
must be looked upon as candestlne cOmmunl.
! cat a a a
the Catholic Church. Rumor mas 1t that the
young priest was dismayed at the production OF
lett the City oil Churches Immediately; that he
did not oticiate or preach at st. Michae's church
last sunday, and that he has not since turned up
In Brooklyn, though ne was seen lew evenings
since witnessing tue production OF "rne Shaugh.
frisno and a secular priest. Il is said that the
reverend gentleman was OF rather expensive
TO be found in the TACT That ne was the possessor
OF fast morse. with which he sometimes
sSns some d0aS his
was pronounced BY many oH o, the older Iolx
familiar to the haoitues OF the nelghoorng drivss,
and there was "a sudden split and cracking
through the atmosphere wnen he went by. HIS
trends claim, however, that
THE "FAsT HORSE"
was merely an adventurous circumstance, in
colt, and did not discover his speed until be
showed 1t accidentally.
A HERALD reporter called on Bishop Loughlin,
al the tnedral IN Jay street, who seemed some.
what unwilling 10 give any information
In connection with the scandal In reply
10 questions from the reporter ne said
that the first statement that the Rev.
MIR. Hickey had been charged with misapproprla.
ton OF church funds was incorrect. He also
said that the statement that Mr.. Hickey had
been charged with Illicit intercourse with any
female was incorrect. lie SAID that II any charge
o immortality had been brought against the rev.
erend gentleman he did not think 1t would be
either Beneficial to the church or the community
TO make IL public aud that MIR. Hickey could sue
any one Tor iloel who would make such . charge
against him.
The reporter suggested that II would purify
| the church II tile jury SHOULD render verdict
| against Mr. BeecDer PROVIDED ne were guilty.
DR.. Loughn SAID That was altogether q diuefent
| matter, and he did not want TO say any hing
about IL. Inc reporter then asked n the Rev. AIR.
Hickey was still officiating al ST. Mchael's
church. He reDed that he was not. The reporter