The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-23
FATHER LAKES MARRIAGE.
FAILS IN LOvE ~ VIEW YORK, AND
DIES IN CfLIFORNII.
The story of the Fathers Struggles as Told
by bis Widow. now IN ssnts Cruz-Keai
Life again Far stranger than Fiction.


Life again Far stranger than Fiction.
Fvom ne SIN Franc,co Chronicle.
Occupying plainly furnished suite of
rooms IN quiet little house in Fifth street,
lives the survivor Of one Of the most charitable
reel-lite tomauccs that this country hls ever
known. A pretty brupette. she is the widow Of
that brilliant, gifted young Catholic priest. the
created such scandal in New York 6v marry
ing IA defiance OF the RomOn Catholic Church.
Father Lake was born In New York city. aud
was the son OF Henry Lake. well Sn WIN in com
mercia circles Us the senior partner II the
former dry goods arm of Lake & NcCrcery OF
Broadway The father retired from active busi-
ness some years ago, and l. said 60 be very
wealthy. The son was brought up In the pre-
cepts OF the Protestant Church. but when about
1tteen Years of age suddenly. to the consterna-
ton OF his relatives. he changed his religion aud
became a Roman Catholic. Ho was very sincere
and enthusi site In his new belief, and, not
long after the change determined TO become
priest re was sen to 81; Johns College, aud
until he was ready to receive the order " PRIEST
hood, II was determined that he should 70 to
Home to perfect himself In Rome he entered
the American College. ard shortly afterward was
ordained priest. He remained IN Rome some
time longer, aud collected a handsome library
Of rare Catholic works that Is equalel In this
country only by that Of the Jesuit Fathers in
New York. On etnriing TO his native city
Paulist Fathers, with whom he had teen for
over six years. and was almost Immediately at
,erward APPOINTED assistant TO Father Preston
In November 1888, Father Lake became ac-
QhdiNtfu WIN sara ttneYra tNdfA. n UOcfeas,
aud public reader who was struggling in New
YORK CIV. The two studied elocuttOn Of the
same teacher, aud were therefore much In each
others so iety. Bcth were ambitious to be-
come public speakers. and had already figured
IN that line, he q preacher and she IS a reader
on the boards Of the Union square Theatre on
the occasion OF a benefit performance given by
Mrs. Sheridan Shocks amateur company eor a
Catholic charity of which Father Like was al
that time the chaplain. IL was only short
tlne before this performance that Father Lake
nlei Ms, onala; Shv Yves Il pleasing girl seem
md lsa
young priest was az deeply touched Us her strug-
giles and misfortunes rs by her personal aud
mental attractions He ut first endravOrcd TO
beiriend her with tntroduction- to wealthy and
influential Catholic ladies.
y tFtholic lady OF New York. convert. knew
rom the outset OF Their Lakes attachment 20
the young poctess. Speaking Of visit from
the Young lady. whom Father Lake had begged
70 Introduce To hcr, she said: " \ few DAYS az
terWaid she sent me COnv Of her poems.
Father Lake brought the book. 1t Is small
volume Of 20 pages. The Longest poem y one
Of about hundred pages, Napoleon Bona
arte.' Father Lake attempted 10 read aloud
To me some verses from the volume, but his
voice failed him before he had completed the
nrs, sianza. | knew 10y the flush ON his cheeks
and the tremor of hls voice that he was in
danger. but though many years his senior. re-
spect Tor his eassOck and regard for his sensi-
thoughts or uttcring any oflciOus words"
While the young disciple of the Church was
thus struggling. Miss Chafa was making cont
daut Of q lady OF We lth and influence. a lead
ing spirit among the woman sufragists. in whose
house tue young poetess had lived Tor several
strange story Of the frantic struggles OF her
ptcstly lover IA he wsvered between his allie
glance To his ttclt siastical VOWS sand his love
ana pity Tor her. she showed his letters, which
were a. full OF passionate seif-reprodch at his
delinquency as priest as OF love Tor her.
In less tban a month from their ntst meeting
thcl were secretly married. Fur some time the
couple yed IN New York under the assumed
name OF Edmonds, but at length they disap-
peared, and nothing was known Of their where
abouts until the lady cOnhdant OF Miss Cnafa In
New York received "a letter from : n Francisco
signed by her little protege breathing Of per
iect naphiness. Then followed long interval
nouncing bat Father l. Ike had died 10 santa
cruz OF consumption. Tbs all the New
York friends ever knew Of tins romantlcsly
welded couple.
ltecen!h reporter for the Chronicle learned
OF tue identity Of tue lady In santa cruz. and
took pa ms to seek her out and gee from her own
lips the rest Of the fascinating story.
" have been blamed" said she, with CULVER
OF the Up, for Inducing Mr.. Lake, my husband,
to break his vows and leave the Church. Its
false. When he told me OF his love, md we dis-
cus-ed the peculiarly Of his position. ADVISED
mtn to stay IN the Church. lie studied 10 the
gu sli"n 81 celibacy. aud this led him To- inves-
usate. and he concluded that tue system was
no'nlhs out gi<antlc fraud. Of course was
passive TO his wishes, for loved him. We talked
The mater over thoroughly ana carefully. lie
spohe VI ais own career as a gay aud pleasure
loving young man. who had, until be became a
Catholic, regarded all forms OF Christianity as
nothii9 more than q cunningly devised fable.
lie was unlike any other priest have ever seen
In bis manners ana conversation. lie WAS Inn
pnlsNe, hehAl oitspoNen' ana keenly suscept-
bic u female influence"
After our marriage" Mrs. Lake continued,
I'VE lived happily with some friends of mine IA
New YORK under u assumed name. unmlndful
OF the terrible commOtiOn In the Church over
the extraordinary step taken by my husband.
But nnalii We were discovered, and persecution
was AT once commenced. one by one our fi1ends
were turned against u by detectives employel
by the Cnurch. Those who beffiended US were
threatened, and We were even like the lshmael-
ties Of Old. NV husband was so afraid Of the
ulspleasure OF the Church tnat he did not know
what 10 do. He told me that he was constantly
followed. aud did not know where or how he
Hight 10 struck. The constant fruggle ana strain
OF trying To ESCAPE persecution finally worried
US boih To sickness aud We secretly saIlel for
California. reaching san Francisco on the 6th OF
November. lsii. Hero Ne STAYED for two months.
md men IN the hopes Of hndiug a more con
GENIAL climate Tor n cOnSumptive. went to santa
Cruz, and there settled down for life. Nv nus
l. .nd mad a lttle capt Al. and endeAyorcd to EN-
! bark IN several BUSINESS enterprises, but from
the lime that a Catholic priest walked INTO the
house ami autuuritatVely and Ominously re-
marked, Your secret h known he never EN-
JuNed any business prosperity. lie started
newspaper, but ne had no heart for the struggle
against the Church and persecution that. even
IN lois favored and lovely nd, lad found us
out. But. nevertheless, We lived and loved I'M
III dice sc claimed him, and on the list OF De-
cember, $50, NV husband died.
" Regarding my future prt spects, / am sure |
don know what an going % do. Here | am
| aons IN great clty. thousands OF miles from
any OF my irienda.' And thu SENSITIVE iips any,
cred, aud the l.rge, lustrous eyes filed with
| New YORK; but / do not know now they LOOK
upon MS witr, now thai he is dead. Most OF my
friends in New York have ignored me entirely