Montgomery County sentinel., 1885-04-17
Death or Father J. j. Dougherty

The news of the death Of Rev. John j.
Dougherty, one of the most popular and es-
teemed priests in the Archdiocese of Balt-
more, which took place early Tuesday morn
ing at st. Josephs Hospital, Baltimore, in
the seth year of his age, will be received
with feelings of profound sympathy by all
who enjoyed his acquaintance, Father
Dougherty had been a long and patient suf-
ferer from cancer, but the immediate cause
of his death was bronchial troubles, superin-
duced by an attack of pneumonia. Father
Dougherty was native Of New York, but
his parents, when he was quite child, re-
moved to Washington. He was educated
at st. Mary's College, Baltimore; after his
graduation studied for the priesthood and
was ordained priest on the Gath Of Sep
tember, 1853. His tirst field VI labor was
as assistant to the late Father Boyle, who
at the time had charge of all of the Catholic
Churches in the county. After residence
of eight years in our midst he was trans
terred as assistant at St. Vincents Church,
Baltimore, where he remained until he was
made chancellor Of the Archdiocese under
Archbishop Spalding, and subsequently as
administrator of the Archdiocese. u the
useful and prominent part that Father
Dougherty bore in these several RESPONSE.
BILE relations, as we'll as at other responsible
places to which he was assigned afterwards,
it is not for US to speak. There are living
witnesses who can bear testimony of the
fruits Of his earnest and pious labors in
these several fields, as there are hundreds of
hearts to-day shadowed in grief at his death.
1t is of Father Dougherty as we knew him
when he lived in our midst that we would
say word, impressed, however, with the
fact that our broken sentences but feebly
express our estimate of his worth, our pro-
found regard for his memory.
paint me AZ AIN" said Oliver Cromwell,
while sitting to young Lely. "If you leave
cut the scars and wrinkles will not pay you
shilling" Such would be the request Of
Father Dougherty could he now say u word
to us, for he certainly was always averse to
anything like display or notoriely, and so
We will briefly write.
Father Dougheity was but twenty. four
years of age when he entered upon his pas
torate in this county. The stern novitiate
of his college and theological course had,
however, fully equipped him for the respon-
sible duties. The assistant of the late Father
Boyle, whose genial qualities and fine abili-
ties as pulpit orator had rendered him
popular in and out of the church, the task
before him was as delicate as it was weighty
The untiring zeal which he manifested from
the start in the discharge of his clerical
functions, his tine natural requirements
ripening under the effects of rare tulelage,
each in full harmony with his nodesty and
social attractions soon made him equal 10
the emergency So much so that We are
warranted in the assertion that when Father
Boyle was removed to more important
charge, Father Dougherty was the peer Of
any of his predecessors, reigning in the hearts
OF his congregation as he was central figure
in the walks OF private life. He was their
peer because of his strong natural ability,
his indomitable energy and unfiinching per-
severance in trying to do what was good
He was central figure because he was lib
eral, kind-hearted and affectionate to all
Truly II may be said that "none named him
but to praise, none knew him but to love"
With one so panoplied and so endowed in
ind nd hoo ~ Il could NOT ba NJ othorm;oo
We would not say more if we could, we
could not ii we would.
If ii were our individual pleasure, how
ever, we would to-day gather the sweetest
flower that grows in the richest and rarest
parterre and lay it rs an humble offering to
his memory on the covering Of that silent
home where at Last we feel that he has found
rest. For we remember, as memory comes
lespng over the rosy pillows OF the past,
that it was he who in the golden period Of
our life made us silent with happiness and
bid us God speed over that untrodden path
which was rcdolent with the sunlight Of
love
1t il gratifying 10 know that his calling
away was not sudden he was aware Of the
sure and gradual approach of death and was
prepared 10 obey the great summons The
silver cord was not cut hurriedly, nor the
golden bowl broken in an instant The
cord was gently united, the golden bowl
disappeared as if II were scarf of vapory
amethyst, OF rs summers cloud that has
grown tired of its wandering quietly seeks
u rest in some mountain gorge The pearl
dropped from its wasted shell just as The
splendors OF new born day were stealing
softly over the horizon.