The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-17
Religious Creeds of The Family.


PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-A resident of
this city who has been an intimate friend
of the Blaine family for years, speaking of
Mr.. Blainc's religious views. said that he
considered that the great statesman was Q
Congregationalist. which was Mrs. Blsine's
creed. Neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Blaine were
regular church-goers. but whenever they
did so 1t was. as a rule. to q church of that
denomination. When Mr.. Blaine was ct
Bar Harbor he went to the Congregational
Church, and while at Washington he did
the same. Miss Hattie Blaine, the uDmar-
ried daughter, and Mrs. Walter Damrosch,
the friend said, are regular Attendants at
the Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Mccormick
Is O strict Presby terrain, while Mrs. Cop
pinger is a Catholic.
Furthermore the friend said, II have
been In every room OF the Blame house
hold. and | have never seen a thing that
would suggest to IN that Mr.. Blaine was q
Roman Catholic. There is not a crucifix or
any other Catholic symbol In the ZONE"
"how can you explain the visits OF
Cardinal Gibbons and Father Ducey to Mr.
Blainef'
that of replying with a queery. Why 90
prominent men come to sec Mr.. Blalnef
Why does the heather Turk comef"
Then you do not think that it is at all
probable that Mr.. Blaine Will become Q
Catholic7"
Il do not think So"
Mr.. Biaine's religious training during
childhood was conducted entirely by hl3
mother, who was a Miss Maria Gillespie, q
very deyout CATHOLIC OF Washington
county. His father. Ephraim 1. Blaine.
came from q long line of C~oveDanters. and
all his alliances were with the Presby.
terrain Church. When running for O
political Office he was said to be q Catholic
m 49, 1000 h44a2
death he became q Catholic and wa buried
in the graveyard of the Catholic Church
at Br0wnvllle."
Trying to- Reconcile James and Maria
BALTIMORE, Dec. I6.-The recent report
that Hon. James G.. Blaine was about TO
become a Catholic is revived through the
visit of Rev. Thomas Ducey, of New York.
The story that Mir. Blame would change
his faith originated from q visit paid by
Cardinal Gibbons and Father Ducey to the
ex-Secretary on Monday. The statesman
is said to lave expressed a wish to see the
chnrchmen and talk with them on religious
matters. ae he feared his lease of life was
rapidly growing less
"A new theory as TO the visit of his Emf
nence and Father Ducey upon Mr.. Blaine
Is advanced by a well-iDf0rmed Catholic In
this city, who says: The assistance of
these two churchmen is being invoked to
secnri 10 reconciliation between James q.
Blaine. jr., and his divorced wife. It will
be remembered that Father Ducey played
q conspicuous part in this unhappy
matrimonial alliance. He married
the couple. and the ex Secretary
has held him responsible for the trout BILE
resulting. A few months ago the states
man wrote o long letter scoring Father
Ducey for his part in the marriage. and
dividing the blame between the priest and
the bride. This unfortunate marriage has
been q source of constant sorrow to Mr..
Blaine and the closing act In the mAtri-
monial drama, which saw the legal separa-
ton OF his son. brought him increased pain.
Father Ducey has been the clerical adviser
of Mrs. james g. Blaine. jr., who Is . Cath
olic. Father Ducey was opposed to the
divorce proceedings and Mrs. Blaine, jE..
was not entirely in sympathy with tho
idea of violating n rule of her church. Ny
theory of the matter is that a reconciiia-
ton il possible between the estranged
parties. The senior Blaine. / have reason
to believe, would prefer, before he dies, to
see his only son recOncIled to his wife and
for that reason he has asked the inter.
cession of Cardinal Gibbons and Father
Ducey."