New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
DUCEY'S .SRARP REPLY.
TELLS THE REV. ]. L. BELFoRD NOT TO
BE $50 FRESH" = SAYS A PERMIS-
SIBLE MASS FOR FATHER
MALONE

Father Thomas J. Ducey, rector of St. Leo's
Roman Catholic Church. last night sharply re-
piled to Father John L. Belford, rector of SITS.
Peter and Pauls Church. in Brooklyn. He ad-
vised Father Belford in the future to be more
reverential. and to refrain from being so fresh. ..
The controversy with Father Belford arose
about mass celebrated at ST Leo's yesterday
morning in memory of Father Sylvester Malone
formerly rector of the church in Brooklyn now
i'll charge of Father Belford. When Father
Belford heard that mass was to be celebrated in
st. Leos for Father Malone he took the stand
that no anniversary mass should be celebrated.
because the general law OF the Church forbids
such mass between Christmas Day and New
Years Day. Father Belford wrote the following
letter to The Brooklyn Times:
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Times
Sir: An anniversary mass for Father Malone is
not celebrated in this church on Satur lay because
a mass between Christmas Day and the Feast Of
the i. CIRCUMCISION CiiHS , 3NeW Years pay.
is presume. because the rector has forgotten this
The late Bishop Loughlin died on the same date
as Father Malone, December %. yet his anniver-
Which date we shall Rave similar maSs here for S
the late rector of this church;
SITS. Peter and Paurs. Dec Is. 1896
Tribune reporter called on Father Ducey
last evening. He showed him the letter of
Father Belford as published. Father Ducey
read the letter carefully. and laughed as If
amused.
Il have rot forgotten my rubrics" he said
and would recommend this young gentleman
to be more reverential. and. if 1 am not guilty
OF slang, not to be fresh. To show that l
have not forgotten my rubrics, give The Trib-
une the copy of a letter sent by me to the Most
Rev. Archbishop Corrigan." The letter was as
follows
Most nj Daar 7 to
relieve your mind of anxiety. When the Malone
versafy mass for the iamented and % respected
Father Sylvester Malone. informed them that the
anniversary within the privileged octaves and that
me me mass would have to be the mass of the day in
sibIe for the announcement in the papers of an
kind note. Truly yours. FATHER DUCEY.
'T recommend the Rev Mr.. Belford not to
be so hasty in the future in sending misleading
communications to the press continued Father
Ducey. For the guidance of the Rev. Mr.. Bel
ford feel at liberty to quote sentence from
letter received by me from Archbishop Corrigan
on December IS 1t is: of course, there is no
objection whatever to your offering the mass OF
the day for the repose of the soul of the late
Father Malone or offering requiem mass when
the rubrics will permit it. Very faithfully yours
NJ. A. Corrigan. Archbishop of New-York.' +"
The mass for the repose of the soul of Father
Malone was celebrated yesterday by Father
Dueey. Father Malone died year ago yester-
day In speaking in the church Of Father Ma
lone, Father Ducey said that yesterday was. in
the Church calendar. the day of ST. Thomas of
Canterbury. martyr. He dwelt upon the spirit
ual devotion shown by Father Malone in giving
up his life to his flock. He added:
1 have known and reverenced Father Malone for
forty years. first saw HIM in the office of James
Il Brady. the attorney l then but a boy
Father Malone was there, of course, errand
of mercy, concerning Orestes A Brownson. a
convert to the Church. who was rich in intellect
but poor in the goods of this world. From that time
on never lost track of FL ther Malone During the
sntTe hftyye years of his service to the church OF
his devotion and fidelity tc the work to which God
had called him.
Father Ducey closed by deploring what he
called the tendency of the times not to give
proper reverence to years and labor