New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17
BAKERS NOVEL FUNERAL
PROTESTANT OFFfCIATES.
Held in Mortuary Chapel attached
to Father Ducey's Church.

A novel funeral was that of Spanish Hugue-
not conducted yesterday by Protestant clergy
man at the request of Father Ducey, pastor OF
St. Leo's Roman Catholic Church, at the mortu-
airy chapel attached 10 the priests church. the
priest himself making Of the congregation
The Huguenot was Charles Baker, popularity
known as THE Baron" who died on Monday at
ST. Franciss Hospital
The clergyman was the Rev. c. Stromburg
one of the assistant curates of the Rev. Dr. c.
c. Houghton. rector of the Church of the Trans
figuration-"the Little Church Around the
Corner" The mortuary st. Leos mortuary
chapel, sometimes known 1.-The House OF the
Stranger Dead"
At the request of Mr.. Bakers friends, among
whom are Pat" keenan,. Judge Newburger ana
John s. Foster, Father Ducey had taken the
body from an undertaking house to ST. Leos
mortuary chapel It was decided that Baker
having been a Huguenot. an Episcopal clergy
man should conduct the funeral. Accordingly.
Father Ducey asked DIR. Houghton who lives
In the same block, whether he would conduct
the service saying that the mortuary chapel was
used for Protestants and Catholics alike. DR..
Houghton promised. but found himself una BILE TO
attend at the last moment. He sent Mr.. Strom-
burg in his place.
II had understood that the service to be
at go D. m" explained DIR. Houghton to
Tribune reporter yesterday, but at the eleventh
hour 1t was apparently changed TO half an hour
earlier. AS I found l was engaged at o'clock,
1 sent one of my assistants in my place"
DIR. Houghton declared that. while he had
promised to conduct the service at Father
Ducey's request, he understood the mortuary
chapel was undenominational in character.
the bodies of Protestants well as Catholics
being taken there. This statement was borne
out by Father Ducey.
IF the service had been conducted I'm st.
Leo's Church itself. it is doubtful whether the
rector would have given his consent. or, in
deed would have been asked TO give his con-
sent" said Mr.. Stromburg. who conducted the
services II believe II is unusual. to say the
least, for a Catholic Protestant to officiate
at the others service AS It is. l was requested
to conduct the service at few minutes notice.
I read the regular burial service. and, go far as
I noticed the mortuary had not even any Cath
ole appointments" Mr.. Stromburg said that
Father Ducey had been present and that ne
had been under the impression that Father
Ducey had lighted three candles after the service
had begun To the best of his knowledge the
service had been entirely Protestant. The
mortuary chapel is attached TO a regular Cath
Ollie chapel in the basement OF the church.
Communication IS by means Of door to the
left OF the altar There is another independent
entrance, however. from the sidewalk.
With the possible exception of two treble
sconces, one at the north and another at the
south OF the chapel. and the portrayal Of the
Virgin Mary in one or two OF the stained glass
windows, there is otherwise no suggestion thar
the mortuary Is under Catholic control III
Father Ducey's idea in building the NOR
tuary to have It virtually neither Catholic nor
Protestant OF the priests OF the church
told the reporter. although instances OF a
Protestant service not common here.
Friends Of Mr.. Baker deny that he was either
called the Baron Of the Bowery' or associated
with the downtown part of Third-ave.. as had
been reported. Mr. Baker came to this country
from Adair, County Limerick. Ireland, having
emigrated from the Continent, IL Is said. He be-
came rich in the tobacco business. in which he
was engaged in Key West Some ten years ago
he retired. but later lost his money in un
fortunate speculations. Little was known OF his
family and he had apparently no living relative
In this country. Mr.. Baker claimed relation
ship, however. with Lord Kitchener, OF Khar-
toum He living at the Morton House at
the time of his death.
The burial will be in Greenwood. where friends
have already purchased lot.