New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-08-23

THE REV. THOMAS J. DUCEY
Pastor OF St Leos Church. who died yesterday.
spite great bodily pain until the latter part OF
June. on June % the physicians attending him de-
cided upon an immediate operation. This was per-
formed without the OF anasthetcs and was
reported to have been successful on July he
was we'll enough 10 so TO his country home.
The pastor OF ST. Leo's and the founder OF the
House Of Repose. which open for the tenn
porary home OF the dead of any race creed pend
ing the arrival OF relatives or friends was in
tended for the bar by his foster father. James T
Brady. a lawyer. who adopted him when he
eight years old. But the boys inclination was
toward the Church. and his wishes were gratihed.
lie was born at IAsmore, County Waterford. Ire
land. February l. lS43 and 10 this country
with his parents when he five years old At
their death he taken into Mr. Brady's home
After studying at St Francis XAver's College IN
thls city he entered Law office But the call to
me priesthood persisted. and despite the wish OF
Mr. Brady that he should be n lawyer he went 10
Troy and entered 81. Joseph's Theological semi
nary. He ordained IA priest by ArchbIshon
Mll!ians and was appointed to the Church OF the
Nativity. In Second avenue He remained there
Three years In which time he was a frequent Wis
noF 10 the Tomhs TO give spiritual consolation 10
the prisoners
STUCK BY FATHER BURTsFIr
When he became an assistant to Father p,,r,
NJ.
ono avenue. Father Ducey began an nttachrr.,,
10 rather Burtsell that was not shaken thrpurhoYt
the tHbulations OF the latter, even when ne vas
"isc'p"hed Tor his defence Of Father McGiynn the
adherent Of Henry George. lie remained with
rather Burtsell until May 1873. and then ,,n,u M.
end OF 1873 was associated with Fatber-later
hishop-spa!ding who was pastor Of St Michael.s
IN Ninth avenue In 1870 Cardinal McCloskev IN
pointed Father Dueey pastor OF a new parish and
St Leos Church was built
Father luCeV an ia
MS church. amid the homes OF the wealthy ar
uacted congregation composed OF many OF the
leading Catholics OF this city There was no lack
OF revenue In It's early days. but when the flow OF
population started northward he lost many OF his
wealthy parishioners and IN the latter DAYS OF his
pastoraie he refused 20 accept salary silppor,ns-
himself out Of his private means He had inner
Ned considerable fortune from Mr.. Brady and
devoted much OF this TO contributing 20 the fund
FOR the House OF Repose and It's support
St Leo's Was often likened 10 the Church 90 the
Iransnguration. known popularity as the Little
Shurch Around the Corner. Father purev and
the Rev Or. g. G. Houghton. rector Of the latter
Were friends Or. Houghton received word OF
fAther Duceys death early yesterday and in his
sermon he asked for prayers for his friend and
paid him warm tribute as a neighbor and
priest In 81. Leo's there were Innovations as nu-
merous as in DR. Houghton's church and II was
not long ago that the latter dedicated a nortuarv
chapel which Is aiding in the work begun in Father
Ducey's House OF Repose.
SERMONS AGAINST TWEED RING.
Father Ducey's sermons against the Tweed ring
attracted wide attention and won the bitter en-
nifty OF those who were benehting by the Tweed
operations The Social Reform Club was Organized
at Father Ducey's home. and he was also one OF
the founders OF the Peoples Municipal League n
forerunner Of more recent independent political
movements. He attended the Lexow sessions.
despite the protests Of Archbishop Corrigan. At
F1E,Ferf .
sermon In which great corporations were at
tackled. In abiding to the encyclicaI Of Pope Leo
XIII he said:
hope that every member Of this congregation
reefs him 10 live. justly and godly and TO protest
against the covetousness and luxury OF the unjust
and tyrannical oppression by the corrupt CORPORA
tion powers OF the times I'm which live.
II said at the time that several wealthy
members OF his congregation withdrew the re-
suit Of this sermon. But fearlessness was one OF
Father Ducey's attributes
An innovation In Catholic practice was instituted
by Father Ducey when he initiated biweekly after
noon services for the unemployed I'm 1895. Large
numbers attended these services. and Archbishop
Ireland. hearing OF the work. said 1T is a truly
apostolic work. But Father Ducey did not connne
his work for the needy and suffering TO preaching
He aided worthy men OF all honorable caIlings.
and the special friend of stranded actors and
artists.
The most trying time in the life of Father Ducey.
Il said. when there danger that he
would lose the church ne had built. That was In
the summer OF 1896, when a mortgage fell due and
there seemed 20 be no money with which to meet
it. In fact. the property which had increased in
value far beyond what the mortgage called for,
had been advertised for sale.
But the debt was bonded by friends OF the church.
and it was saved TO the pastor who had made IL
famous And in December or the same year a
benefit given by actors at the Academy OF Music
netted the church 5000 The jubilee OF the church
had been celebrated on October OF the same year
and II was a sort OF combination service. of thank
fulness for the escape from the mortgage indebted
ness and for the years of work in the parish.
There a report that the church property was
held in the name of Father Ducey. This de-
MED At ST. Patricks Cathedral last night.