The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-10-22
oucEY, FRIEND OF POOR.
GIimpses Of Beloved Priest Who Was
Foe OF Corrupt Bosses.

GIimpses Of Beloved Priest Who Was
Foe Of Corrupt Bosses.
Early in his pastorate the Rev.
Thomas J. Ducey. founder and pastor
OF st. I.eo's Roman Catholic church IN
New York and because OF his individ
uality and methods one of the note.
worthy ciergymen in the United States.
who recently died in his country home
at st. James. N. T.. was known as "ibe
ecclesiastical dandy" but as he went
! on In his work the less frivolous title
of ''the priest Of the genteeI' was sub
| stituted. The results OF his powerful
and bene6cent influence was never sue.
cessfully attacked. He worked in the
pastures In his own way. and some. II
not many. did not understand his way.
From the pulpit OF his church Father
Ducey raised his voice for political
purity. fought the Tweed ring in it's
day. assailed Tammany Hall and struck
at the trusts.
Father Ducey was born in Lisnore.
Ireland. Feb. 4. 1843 He was brought
to the United States at the age OF
five by his widowed mother. Judge
Thomas r. Brady met the boy. took
a liking to him and adopted him. and
be was brought up among luxurious
surroundings. On the death of Judge
Brady his ward came into a large for
tune.
Thomas J. Ducey studied in st. Fran
els Xavier's college. but left it with
out being graduated in order to take
up law in the Offices of his benefactor.
He deserted law to study for the priest
hood and was ordained in 1863 in st.
Joseph's seminary. Troy. He was as.
signed to the old Nativity church. in
Second avenue. New York. and after
a brief stay went to st. Michaers.
There he permitted himself the CON-
parative extravaga noes which would
not have attracted attention to Il lay.
man. bnt were conspicuous in priest.
His clothes were faultless. and he drove
carriage which was perhaps the
"snappiest'' turnout in Central park.
Next he gained the reluctant consent
of the church authorities to establish
st. Leo's. Soon after the church's
dedication on Sunday. May 1. 1891
! NoShGh DuSEy was SkC0lLCu Will pIO
pounding the following ecouundrum
why is st. Leo's church like well
known New York theater" Answer
Because it has tony pastor"
Father Ducey could be found in the
clubs along Fifth avenue or at fes.
tivities in the homes of social leaders
when not in his rectory. He was as
much man of the world as q priest
can be.
He was delightful host. His food
was excellently ordered and his wines
mellow. Men of intellect priced bis
invitations. The poor we're assured OF
welcome in his church. but whether he
loved or pitied them was a distinction
} which his best friends have discussed
Father Ducey had only one strong
J hobby. That-like Oscar Hammer
stein's-was his hat. He invariably
wore a tall silk hat with narrow
straight brim that was altogether ont
of keeping with the rest of his usually
smart attire. That hat was the JOKE
. Of all the clubs and hotels. Hundreds
J of times friends laughingly offered tG
give him orders for lifetime oi
hats from some fashionable shop. bu
Father Ducey clung to his peculiar ole
, tile. And he laughed at it himself a:
much as any one else did.
, About a month ago. soon after hi
fatal illness became grave, it was nee
2 essary for Father Ducey to undergo /,
serious operation. He refused anaes
thetics. saying he wasn't going to di
unconscious Of death. II be tad to di
he wanted to know what death wa
like. He was 4 gentleman unafraid.
, Father Tom," as be was known at
, fectionately among rich and poor. CAV,
. generously to his church and to chari
| ties from his private means. 1t wa,
announced recently that he had willet
his fortune to the church.