New-York tribune., 1919-04-22
Father Duffy Sings Praises
OfAU Of 69M But Himself

With a broad smile on his tanned
face, but his Distinguished Service
Cross securely out of sight, Father
Francis P. Duffy, game chaplain Of
the fighting Goth, came home yester-
day with his regiment.
The newspapers had formed the habit
of calling him Chaplain Major Duffy
Forget that" he said. '1'm Father
Duffy.
"1'm not major anyway" he
added. II was promoted to that rank
by some A. E. f. order overseas. but
it didn't go. Pm like Kipling's Private
Mulvaney, who said 4 was a corporal
once, but I've been rejooced.' My rank
is that of captain. But rank means
nothing to chaplain.
"Of course"-and his eye twinkled-
"there are certain thrills when you
draw your pay voucher However. III
stick to Father Duffy"
No Quiet Escape for Him
1t was "Father Duffy" all right, and
no one else, when the chaplain walked
off the Hoboken pier. He had planned
TO slip quietly away in an automobile
with Colonel Donovan to the Hotel Bel
mont. But there wasn't a chance.
Five hundred mon, women and chill
dren, communicates Of the Church of
Our Saviour, The Bronx, Father Duify's
old paStorate, were clAmoring at the
pier gates, waving flags and shouting
themselves hoarsc. The pAssagcWay to
the pier enclosure is very narrow, but
II was all q dozen husky guards and
military police could do to keep the
throng from rushing in.
The chaplain vcnturod into the gate
way. In moment he found himself
surrounded by hiluriously excited
cess to their beloved pastor.
Hello, father" "Oh, fathcr.' Gee,
we're glad you're bacbl'
81 see you are, he grinnod, and
shook hands with score or two.
Guards Clear Line of Retreat
By this time the guards had cleared
way behind-it was impossible to do
so in front-and Father Duffy re-
! treated to the inclosure The Joyful
mob still stormed the gate and it was
decided to make hasty sortie to the
next one. But the delegation from
1t looked as if they'd have to call out
the police reserves TO escort the chap
lain to the street.
Finally some accommodating sailor
had seen to it that the automobile was
brought around close to the curb be-
fore third exit, still further up, and
the party succeeded in gaining it by
q quick dash. The machine, however,
was Immediately surrounded and it was
| n I'at lol Il
nearly every man, woman and child in
the throng that it was able to start Off
Most of them he called by name 1t
was "Hello, John" "How are you, Ed ?"
Are the babies well pa hearty hand
clasp and the Duffy smile.
Not From The Bronx
One grizzlcd old man, not with The
Bronx contingent, who had apparently
been lately patronzing some Hoboken
bootlegger, walked unsteadily up to the
chaplain.
began, "in 1872"
SHe did a good job" quoth Father
Duffy. looking him over.
During the time Father Duffy was
marooned within the inclosure, his
sister. Mrs. John Percy. of New York
greeted him. Other relatives met him
last night at the Belmont.
With the Harrisburg a day from
port, Father Duffy said an Easter mass
Sunday and preached an Easter sermon
to the men. There were also Episcopa,
and general Protestant services on The
transport. All three were we'll attended
Father Duffy said.
81 preached of the triumph of Christ, >
he said, "and told them how much
longer 1t had lasted than their triumph
! would last"
Religious Feeling Deepened
. Religious feeling has been deepenet
among the mon who went TO war" h,
went on. "There is no doubt abou
, that. For America the wars duration
was just long enough for that, and no
e long enough to harden them. | wa
senior chaplain Of the Rainbow Divi
Z sion and all the others, of all faiths
: reported to me they had found tn,
. same thing true"
What kind of religion does the sol
der likc?" some one asked.
"He likes the oldfashioncd kind. ant
10 he likes 1t straight" rather Duffy re
}. piled. 'He likes the kind he got from
his mother | don't mean merely tn,
- Jew or Christian, Catholic or Prot
estant found no demand among tn,
troops for any new kind of religion
Father Duffy declined right off tn,
y reel to talk of his own exploits.
You were gasscd, weren't you?" HI
was asked.
"Aw, everybody was gassed at on,
time or another" he replied scornfully
. The battle Of the Ourcq, where fo,
three days. from July 2S to July 81
Chaplain Duffy was under fire, he
wouldn't say word about.
General Pcrshing has said something
about 1t IN citation, wherein it Il
stated that Father Duffy "dcspte a
constant and severe bombardmcnt with
shells and aerial bombs, continued to
circulate IN and about the aid stations
and hospitals, creating an atmosphere
Of chcerfulness and confidence by his
/ icTt q III