Rougier Died A Priest

Correction of a Report

rE writer of an article published in the “PIM” of June last, and des cidbing “Fanning Island Memories, used tnese words; “Once Father Emmanuel Rougier, the South Seas millionaire, who had been a French Roman Catholic Priest and had married a Tahitienne, came ashore from the ‘Luka.’ He had his daughter with him . . . one of the loveliest girls I have eV |lnce en tken we have received letters

though g he°hi/left Mk

missionary priest, retained his status in the Church, and was never married; and this correction was made in the “PIM” of October. ...

We now have received a letter from Madame Alice Rougier Calamy, written in Tahiti on October 10. Madame Calamy protests most energetically against this grievous slur on the memory of her uncle, the late Reverend Father Rougier. She states that Father Rougier remained a priest to the end of his life that he never renounced his status as a Roman Catholic Father; that he was never married; and that, of course, he had

no children . .

She says that Father Rougier did visit Fanning Island after World War I. He was accompanied on that occasion by one of his nieces, Madame Calamys sister, who became the wife of Dr. Boulagnon, of Paulhaguet, Haute Loire, France, and she gives the name and address of her sister, who is now a resident of Bordeaux.

She says she cannpt understand why so lamentable an insinuation was made

gainst the memory of Father Rougier— a little enquiry would have shown the utter falseness of such a report. i~|LD residents of Fiji recall the unusual vJ story of Father Rougier.

Some 40 years ago, he was a missionary priest on the Rewa River, at the eastern end of Viti Levu, and he there met and befriended a Frenchman named Cecile.

Cecile is believed to have escaped from the French convict establishment in New Caledonia, and his connections in France were wealthy and important. Father

heated hiS'to mtrry 0 a blau-

Wh ° m he had fall6n m consequence of a disagreement with his bishop, Father Rougier left the ser vice of the Catholic Church; and it was then that Cecile showed his goodwill by making substantial funds available to the priest. Father Rougier purchased the lease of Fanning Island, and one or two other islands in that area, and when copra became valuable during and after World War I, he benefited substantially He settled in Tahiti, where he became an important figure in commerce. He was held in high regard in Tahiti where he conducted himself always as befitted one who regarded himself still as a priest h oly orders. He made considerable gifts to charity and to his church.