Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1920-03-09

Paul Perigord, heroic officer of the
French army and an instructor at
Troop College of Technology, is to
marry Miss Emily Mcbride, society
tgin Of Pasadena, has created a sensa-
ton at ST. Paul, Mimi.
Captain Perigord was formerly a
member of the faculty of the ST. Paul
Seminary, from which he graduated,
and where he was ordained priest of
the Roman Catholic church. ct the
home Of Miss McBride's parents, Dr..
and Mrs. J. HI. Mcbride, 489 gel1efon-
tame street, Pasadena, he stated that
he was ordained priest, but that he
voluntarily severed his connection with
the church during the war.
Archbishop Austin Bowling, when
told of the engagement, said that Cap
tain Perigord cannot marry and re-
main in the Catholic church. Other
members of the clergy high in the
diocese of ST. Paul, asid that the an
nouncement of the coming marriage
will result in communication, de-
claring he could not of himself quit
the church.
"He took vows from which only
death can release him." said the arch
bishop. d.
CAT the Mcbride home Captain
Perigord stated: ia.
at is true that l was formerly a
priest Of the Roman Catholic church.
However l severed my connection with
that organization during the war, in
which 1 served first as private and
later as an officer of the regular
French army. l am now an officer of
that army, with the rank of captain
My reasons for leaving the
church organization are entirely of an
intellectual character l could no long
er accept its doctrines, and when I
ceased to believe them, it was my
place to Ntire. My position is that
of an honest thinker. l acted as
felt it was my duty to act At this time
| am not member of'any church. %
"HeS took no. formal steps, to sever
his church connections, Captain Peri
cord stated, but he considers that he
1 gave, up his priesthood and is not at
this time Al nienber of the ciergy.''
/ Captain Perigord became mem
Der lof the; Haoop faculty last; July, as
ia iteacher LM French, economics and
European history. He first dame to
this community in May, 1918, as q
representative of the French i'EEielf
commission and was sent to convey to
America an expression Of the appfei
citation of our ally for our WA. .seff4
vices" y T.
+ cat no time, says Captain :Perigerd
did he perform pastoral duties in the
churehs9Hef was asssacher.',, f,,.t.
"He Isl considefesEsene of the real
heroes %. the war. When the lighting
began insEuropeshe was taking spc-
cial course inslnorai' theology at
Columbia University. He Immediately
hurried to France, however, and en-
listed as private. Unusual courage
and gallantry in some of the most ter
rible fighting Of the war won him the
cross Of the Legion of Honor and the
Medaille Militarie, with which he was
six times decorated"
| Finally, he was made lieutenant
in the field, for extraordinary services
in leading his company after all it's
officers were killed. For time he
was OF General Mangars staff and
then was sent to this, country as an
instructor. Later he became mem
Der of the French military commits
sion at Washington and was detailed
| to lecture turnout this country"
F'Miss Mcbride, his fiancee, is one
of the most popular henderson, socie-
| ty in Pasadena. She is as we'll or
better known, however, for her in
terest N charities and for her indefat-
tigable service in war work in this
country"
. Her engagement to Captain Peri
CORD was announced January 20. No
+. date has been set for the wedding"