A popular history of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America . , but theywere so illiterate as to fail in attracting the attention ofthe more intelligent permanent residents, while they re-pelled the temporaries who had been accustomed to hearan educated minister at their native homes. The settle-ments up the Red river in Louisiana were in a similarmoral condition, if we accept the account of a writer whosays: The population of Natchitoches was a conglom-erate of various tongues and creeds—Americans,French, Spaniards, Indians, and negroes; Roman Catho-lics, Protestants of diffe
A popular history of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America . , but theywere so illiterate as to fail in attracting the attention ofthe more intelligent permanent residents, while they re-pelled the temporaries who had been accustomed to hearan educated minister at their native homes. The settle-ments up the Red river in Louisiana were in a similarmoral condition, if we accept the account of a writer whosays: The population of Natchitoches was a conglom-erate of various tongues and creeds—Americans,French, Spaniards, Indians, and negroes; Roman Catho-lics, Protestants of different kinds, deists, infidels, andheathen. Samuel Royce.—To such communities the ConnecticutMissionary Society sent the Rev. Samuel Royce (1817).He made his journey thither on a missionary tour, and asopportunity served he preached to congregations thatwere destitute. He was then only a licentiate, and as suchconnected himself with the Presbytery of Mississippi. Hecommenced his labors on the west side of the river, oppositeBaton Rouge, on ground never trodden before by a. Rev. Hodge, D. D.(165, 499.) NEW ORLEANS—THE TOWNS ALONG THE RIVER. 341 Protestant minister; that is, one who was properly edu-cated for the office. Mr. Royce was ere long invited to Alexandria, on theRed river, and there he settled. Here he was almostentirely isolated from ministerial friends, as there wasscarcely a brother minister within a hundred miles. Helabored incessantly, after making missionary toursthrough the adjoining region. Great numbers of hishearers had never before heard a Protestant sermon. In-fidelity abounded, the French type of which seemed a sortof epidemic, extended by means of immigrants, manyfrom Kentucky. Now and then he was cheered whenhe happened to be cordially received by Christian men andwomen, who had migrated thither from homes that werewithin reach of gospel privileges. He said: Their coun-tenances and tears, more than words, revealed emotionseasier to imagine th
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