Little Rock, Ark., October 18, 1876.
Algiers, La.
Algiers is situated on the north bank of the Mississippi River, about
one hundred miles distant from the Gulf. It is connected with New
Orleans by ferry boats, which run every five or ten minutes. There is
not much enterprise here, as all the business is done in the city.
It is not a separate parish from the city, as one mayor controls the
affairs of both places. Beelzebub has his headquarters here, and his
court and his orders take the premium. The Sabbath is not respected.
Mechanics labor and stevedores flock and flutter about the ships. You
will find human beings as thick on the ballroom floor on Sunday as
fleas on a dog’s head. And this is only a substitute for the wickedness
indulged in here on the Sabbath. But our Church is progressing. We
have just had a glorious revival. Our forces were drawn up in line in
pitched battle with the devil and artillery of hell. After a heavy
conflict for several weeks the battle subsided. When the smoke was
over we picked up thirty souls happily converted to God. Bishop Ward
was with us about eight weeks ago. He organized a new mission work
in this city. He threw two or three bombshells against the forces of
Catholicism, crippled, wounded and captured several of their troops,
and moved on down the line, leaving the boys to push the battle to the
gate.