Religious Thoughts on the Establishment of St. Johns River Settlement, Fla.

When you think of the religious settlers who came to this "New World" to make a new life, do you (as I) think of the Puritans and the Pilgrims? Most of us do, I suspect.

There are many more examples. If you have read this blog you may have learned about the religious convictions of Christopher Columbus and other historic figures. But how about Rene de Laudonniere?

In 1564 Rene de Laudonniere led a group that settled at St. Johns River in Florida. They colonized and built Fort Caroline (in the general area of today's Jacksonville). Upon the creation of this settlement, de Laudonnier recorded these words:

"We sang a psalm of Thanksgiving unto God, beseeching Him that it would please Him to continue His accustomed goodness towards us."

This event has been called the First Thanksgiving in America (even though the settlement was wiped out by Spanish soldiers the next year).

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