Roussel, Napolion

Roussel, Napolion a French Protestant theologian, was born at Sauve in 1805. He studied at Geneva, was in 1831 pastor at Saint Etienne, but at the instance of the consistory he had to resign in 1835 because his sermons "bore the stamp of Methodism." In vain did the majority of the Church protest against the intolerance of the consistory. Roussel resigned, and founded an independent chapel. In 1835 he was pastor at Marseilles, in 1838 he went to Paris, where he started a journal called l'Esperance, the organ of the orthodox party. He was the means of founding churches at AngoulAme, Villefavard, Limoges, Balledant, etc. In 1863 Roussel weit to Lyons, but- resigned his pastorate in 1867. He then retired to Geneva, and died June 8, 1878. Besides his Comment il ne faut pas Precher, he published a great many brochures and tracts. See Lichtenberger, Encyclop. des Sciences Religieuses, s.v. (B.P.)