SINCE 1870—the date of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility―the Bible has been allowed to enter Rome. But no thanks to the Pope, good reader; the thanks are due under God to the fact that in 1870 the Italian nation made Rome its capital, and gave Rome religious liberty. To have distributed the Bible in Rome when the Pope was supreme in power, would have been to incur a visit to the Inquisition, and, possibly, a very long one. Nevertheless, portions at least of God’s Holy Word were brought into Rome before 1870, as the following instance indicates.
A workingman found one day a book without a cover hidden away from general observation; he took it home, read it, and both he and his wife were profoundly struck by its teachings. From it they learned that to approach God we need no human priest, and that since Christ once offered Himself to God as a sacrifice for our sins, we cannot require a fresh sacrifice of Him in the Mass. Some years after this, at one of the mission halls of an Evangelic Mission, a rough looking man rose up and claimed his right to worship with the members. “But who are you?” they enquired, and somewhat anxiously, for the man was a stranger, and his, manner was very untutored. He had not heard of Protestants, and it was very difficult to discover what he was. “I am of your religion,” he said. “I believe what you do; I have learned the things you teach from a book I found years ago, hidden in a secret place in Rome.” The man was truly a Christian, and from this stray copy of the Holy Scriptures he had learned the way of life and salvation.
But now the Bible need not be hidden in a bush, or in a crevice in a wall—it can be given away openly, and the people read it when it is given them. The Pope, for political reasons, is thoroughly hated by the men of Italy, and the power of the Papacy in that land is to a great extent broken. It is often said, “We do not want the priests―they are not to be trusted; neither do we want to become Protestants. What we want is apostolical religion.” For this the Italians must search the Word of God.
One bright evening this spring a few English people who had left the large ruins of Hadrian Villa near Rome were walking up the hill to Tivoli. The main road was left, and the shorter country path was taken, which winds its rough way through the olives. The sun was sinking over the wide Campagna, and the scene was beautiful. The peasants were coming quickly up the long slope―some riding on mules, but most of them on foot. They formed a long, broken procession of men, women, and children. The roadway was somewhat steep, and the ladies of the party sat down to rest, and then a little group of peasants, who evidently regarded the ladies as curiosities, stood about them, inspecting them. Some bore their tools upon their heads. All were swarthy, and all were poor.
The ladies broke the silence by reciting a short text, when, as if by magic, the women and children took up the words and repeated them in chorus. A short verse of a hymn was said, and then another text, and they were pleasantly repeated; and as the ladies rose to complete the walk up the hill they were followed by quite a little company, and all were repeating with great interest the wonderful words of life.
When the road on the crown of the hill was reached, one woman said, “We have seen the fine people come up and down this road for years, but not until this evening has anyone ever said one of those beautiful words to us about God and the Saviour. Thank you, thank you, ladies! And when you die you shall go to heaven on wings, for you have in your hearts beautiful words.”
Now, good reader, if you speak a little Italian, you might do as did those ladies that spring evening. The peasants will repeat the words of God, and commit them to heart. May such good seed-sowing be carried on. The writer who witnessed the incident, could but think of the olden days, when the Gospel was carried through large districts of Europe by singers and by wanderers. Oh! what an open door is there now in Italy for the written and the spoken Word of our God. Will not the Christian who visits Rome do his and her best to give to the people the bread of life? We beg Christian ladies to find out some of the mission work that is going on in Rome. Let them pay a visit to 35, Piazza in Lucina, and see with their own eyes what good work is proceeding amongst the poor in the medical mission and in general care for the neglected and suffering. Perhaps, too, they, will make little journeys to the villages, give away portions of Scripture, and repeat the wonderful words of life to the peasants.
A few extracts from Francesco Baldi’s first report of his effort as colporteur in some small towns and villages near Rome will create interest. He was out of work, and, acting under the Rev. Mr. Wall, tried his hand in this great service. Baldi is an enthusiast―a soldier in spirit, and he has been greatly encouraged. Once or twice he has been stoned and driven out of a village, but, generally speaking, he has had good cheer. He relates:
“In the public square at V―a shoemaker asked me some questions about religion, and among my listeners were some women and a student priest. When I had finished talking the women told the student to doff his priestly garments, to become an Italian citizen, and preach the pure Gospel.
“At M―a crowd followed me. I asked them if they could not give me something in return for the books. Many of the women brought me onions, and I accepted them to show them that I value their kindness. In the house of A. M. we had a little meeting, and I read the third chapter of John. While I was talking it struck twelve. Several of them made the sign of the cross. I stopped and asked them if they knew what they were doing. Out of twenty persons there was not one who could give me any reason, so I went on to tell them how that God wants the sign of the heart being changed. When I had finished they desired to have a Testament, and for payment gave me some bread.
“P. F―. As soon as I arrived I was surrounded by women, who gave me eggs for the books. They gladly listened to the second chapter of Luke which I read to them. While I was going through the village the parish priest called me, and asked me what I was selling. When I had shown him, he called me into his house, where he chose from among my books the Gospel of Matthew, a little book of hymns, and the Epistle to the Rom. I testified to him, but he spoke to me in Latin. When I came away he gave me twopence.
“R. S―. I had many religious conversations. I read the Gospel with the parish priest. Many took Gospels and tracts. The prætor took some texts and hymns.
“R. R―. Before I arrived here I found a woman on horseback, who got a boy to call me to her, and then asked me where her daughter―who had died without confessing herself, as no priest was at hand―could be.
“I told her we could not judge about others, and that God Himself comes near at the hour of death to give to His children the consolation and help which they need. I read to her the passage in which Christ said to the penitent thief, ‘To-day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.’ She wished to have one of the Gospels. In the village I had distribution and conversations.
“R―. Here I sold four Testaments. After some conversation a guard bought a Testament. I found him later, when he desired to have a copy of the hymnbook, and said it was a great pleasure to him to read them. A poor old man asked for our address, saying that when the time came for him to die he should send for us. In the house where I slept we had many religious conversations.
“I had some conversation with a Franciscan friar, who came to eat at that house, about the life of St. Francis and the power of Christ. He had obeyed his superiors even to the point of never having learnt to read.”
In common with other workers in Italy, Mr. Wall’s great longing is to give the Italians the Scriptures in their own tongue. Italy wants God’s own Holy Word; and in distributing it the colporteur is a grand agent.
Will our readers be willing to assist in this work? We shall be more than delighted to send to Mr. Wall any help which may be forwarded to us for the distribution of the. Word of God in and around Rome.