Papal Intolerance

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 19, 1867

Papal Intolerance.

Suppression of Protestant Worship in Rome—Threats of the Inquisition.

DR. PRIME, editor of the N. Y. Observer, writes to that paper from Rome the following account of the action which preceded the removal of the American Chapel outside the walls of Rome:

ROME, JAN. 4.

For six years and more, the Scotch Presbyterians have had a station here. Indeed, they have two; one the Free Church, the other the Church of Scotland. The chaplains have held service every Sabbath, in their own apartments, with a few of their countrymen, rarely more than thirty or forty being present. These services disturb no one, and the authorities do not notice them. They affect to ignore their existence altogether.

On Saturday, Dec. 29, 1866, the chaplains of these two missions were served with the following warning, issued by the British Consul. I copy it verbatim from the original, now before me:

BRITISH CONSULATE AT ROME, DEC. 21, 1866.

Sir: It is my official duty to inform you that Monsignore Randi, Governor of Rome, has just communicated to me that you are holding illegal religious meetings in your house, which you must know are prohibited by the Roman law, and that you have thus placed yourself in the power of the inquisition, both for arrest and imprisonment.

But as the Monsignore permits me to give you this notice, I would seriously advise that you at once put an end to these innovations, and that you visit Monsignore Randi at Monte Citorio, and assure him that you will never again repeat these illegal acts. I hope in this way you may possibly suspend your exile, which is now hanging over you.

I am, sir, your obedient servant, (signed) Joseph Severin. To Rev. Jas. Lewis. British Consul.

One of them, Rev. Mr. Williamson, was also informed by the woman whose apartments he had hired, that she would not allow the people to come into the house for public worship any more, and, of course, he had to submit to the woman power and close his chapel.

The other minister, Mr. Lewis, called upon the Duke of Argyle, Mr. Caldwell, Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Odo Russell, and other distinguished British gentlemen here, and took counsel of them, but it was not prudent for them to interfere. He then went directly to the Governor of Rome, in whose hands this matter would lie, and laid the case before him. The result was that Mr. Lewis became satisfied that the Roman government would rather not know anything of his movements, and he might preach and pray in his own house as much as he liked, if he did not make a noise about it. He returned home, and the next day held his usual service; and I had the pleasure of hearing him preach from the words, “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house (in Rome,) and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts xxviii, 30.

If Mr. Lewis gets into the hands of the Inquisition, I will let you know. He has asked me to preach for him next Sunday; and if these letters suddenly come to a close, you may guess what’s the matter.

SATURDAY, January 5, 1867.

Worse than our worst fears—the blow has been struck, and Presbyterians are ordered to desist from public worship in all the Papal dominions.

Yesterday, Mr. O. Russell, as the acting representative of the British Government, had an interview with Cardinal Antonelli, the Prime Minister of the Pope. Mr. Russell expressed his surprise, on being informed that an order had been issued requiring the Scotch Presbyterians to desist from the worship they had been holding in the private houses of their pastors. He asked the Cardinal if he was aware that these meetings had been held for six years past, without objection being made by any one, and if there were any special reason why they were now so summarily suppressed. The Cardinal intimated, in reply, that the Government had for many years past been under restraint; but now that foreign protection was removed, they would administer it according to their own views of duty; that one English chapel was open, and that was enough for the English in Rome.

Mr. Russell said the Cardinal must be aware that the suppression of Presbyterian worship would produce a great excitement in Britain, and the action of the Pontifical government would be loudly condemned. This suggestion, however, produced no effect, and Mr. Russell remarked that the Americans are allowed to have a place of worship. To this the Cardinal answered that the government would attend to that also. Finding argument and remonstrance vain, Mr. Russell retired and reported the result of his interview. The two places of worship are, therefore, peremptorily closed. There is, therefore, no place in Rome, or in the Papal dominions, where Presbyterians are admitted for divine worship.

Paul could preach two whole years in his own hired house, in Pagan Rome. But Papal Rome forbids the Protestant follower of the Apostle to worship God with his friends in his own hired house. Pagan Rome was more tolerant in Paul’s day than Papal Rome in ours.