Italy by Chas. T. Everson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Sep 17, 1903

Italy

By Chas. T. Everson

The camp-meeting of the Latin Union Mission Field, of which Italy is a part, was held the latter part of June, in a beautiful orchard in the picturesque city of Lausanne, Switzerland. But I shall not stop to describe the beauties of the place or the excellent meetings that were held there, as some one else has been assigned that task. Still I should not fail to mention the pleasure that we experienced in meeting again on this occasion Dr. Paulson and Elder Irwin, and hearing their stirring messages of God's goodness and power. We were glad of the special interest that Dr. Paulson took in the openings for medical missionary work in Rome. And Elder Irwin's stay with us in “the Eternal City” will be remembered among the bright experiences in our work here. At this camp-meeting we also met for the first time Elder Conradi, who gave us a hearty welcome, and showed himself intensely interested in the progress of the work in Italy, and we have cause to believe that amid his many burdens he will not forget the land of Garibaldi.

As others will speak of the camp-meeting in general and the resolutions passed there, I shall call attention only to the matters that pertain directly to the Italian field. Therefore I give the resolutions that bear upon the interests of this field, that there may not only be resolutions but also results. The resolutions are as follows:—

“In accordance with the recommendation of the president of the General Conference at the last General Conference, that young people from America be encouraged to come to Italy to fit themselves for work in Italy, and by entering into training together with the young Italian workers become mutually helpful to one another, be it,—

1. “Resolved, That we make a strong effort to secure such suitable young people from America as we have reason to believe will develop into efficient workers for Italy, and invite the same to come to Rome or whatever place may be most suitable, with the view of fitting themselves for workers in the Italian field.

2. “Resolved, That wherever we find suitable young people among the Italians whom we have reason to believe will develop into efficient workers for Italy, we encourage these persons to enter into the same training with the young people from America.

“Whereas, The medical work has proved itself to be an entering wedge in introducing the message in new fields, and,—

“Whereas, In Italy this work has been wholly confined to the Catholic Church, which realizes its value and importance, and,—

“Whereas, Among Protestants we now have the opportunity of being the pioneers in this work in Italy,—

3. “Resolved, That we invite our American brethren to send us a missionary doctor and encourage such nurses to come to Italy as we have reason to believe will be able to make the workers for this needy field.

In a place like Italy where we have so few Sabbath-keepers it is impossible to obtain the necessary material of which to make the workers for this needy field, and therefore we shall need to look to the American young people for the future workers for this country until we are able to develop a membership here from which we can draw. We believe in the policy of using those who are born and brought up in the country, as we are satisfied that with their superior knowledge of the language and customs of the people, they will prove to be a most valuable aid. Yet in the initial stages when such help is wanting, it will be necessary to have workers from America take up the work. And I feel sure that the workers who come from America will prove to be invaluable helpers not only to start the work, but to help push it until the Lord comes. So we desire those upon whose heart the Lord is laying a burden for the lands beyond the seas, to pray and study to know if it is not to the home of the papacy that he wants them to go. And every Italian wherever he may be should be praying and striving to know what duty the Lord wants him to bear with respect to his native land.

That the time has come when medical missionary work should be begun is evident from the last article that I wrote for the REVIEW. I shall not speak further on this subject here, but let our American physicians whom the Lord is impressing to engage more definitely in missionary work, read the article prayerfully, and then try to discover if the Lord is not calling them to take up their work in “the seat of the beast.” Likewise will not our consecrated nurses, whose work is so effective in places of this kind, strive to know if the Lord wants them to come.

This land that has “sat in the region and shadow of death” shall surely see a great light, and that is the light of the third angel's message. But what we do we must do quickly: for there is coming a time of which we read, “The fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness.” We must work while it is day; for the great, eternal night, when no man can work, will soon be ushered in.

CHAS. T. EVERSON.

79 Via Napoli, Rome, Italy.