A Baptismal Service in “The Eternal City”
By CHAS. T. EVERSON
WHILE we are not gathering a large number of persons by our work in this center of Catholicism, yet every once in a while some honest soul breaks the spell of papal superstition and emerges from the darkness into the sunlight of the present truth. Of this city it can truly be said, “Behold the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people;” but then each jewel that is gained for the truth under such circumstances shines so much brighter for being surrounded by a dark setting. Thus far those that have been gained through the proclamation of the message at Rome have been drawn from the educated classes. Two weeks ago we had the privilege of baptizing two dear souls who have come to us straight from the Catholic Church, and who with us for the first time studied the Protestant religion. One is a young lady, a teacher in the public schools, who has suffered much for the sake of her religion. She was always opposed to the Catholic religion from her earliest childhood. And although brought up in a family very strongly Catholic and in the midst of a community very clerical, yet not even once could she be induced to make use of “holy water” on entering the church. She has two sisters who are nuns, and there was a strenuous effort made to induce her to follow their example, but she was always opposed to the idea. At one time she was induced to teach in a convent, and there the sisters were very kind to her, thinking to win her to the life of a nun. But when they saw that she was entirely set against it, they became bitter, and made life miserable for her. She left there as soon as possible and procured a position in the public schools. When she first came in contact with us, she had very little confidence in religion of any kind. But under the influence of earnest prayer and private Bible studies, the hard heart began to melt, and she obtained a clear experience in God. And now she exercises a great care to see that she performs everything exactly according to the truth which she professes. The other candidate was a professor of music, who, among the younger generation, is considered the best organist in Rome, which is saying much for one in the midst of a musical nation. From his earliest childhood his father dedicated him to church music, in order that he might be in close contact with the church, and thus remain a fervent and devoted adherent to Catholicism. But as the professor expresses it, in this his father made a grave mistake in his calculations. For coming in such close contact with the priests and the innermost workings of Catholicism, he became persuaded that the church is only a great business where everything is done on a money basis. He has often expressed the idea that the Catholic Church is like a great theater; for the priests, when they are before the lighted candle, try to act with solemnity, but when behind the scenes they almost devour one another. Therefore, in his contact with this system of iniquity, he lost all confidence in religion. But with the study of the message his eyes became open to the great realities of the truth, and he marveled when he began to see what a wonderful book the Bible truly is; for, as he often expresses it, “Why, in the Bible one finds an answer to every difficulty.” While studying the great German masters of music, he was first led to see some beauty in the Protestant religion; for God enters at the point in our character that can most easily be penetrated by the truth. But not until he came in contact with us, did he study into the religion itself. He has studied under the famous composer Mascagni, and is also a composer of some merit himself. Just recently one of his compositions was published by a leading firm of this city. We pray that all these talents that God is winning for the truth may be made subservient to his will and useful in the furtherance of his cause in the land of the papacy. After the baptism he told me that one can not imagine beforehand the experience of peace and joy which comes to the one that is baptized and blessed by heaven. We see, therefore, that conversion is the same, and the blessing of God remains unchangeable, in every country. CHAS. T. EVERSON.