Struggling Toward the Light\nin Rome by Chas. T. Everson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 7, 1906

Struggling Toward the Light\nin Rome

By Chas. T. Everson

CHAS. T. EVERSON

ONE Sabbath morning a bright young man stepped into our hall and made some inquiries concerning our belief. As he seemed much in earnest we invited him to come and study the truth with us. He was pleased to avail himself of the offer, and began a thorough study of the message. The more he studied the truth the more the conviction fastened itself upon him that we have the message for these days.

He has lived his whole life in a strongly clerical atmosphere, as there has been a pope and a number of cardinals in his family. Consequently there is a continual procession of priests and monks visiting at his home. Some of his relatives are also monks in official positions. He has had, therefore, the opportunity of visiting very extensively among the monasteries of Rome, and has become well initiated especially in the secrets of the Dominicans, the monks of the Inquisition. It happened, therefore, that one evening while entering our meeting hall he was seen by two Dominican monks who quickly reported the matter to the head of the order at Rome, who was the confessor of the young man, and on very intimate terms with him. Immediately the next morning he was summoned to come to the convent to appear before this head of the monks who severely upbraided him, and told him never to come into his presence again unless he ceased to attend the heretical meetings. The young man calmly replied that if he did not wish to see him any more he would not come,

and then bade him good day and left.

After some time the head Dominican bethought himself, recalled him, and told him that he could visit the monastery the same as ever. For seeing that harsh treatment did not have the desired effect with him he tried milder measures. However he was more closely watched afterward as they are afraid that while studying the Protestant religion he will reveal many of their secrets of which he is well informed. They also watch him very closely to see whether he attends our meetings, and therefore every time he enters the hall he looks carefully around to see that there are no monks close at hand.

He continues to come to the meetings just the same, and studies with me at the house, and is fully convinced of the truth. Besides the fight that the monks are waging he has terrible struggles at home with his family, for they are much against his embracing the truth.

He had a great difficulty in giving up his belief in Mary as he said that he had prayed to her and she had given him definite answers to his prayers. But I showed him that Mary, together with the rest of the dead, is sleeping peacefully in her grave, and therefore has no power to help or intercede for us. He told me that he had promised Mary if she would grant him a certain favor he would repeat a certain prayer to her every night for eight years; and as the favor which he sought was realized by him, he wished to fulfil his vow. But when he came to study the truth he abandoned this promise, but still the thought of this vow troubled him. I had a long talk with him about it, and at the conclusion he said he would banish all thoughts of Mary from his mind. And after that evening he has had no more trouble about Mary worship.

A little over a week ago he told me he had that day burned all his Catholic images, books, and pictures. He said that he had thought of bringing them to me that I might burn them for him, but then he decided, as he expressed it, that he would not make me an iconoclast for him. He is thoroughly in earnest about the truth, and when he is counseled to abandon anything that will hinder his progress in the message he does it quickly and willingly. I hope that the readers of the REVIEW will remember before the throne of grace the souls that are struggling upward toward the light in the midst of the gross darkness of the papacy.

Rome.