The First Public Proclamation of the Third Angel's Message in Rome
By Chas. T. Everson
CHAS. T. EVERSON
LAST Sunday evening the first public proclamation of the third angel's message took place in the city of Rome. In a beautiful hall situated across the street from the Palace of Justice, and almost within the shadow of the Vatican itself, the first note of the final message was sounded in the seat of the beast. In the congregation that gathered for this first meeting there were present a president of a theological seminary of Rome, a Baptist minister, a lawyer, a leading journalist, and two ex-Catholic priests, one of whom has been a Jesuit professor.
Not the least interesting person was the preacher who gave the first discourse on this message which concerns itself so directly with the worship of the beast. It is quite significant that the first sermon of the third angel's message delivered in the seat of the beast was preached by a young man who was himself educated for the priesthood of the Catholic Church. This young man represents the first results of our work in the city of Rome, and is the first person to be converted to the truth in the city of Rome itself.
THE TIBER, ST. PETERS, AND CASTLE SANT’ ANGELO
His mother placed him under strong Catholic teaching when he was but a mere boy, with the purpose of making a priest of him. And the instruction of his youth had a powerful effect upon him, so that he regarded all Protestants, and especially Luther, in a very unfavorable light, and considered the Italian government a robber because it had taken Rome from the pope. When only seventeen years old, he preached in the Catholic church in a regular series of meetings which took place every day before large congregations, even the bishop being present at times.
He is well educated, having attended the higher schools and the University of Florence, and studied six years for the Catholic priesthood at their seminary. He got an insight into the corruption of the church suddenly one morning, which dissuaded him from entering the priesthood, and he began the study of the classical course at the university. During his course at the university he was married, and converted to the gospel.
Some time ago he came to Rome that he might fit himself to enter the work of the Lord. By providential circumstances he came in contact with us, and after holding studies with him, he was thoroughly convinced of the truth, and is now heart and soul in it. His wife is also enthusiastic in the truth. Being a fluent speaker in the Italian, and a very intelligent man, he is indeed a Godsend to the work in Italy, where we have no one who can well present the truth in the Italian language before a Roman audience. He also has some means of his own, although for two years he has been working at his own expense in the missionary work. It means much to have a man of refinement and education connected with the work in a city of classical culture like Rome. Brother Lattoni has many acquaintances among the Catholic priests, one of whom, a very intelligent professor, is becoming convinced that the Church of Rome is not the true church, and is thinking quite seriously of leaving it.
One indication that the first effort in Rome was not without its effects is the fact that at the close of the service a lawyer came forward and asked to buy a Bible that he might study these things. It takes years of hard study to become an attorney in these countries, and when men of such standing begin to inquire into these truths, it shows that there is a power in this message to attract the educated class.
There is another lawyer with whom I am studying the message at our home, and he just marvels at the wonderful things he is hearing in these studies. He says that a person does not need faith to believe in these wonderful prophecies; for he can see that they are true. The great difficulty with most of the people is that they have lost faith in religion; but this message is fitted to restore their faith in the gospel.
When I presented the Sabbath question to the young man whom I have just mentioned as being the first convert here, he said that if it be possible to found one doctrine upon the tradition of the Church of Rome, referring to Sunday observance, then it is possible to found all the doctrines upon the traditions of Rome, and that simply means being a Catholic. This shows that it is possible for men educated within the walls of the Roman Church to get clear visions of the truth.
A number of others are interested in the truth, and from the way the work is opening up here, we feel sure, as we have felt from the very beginning, and even before we came, that the Lord will do great things in Rome. We are so busy that we are forced to refuse offers that would seem to be quite auspicious in the development of the work. For example, I have been asked by the Young Men's Christian Association to help them teach about forty intelligent young men in their language course, and this would bring me in contact with some excellent young Italians who might be influenced for the truth, but my time is so occupied that I had to refuse the offer; for we are working with such a small force here in Italy that each one is taxed to his utmost capacity. Surely Italy needs help if we shall follow in the openings that God is making for us.
The accompanying illustration represents the Castle of Sant' Angelo, which was built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian A. D. 136, and was used during the Dark Ages by the popes for a fort. There was a passageway built from the Vatican to this castle, and in times of danger the popes could flee for safety to this castle. It is but a short distance from this castle to our meeting hall.
