A Canon of the Catholic Church Baptized at Rome by Chas. T. Everson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 21, 1907

A Canon of the Catholic Church Baptized at Rome

By Chas. T. Everson

CHAS. T. EVERSON

ONE evening while holding one of our regular services at our hall, a gentleman chanced in, impressed, as he afterward said, by the inscription over the door, which reads, “The response of history to the voice of prophecy.” Being a professor and a great student of history, these words impressed him so that he entered the hall, and stood at the door, listening. But becoming interested in the sermon, he took a seat, and remained till the end of the meeting. At its close he came forward, and said that he had become interested in what he had heard, and especially in our method of presenting the truth. We gave him a cordial invitation to come and study the truth with us, and he gladly accepted. It is now nearly a year since that first meeting, and during this interval we have studied the message together, both at our home and in the hall.

This professor was brought up in the Catholic Church, and early in life began to study for the priesthood. After taking the regular ecclesiastical orders, he became professor of sacred literature and theology in the Catholic seminary, and a little later was invested with a canonicate, conferred upon him by Pope Leo XIII, under the sanction of the Italian government.

While teaching Catholic doctrine to the seminarists, he was compelled to study Protestantism, in order to show up the weakness of its claims. But the comparative study of the two religions resulted in favor of Protestantism. He began to teach some of these new-found truths to his classes. But he was soon called up before the bishop, who said that there was a flavor of Lutheranism about his teachings that was incompatible with the best interests of the church. He was told that these teachings would not be tolerated in the seminary. Seeing that he would have to deny his principles if he remained in his position, he decided to give up his place in the church. The bishop of his diocese told him that it was sheer madness for a young man who was already canon and professor of the seminary to leave his position, with such a splendid future before him. But these specious arguments were not sufficient to deter him from his purpose, and he resigned, and entered the university at Florence. While there studying, he occupied the place of professor of philosophy in one of the best schools of the city. From Florence he came to Rome, and took his doctor's degree in the Royal University. This degree was necessary to have a standing before the government, as ecclesiastical titles are not recognized by it.

During this time he had continued to investigate the doctrines of Protestantism as taught by the various evangelical churches of Italy, but he was not persuaded or fully satisfied with any of them. But when he began to look into the eternal claims of the present truth, he found a system of teaching thoroughly Biblical, and was often led to exclaim in the study of the message, “Here we can not be mistaken, as we read it right out of the Bible.”

Our method of letting the Bible prove itself is highly appreciated by these men, and it makes a wonderful impression upon them. But while arguments were good, yet that which really did the work of gaining this brother for the truth was the mighty, transforming power of the Spirit of God working directly upon his heart; for, as he expressed it at the meeting when he was received into the church, “I have been convinced for nearly a year of the truths of Protestantism, but the heart remained untouched. But now the Lord has spoken directly to my heart, and for that reason I have decided to unite myself with this people among whom the Lord has revealed himself to me.” He told me that a gradual transformation had begun to take place in him after his coming among us, but it had come to a climax a short time ago, when God spoke definitely to him, and the Spirit of God moved mightily upon his heart. He had then come to me, and said that the Lord had revealed himself so clearly that he could not ask for more evidence, but wished to take the necessary steps for uniting with this people. He said that while he had attended other Protestant meetings, he had never seen nor felt the power of God's presence in them as he had experienced it in our church.

He has never been a member of any other church, but comes directly to us from Catholicism, and thus far in our experience those who come directly from the Catholic Church make the best Adventists.

The baptism of the professor took place at the Baptist church, and it was a meeting long to be remembered for the presence of God's Spirit. A young lady who is becoming interested in the truth, was present at that service, and was much moved. We pray that it may be the means of helping her to unite with the Lord's people at Rome.

We recognize God's hand in this victory which has been won for the truth. If the heart of this brother had not been touched by the power of God, all the arguments in the world would have proved useless. God alone can touch the heart, and therefore a heart touched by his Spirit is the best evidence that a true work of grace has been wrought.

During one of this brother's discouraging moments while still studying the message, an emissary of the Church of Rome wrote to him, offering to reinstate him in his former position, and give him new honors, if he would return to the church. It seems that these valuable men are watched by the church, and when it finds that they are discouraged, it quickly tries to win them back with splendid offers. He, however, won a victory over the temptation, through the help of God.

All honor and glory belong to the Lord; for he alone can convert the heart and purify the life. We are thankful for the privilege of being instruments in his hands, and we wish to bow humbly at his feet, that he may continue to manifest his saving grace with ever-increasing power in “the land of the papacy.”

Rome, Italy.