Revival of the Inquisition in Rome.
“Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad,” is being illustrated by the “Infallible Pio Nono.” Father Grassi, who for thirty-six years performed successively the duties of priest, confessor, curate, mitred abbot, lent preacher, and lastly incumbent of the great Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, has cast down robes, honor, emoluments, abandoned prospective promotion, and united with the Baptist church under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Wall of England. A few weeks ago, with Rev. Mr. Wall, he called to bid his associates farewell. It was a scene not to be forgotten. They knew well that he whom they had so long known, loved, and honored, was sincere. As a loving father, he told them of the terrible conflict through which he had passed, why he had given up all and chosen his home with a little company of Christians meeting in a tent, and begged them to consider well his reasons. All were deeply moved, and when he arose, they gathered around, embraced and kissed him. Six of his associates have followed him to inquire what is truth. Last week, in one day, twelve priests called on Mr. Wall to ask for light. Among them was a D. D., an LL. D., and a D. P. Another, the superior of a convent, who on Sunday sent a priest to Mr. Wall for tracts and Scriptures to distribute among the inmates. For a few days, nothing was heard from “headquarters” concerning the “apostate.” But last Sunday, the silence was broken. The Vatican had decided to try its strength—revive the Inquisition and make an example of Father Grassi! The “Infallible” comforted a delegation of priests with the assurance that the apostate would soon be swept away. Immediately he was summoned before the Inquisition to recant or endure the penalties. Grassi decided at once to appear, not because he acknowledged the authority, but because it gave him an opportunity to declare the truth before these men. He applied to the government for protection, but was advised not to venture, and that, if he did go, he must bear the responsibility. Rev. Messrs. Wall and Duni called on the Inquisitor General. Father Grassi accompanied them, but remained outside, so as to be out of danger. During the interview, the General, learning that Father Grassi was below, secretly sent an officer, saying, “Your friends desire you to come in.” Not suspecting any snare, he followed, not as he thought to where his friends were, but to another part of the Inquisition. As it happened, the door was open and Mr. Wall caught a glimpse of him. The idea of some betrayal instantly flashed across his mind, and he called to him to withdraw at once, which he did. Of course, “nothing wrong was intended.” Another interview was appointed for nine o’clock the next morning. Father Grassi, assisted by Mr. Wall and a priest who is a prominent professor in a college in Rome, spent nearly the whole night in preparing his vindication. In the morning, after bowing together and committing all to God, we started for the Inquisition. Father Grassi took my arm, and as we walked along the “Via del S. Offizzio” (street of the holy office) thinking of our brethren who had preceded us, but who never returned, I reminded him of our Saviour’s words, “Fear not them which kill the body,” etc., Matt. 10: 28, 33, and of the precious encouragement, “Let not your heart,” etc., in John 14: 1, 2. Arrangements had been made for friends to stand in the street ready to render assistance if needed. Four of us went in. We were promised permission to be with Father Grassi, but they desired to see him alone a moment first. He had been advised not to trust himself in their hands for a moment, but now came a trial of moral courage, such as Nehemiah experienced when he refused to shrink from danger, asking, “Shall such a man as I flee?” and Luther when he said, “I will go to Worms, though the devils are as thick as the tiles on the houses.” Grassi entered alone, and the door was shut. We could only beg God to keep him, and enable him to “open his mouth boldly” and declare the truth. Soon, loud and earnest talking commenced. Again and again, admission was demanded—promised, but not granted. For nearly an hour, we waited, when the door was opened and our dear brother was with us again. Taking my hand and pressing it to his heart, he said, with deep emotion, “E’ finito, E’ finito!”—It is finished: It is finished! Significant words. The Vatican had determined to revive the most infernal institution ever devised by diabolic ingenuity, and try its power upon one who had so long been a favorite. This was its first attempt, and I greatly mistake if Grassi’s words will not be found applicable to the “Most Holy Roman Universal Inquisition.” He is calm, tender, humble, and modest, yet firm and fearless. Not often do we witness such moral heroism. Alone he stood before his Inquisitors, declared the truth, entered his protest, denounced their iniquities, defied their power, and scorned their anathemas. To give you a more correct idea of the man, I give a few closing sentences of his defense. Think of him, alone, unprotected, and in such a place. Warming up into the holy enthusiasm of Stephen, the first martyr, and turning upon his Inquisitors, he said:— “O you inquisitors, pontiffs, cardinals, and prelates, God speaks to you: To what have you brought the true church? She that was so pure, so beautiful, so glorious, you have betrayed, violated, despoiled, wounded, and crucified, by your doctrines, superstitions and immorality, and have sealed her tomb by your blasphemous ‘Dogma of Infallibility.’ Hear what God says to his suffering children: ‘The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.’ Do you not tremble at these words? Who but Satan instigated and inflicted the tortures in this place? Oh, could these walls, within which so many have been burned speak? Could this roof but echo back the cries of agony from your innocent victims, and the vaults beneath us reveal the corpses of those who have been buried alive, no other sentence of condemnation would be required. “But the breath of God has forever extinguished the fires of the Inquisition and swept away your power. Therefore I stand before you to-day, and declare these truths while you dare not touch a hair of my head! Yes, God has begun the work, and soon this tribunal, these walls and instruments, will be bruised under our feet and scattered as ashes to the four winds, proclaiming to the world that the ‘Most Holy Universal Roman Inquisition’ is dead—dead, because God has crushed it under the feet of his children. “O ye obstinate ones, hear me! Hear one of your own brothers who has said mass, and confessed and preached with you. Weep not over me as ‘dead.’ I am not dead, but among the ‘living,’ and stand before you to announce the resurrection of that church which you have tried to drown in blood. Yes, she is rising glorious as the morning light, and ignorance, superstition, heresy, and tyranny, flee before her!” “Farewell, church of my youth! Farewell, companions of my ministry. Alas, alas! it has been a ministry of destruction! Oh, if my word has yet any weight with you, I beseech you to open your eyes to the light—to abandon that system of darkness in which you are groping, and accept the true light which Jesus offers to you.” Well may they gnash their teeth upon such a man. Let prayer without ceasing be offered in behalf of this dear brother. —Correspondent of the Christian Weekly.