NAPLES, ITALY by John Nevins Andrews

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 13, 1877

NAPLES, ITALY.

By John Nevins Andrews

I have now spent three weeks in this city, and have made diligent improvement of my time. I wrote a short report immediately after my arrival, which I trust has reached Battle Creek. I have formed a deeply interesting acquaintance with Dr. Ribton and his family. I have with him visited many persons in this city, and have conversed with them upon the Scriptures. We should have had many public meetings if it had been possible to obtain a hall. But though the laws of Italy are very tolerant, the power of the Roman Catholic priesthood is almost omnipotent. If a man rents us a hall the priest can ruin his business by forbidding his customers to deal with him any longer, and by causing every person who has rented the other parts of his building to quit the place if the hall be allowed to heretics.

I have, however, used every hour possible in giving instruction from the word of God. My own spirit has been refreshed, and I think those who have listened have been benefited. Bro. Ribton is very desirous to give himself to the work of the ministry. I cannot doubt that God has called him to this work. He has a collegiate education, having graduated at the University of Dublin. He is well instructed in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, and can preach in English, French and Italian. He is, however, most familiar with the Italian language, and his heart is greatly set on doing something for Italy. He is fully convinced that the advent of Christ is near at hand, and he desires to give warning to the world. I have learned from him how he became interested in the Advent faith. A long time since I sent to Dr. Zimple, of this city, some of our publications. Dr. Z. gave some of these to Bro. Ribton, and thereupon Bro. R. wrote to me for others, which I sent him. He has diligently studied these books, and has a very thorough understanding of them. His first light upon the Sabbath came from the Sabbath Memorial, which Dr. Z. had received from Bro. Jones, of London. Bro. Ribton is well instructed in the law of God and in the history of the Sabbath. If he walks humbly with God I believe that he will be a useful minister of Jesus Christ.

Bro. R. has sought diligently for a long time to find a hall for public service in this city. For reasons which I have named this has been a very difficult undertaking. It is wholly impossible to obtain a hall for Protestant service for a few weeks, for if one is taken at all, it must be by a regular lease for six months or a year. A few days since a hall in the central part of the city was found, which could be had for fifty francs per month, if we would take it for nine months. After much prayerful consideration I have taken the responsibility to hire the hall. I would have referred the matter to the General Conference Committee, but the decision could not be so long delayed. I believe that after a few months this expense will be met by the friends of the truth in Naples. Bro. Ribton feels deeply the responsibility of the work upon which he has entered, and he will do everything in his power to lead men to the truth and to make the work self-sustaining. He will seek to benefit not merely the Neopolitans, but the foreign residents of this city, with many of whom he is acquainted. This class of persons, if converted, could help greatly by their means, for they are generally wealthy.

Naples is a city of more than 600,000 inhabitants. It is a point from which the truth can be sent in many directions, and into many countries bordering upon the Mediterranean. If the truth can be established here, it will be an important center from which to extend the light. It must be done. I cannot doubt that it will be done. Men and means will be needed to extend the work, but neither the one nor the other will be wanting. God is in this work, and it will go forward.

I came here to baptize Bro. Ribton, and a few others, and in hope of finding a Sabbath-keeping printer for our paper. So great was the difficulty to find time for this visit to Naples, that I thought a very few days must suffice for my stay in this city; but though other duties have caused me unceasing anxiety, I have remained here more than three weeks. I have given this time to teaching the word of God to all that I have been able to meet, but especially in the study of the Scriptures with Bro. Ribton. We have had only one public meeting, but if our hall could have been earlier obtained we should have had many.

Besides the family of Bro. R. there are a few others in this city who have commenced to keep the Sabbath, and there are several who confess their faith in it as obligatory upon men, but who do not yet obey. I have visited nearly all these persons, and I hope that the most of them will walk in the truth. In company with Dr. R., I have visited an English lady who has begun to keep the Sabbath from reading the papers and the tracts. She is a teacher of languages, and has the command of German, French, Italian, modern Greek and Russian. She was a teacher in Russia for six years. I asked her if while in Russia she heard of a denomination of seventh-day Christians living in that empire. She said that she had often heard them mentioned. I asked what was said of them. She said they were spoken of contemptuously, because they do not acknowledge and unite with the national church. She heard nothing else said against them. I think this testimony must confirm what I have heretofore written concerning the existence of Sabbath-keepers in Russia. The time is not distant, I hope, when we shall open communication with them.

Thursday, August 2, I baptized four persons in the sea at Puteoli, the port at which Paul landed when on his journey as a prisoner to Rome. Acts 28:13. It was a very precious season, and the association of the place with the events of the past made an impression upon my mind which will never be effaced.

I have felt great responsibility while here, and have made an earnest effort to faithfully discharge that responsibility to the acceptance of Christ. After some months, if God will, I think it may be my duty to come back and to remain for a longer time. The way is now open for public preaching in this city, and I hope for much good from this attempt to preach the word of God. I ask that many prayers may be offered in behalf of the work in Naples.

To-morrow I set out, if God will, on my way to Switzerland. I must visit sister Revel, of Northern Italy. She was the first person in Europe to receive the Sabbath from the preaching of Eld. M. B. C. She has stood firm for many years though called to meet great opposition. After this visit I must spend a little time with Bro. Bourdeau at Valence. We shall consult together as to the future of our work. What has been written in the REVIEW will have great weight with us in the decision which we make.

I have written to Bro. Ertzenberger to know if he can leave Germany for a time. If so, my convictions are that it will be my duty to commence public labor in Bâle in the German language. I think there is a good field for the truth in Bâle, and I am anxious to enter it as soon as possible.

I have much evidence that our paper, LES SIGNES DES TEMPS, is taking hold of the people. I believe there are many places where a harvest of souls can be gathered from those who have been reading the paper and the tracts. I hope hereafter to be able to give much time to preaching and yet to keep up the publication of our paper. Do not forget to pray for us.

J. N. Andrews.

Naples, Aug. 5.