Baptism and Sabbath Work in Constantinople
By Romualdo Bertola
VERY DEAR BROTHER RIBTON : I did not reply to your welcome letters of the 25th of August and of the 1st inst. because I was waiting to be able to send you an account of important events, which I can now relate. My departure for Constantinople is still deferred on their account. I feel in the greatest embarrassment; because on the one hand I see a band of believers, increasing every day, and growing in the life-giving influence of the Spirit of God, with a marked evidence of gifts among the brethren that have been converted; and, on the other, much necessary expense that must be incurred, and no one here that can help me. On the eve of the return of Dr. Yule, president and director of the Scotch Mission, in whose rooms we used to hold our meetings, on the eve of the arrival of Sig. Pietro Monnet, both of whom are on their way back from the Waldensian Valleys where they went to attend the synod of that church, we are in open rupture with Sig. Cerioni, the Waldensian minister here; for having heard of our baptism yesterday, in the evening he mounted the pulpit, and said publicly that, not being able to accept our new baptism nor the Sabbath, he resigned his post and intended to retire into private life. It is quite certain that as soon as Dr. Yule hears these scandals (as Sig. Cerioni and his friends call them), he will no longer permit us to use the meeting room which he has hitherto lent us gratis, especially as we have not a recognized minister among us, nor any regularly authorized person who can assume the conduct of our newly formed church. Thus we find ourselves upon the street, and our only trust is in our Heavenly Father, who has called us forth from this perverse generation to serve him, and who is powerful to open for us a way. I shall be obliged to remain here all the month of October, though at a great sacrifice in my business, in order to set everything in order and confirm these dear brethren in their Christian duties; for there are others who have begun to attend our meetings, have accepted the word, and have already asked to be baptized. But after November 1st, it will be absolutely impossible for me to remain any longer; for I have a heavy contract with a house in Milan, which must be executed, under a threat of losing 12,000 francs ($2,400) if I do not fulfill my engagement; but after that I shall be free. I come now to speak of the work of yesterday, a solemn and most eventful day for us. We had arranged to have our baptism on Sabbath, but many things prevented it, and we were obliged to choose the falsely so-called Lord's day, which, as it happened, was a great day both for the Arabs and the Jews; for the latter it was the beginning of the new year, and for the former it was the feast of Ramadan. It was in the midst of this great excitement that we, having hired an omnibus at a high price, for on such days no carriages can be obtained, left the city for the banks of the Nile, and followed its course for more than an hour, until we found a place adapted to our purpose. Here we changed our omnibus into a tent for our sisters; and when all were ready we passed under the shade of a great mulberry tree. After prayer and reading the Scriptures, we sang a hymn composed by Brother Rupp expressly for the occasion. We then descended into the water, and I baptized them all, each of them confessing their faith that they died to the world, to walk in Christ in newness of life. After the baptism we sat down under a beautiful palm tree, and partook of a repast, first offering up a fervent prayer. Then, after reading again from the word of God and singing another hymn, we returned to the city. We met in my room to break bread, only those who were baptized partaking of it; for it seemed to us to be right at that time. Brother Rupp has just brought me your letter of the 23d inst., and among other things I learn that three of our brethren are about to be baptized. This has encouraged us all here, and we thank the Lord that his Spirit is also working with power among you. May their example and ours encourage many of the timid and weak in faith, and may our brethren remember that when once we give ourselves truly to the Lord we must not look back, but obey without caring what the world may say or think about us, knowing that one day we shall be called to judge the world. Salute them cordially and tell them that the cause of the Lord we also suffer, but with cheerfulness, knowing that we thus imitate our Saviour, who, the Just one, suffered for the unjust. We now need many tracts upon the Sabbath and on baptism. Send them to us as quickly as you can. We also want Bibles with references, and copies of the Italian edition of the New Testament with the Psalms, also a large Bible for the reading desk. You can send all by the steamer that leaves every Thursday. And now we earnestly solicit your prayers; and we trust that the Lord will come to our help, so that many may honor him by a complete observance of his word. Your brother in Christ, ROMUALDO BERTOLA. Alexandria, Sept. 30, 1878.