LETTERS FROM EGYPT by Giuseppe Rupp

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 28, 1878

LETTERS FROM EGYPT.

By Giuseppe Rupp

DEAR BROTHER RIBTON: I do not now take up my pen to reply to your last valued letter, but to give you some details of the work of the Lord that is now being accomplished in Alexandria. On Wednesday evening, September 25, we had our usual meeting at the house of Brother Bertola, who gave a discourse on the subject of baptism, after which eight persons offered themselves for that rite, among them myself. After a conversation on the spiritual subjects we separated, each of us filled with devout impressions.

On Thursday evening we met again in the room lent by the Scotch church for holding services in Italian. About twenty persons were present. Brother Bertola was to speak on the subject of present truth, and was about to commence, when we were all surprised by the appearance of Sig. Cerioni, elder of the Italian church. You may imagine how our dear Bertola felt when he saw before him this man who is so hostile to the sacred truths that we preach. For a moment he was on the point of giving up speaking, but with all the frankness that marks a true Christian, he spoke the truth boldly, and truly did honor to the work we have undertaken. I rejoiced. I felt that it was not Bertola that was speaking, but the Spirit of God that dwells in him. All present, with the exception of Sig. Cerioni and his satellites, were greatly edified.

Sunday morning, September 29, was set for the day of baptism. We first went to the service held by Sig. Cerioni; and as he knew that we were about to be baptized, he gave a discourse recommending us to unity, saying that divisions bring paralysis upon the work of God. He concluded by saying that it was our duty not to follow these importers of new doctrines, who are trying to separate us from Christ. His discourse, however, had the effect of giving us new courage, and as the clock struck twelve, eleven persons seated themselves in an omnibus that was starting for the Nile. After about an hour's ride we reached an open place traversed by the river, where we pitched our tent. We read the sixth chapter of Romans; we spoke at length on baptism; we sang hymns joyfully to the God of Israel; and then descended into the river, where our dear Brother Bertola baptized us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Oh! sublime inheritance of faith! We seemed to see heaven open and Jesus prepared to receive us! It was in this river that, thirty-six centuries ago, the son of Levi was miraculously saved to become the conductor of the people of God; in this river also we were buried, to live no longer to ourselves, but to Him in whose name we were baptized. Blessed our God, whom alone we wish to obey. Amen!

After we had come up out of the water, we sang a hymn, and as it was now three o'clock P. M., and we had not yet taken any food, we sat down upon the grass, and partook of a meal together. On the evening of that day so solemnly to be remembered by us, we met in Brother Bertola's house to commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus.

The course which we have taken, although it has separated us from many who were formerly our friends, has been the means of arousing others. Four other persons, among whom are my loved father and my brother, are almost ready to follow our example, and there are others who will soon do likewise.

But if on the one side we are spiritually prospering, on the other we are in great distress, finding ourselves without a hall and without means to procure one. (Brother Bertola is making great sacrifices to help us in this.) The warfare has commenced, and already calumnies and insults are flowing from the mouths of our enemies; but if God is for us, who can be against us? We ask your prayers, dear Brother Ribton, and those of all the brethren with you, that God may give us freedom of speech, and that we may be always ready to defend our faith; pray also for the conversion of our enemies, and do all you can to help us. Send me tracts as quickly as possible.

May grace and peace be with you and your family, and all the brethren in Naples, and all those who are awaiting the coming of our Redeemer. GIUSEPPE RUPP. Alexandria, Sept. 30, 1878.