Letter from Italy by H. P. Ribton

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 19, 1878

Letter from Italy.

By H. P. Ribton

VERY DEAR BROTHER ANDREWS: Your letter of October 21st, received yesterday, filled my soul with gloom. Since receiving your last letter, we have never ceased to pray for your daughter Mary, and the brethren in Egypt have joined with us in doing so. Too truly I recognized the gravity of the symptoms when first you wrote from Bale, and I may add from what you said of your health I was much alarmed for you also. Still, although humanly speaking there seems so little hope, our God may hear the prayer of faith. Oh! when will our Saviour come and crush the serpent's head? And when shall we have reunion in the kingdom with our loved ones that are now sleeping?

To you dear brother, I can give strong consolation which the world has not. Our life belongs to our Lord; but if he takes from us our loved ones, he does it in love, for some reason that we cannot see. "No man maketh known the day;" but there are passages in the word that lead me to think we are within hearing of the voice that follows the third angel. Already we feel the breath of the four winds that are ready to break forth upon the earth, and I sometimes shudder when I look upon my cherished ones and think what is coming upon the world. The time is near when we may be exposed to horrible trials for our testimony for Jesus. We have had evidence of what Satan would seek to do to us, both in Switzerland and Italy; how much better that those we love should be sleeping safe with Jesus in that dreadful hour. These are the days when the soldier must buckle on his armor, leave all thought of the domestic hearth, and concentrate all his energies to the great battle for the restoration of his King. And then, when the victory is gained, how sweet it will be to return home and see all those we loved once more about us, in the time when warfare shall be no more. A little longer, and we shall see all this. The trial for the present is grievous; but One is with us who is afflicted with all our afflictions, who "comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble;" and he recognizes our patience and submission. This stroke of Satan is not only against you but against Him. Then, dear brother, cheer up; think not of the evil that is past, but look forward into the glory that is coming, and let us now have but one thought,—that of combating the serpent and hastening the coming of our King. If it pleases Christ to take your Mary for a while out of the way of evil, leave her with him; she will be safer than either at Bale or at Battle Creek; and think also of your own health and economize your strength.

Please present from my wife warmest thanks to the dear sisters for their kind present, which will help where it is much needed. Many thanks, too, for the $100. With regard to the work in Egypt, may the Lord direct; for I fear making a wrong step and also having to account for souls lost at the last day through my neglect of duty. As things now are, I feel almost certain I ought to be there. I await the answer of the brethren at Battle Creek, to the letter I wrote about it. I now send a translation of the letters I have received from Egypt during the last month, that you may see exactly how things are there.

You will see by Brother Bertola's letter of October 14, that he has advanced altogether a sum of 500 francs ($100) for the hall; for, having a spare room attached to it, they judged it fit to furnish it up for the future minister (by whom, for the present, they mean me), so as not to oblige him to rent a room in the town. This certainly is an economical step, though it has involved more outlay in the beginning than I expected. And this money, as he states, must be paid to his employer on December 15 at latest. I was perplexed by this, but while thinking what I should say about it I saw in a copy of the Signs of the Times that a friend in California, apparently with an Italian name, had subscribed $100 to the Italian mission, the very identical sum laid out, and almost on the same day on which the baptism took place. Then I said, The hand of the Lord is in it. I told Brother Bertola, however, not to lay out any more money until I saw you. We have remained without a hall here and have stopped all expense in favor of Egypt, until I hear from you.

Going to Egypt, and traveling, would involve much expense, even with the strictest economy. The fare to Alexandria, second class, is 200 francs. As we live, living would not probably cost as much in Alexandria as Brother Bertola said; but it is more expensive than here. There is now a great work open in Alexandria, and there is much to be done in Italy too, if we had the means. Brother Volpi has had much domestic trial. He is coming here this month on a visit. It is evident that at present I am greatly needed in Alexandria; but it is most essential that I should confer with you here before going there.

My wife and family, and the brethren here, send much Christian love and their fervent sympathy in this great affliction. We pray always for you. Salute also Brother and Sister White, and all the brethren at Battle Creek.

My dear wife is a little better now, though not cured yet.

Believe me yours in much love and hope of the kingdom,

H. P. RIBTON.

Naples, November 8.