FATHER GAVAZZI by James White

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Mar 24, 1881

FATHER GAVAZZI.

By James White

LAST Sunday we had the pleasure of hearing Father Gavazzi, whose name is so well known throughout the world by his labors for evangelical Christianity in Italy. He is now in the United States making an appeal in behalf of the Theological College of the Free Evangelical Church in Rome. He is 72 years of age; and though he plainly shows his years, he shows somewhat of the vigor of his youth. He is animated in speaking, though evidently embarrassed in using the English language. He speaks with a strong foreign accent. His description of the position of the church and school in Rome was graphic; facing the bridge of St. Angelo, near the Vatican, where "have to pass Cardinals, Archbishops, bishops, prelates, priests, monks, friars, pilgrims, vagabonds, and English and American fools, on their way to kiss the Pope's toe!"

The Evangelical Church was organized in 1871, with 23 small churches; now it has 71 large churches. Before 1870 not one copy of the Bible could be found in Rome. An Italian law prevented, and the gentleman or lady who carried one to that country had to leave it at the custom house.

He said in Italy, in Como, Jesus Christ has one shrine, with a wooden crucifix, while the virgin Mary has 3000, many of them costly, with their thousands of devotees. To the Catholic two ladders are represented as reaching up to Heaven. At the top of one stands Jesus Christ, at the top of the other stands the virgin Mary. They who attempt to reach Heaven by the first ladder, where Christ stands, mostly fall and fail in the attempt, while all who try to reach Heaven by the ladder headed by the virgin Mary succeed and are saved. Such is the blind idolatry into which the priests lead the people.

He said that Catholic parents send their children to the Evangelical school in Rome for the better improvement of their heads and hearts. A more earnest appeal was never uttered than that which followed, to those Protestants who send their children to Catholic schools where no good can be expected.

While he rejoiced that the Pope was losing ground in Rome, he said he would tell the Americans what he heard in Rome, namely, that all that the Pope was losing in Italy he expected to make up in America!

His appeal in behalf of Italy was stirring, and it was interesting to note his ingenuity in reminding his hearers that they were indebted to an Italian for the discovery of America, and Italy now comes to America for help to spread the gospel in her own land. Altogether it was an occasion of deep interest to all who heard him.

J. H. W.