THE DARK AGES REVIVED

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 6, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 32.

THE DARK AGES REVIVED.

Is it the twentieth century or the tenth? An almost incredible story is told in La Semaine Religieuse, of Geneva, concerning the passing over to Protestantism of a Carmelite monk in Gratz, Austria. His name is M. Ientsch; he is 54 years old, and greatly esteemed for his character and zeal. By the study of the Scriptures he had been led to the conclusion that the Roman Catholic Church was not the true church of Christ. He therefore quitted his monastery, and placed himself under the instruction of a Protestant pastor.

His superior, however, prevailed on him, on some pretext, to re-enter the monastery. Immediately he was imprisoned in his cell until he should retract his heresies. On his refusal, he was secretly transferred to a Franciscan monastery. Thence he was taken to Brixen, to a community of Sisters of the Cross, where, according to one report, he was subjected to a series of cold douches; but, according to another, was made to undergo the terrible punishment practised by the Inquisition in the Middle Ages of causing ice-cold water to fall drop by drop upon the victim's head. By the intervention of his friends, however, M. Ientsch has escaped his tormentors, and is enjoying his freedom of conscience in Germany.—Missionary Review.