Letter from Italy by H. P. Ribton

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Feb 13, 1879

Letter from Italy.

By H. P. Ribton

THE Lord has given us great consolation and encouragement in the past month, both in Egypt and in this country. Praised be his name. And as I think the brethren in America will share the pleasure I have experienced, I herewith send a report.

First with regard to my visit to Bari, Dec. 19. There were several circumstances which showed clearly that it was my duty to visit the brethren at Bari previous to starting for Egypt. I had not had any news from there for a considerable time, and began to fear that the work among them was growing slack. But I received a letter from their minister, Bro. V., saying that he had been subjected to the most brutal and outrageous treatment at the instigation of the priests. He was arrested on a charge of being an Internationalist, a revolver was presented at him by the brigadier of the police, and he was conducted in chains through the streets to the jail. I resolved to go at once. I had expected to enjoy pleasant communion with a few Sabbath-keeping brethren, but was not prepared for the surprise which God had in store for me. The whole Baptist church, from the minister down, have accepted the Sabbath of the Lord, and are endeavoring to walk in the observancy of his commandments. And not only this but at another small town called Aquavia, some distance in the interior of the country, another body of believers has been formed, who recognize the sacred day of rest.

It was in the month of March last, about the time of Bro. Bertola's departure for Egypt, that I wrote to Bro. V. (as well as several others) on the subject of the Sabbath, sending some copies of the "Sabbath of the Bible," a tract which our brethren at Bale had just printed in Italian. Then ensued a long correspondence. I sent the other Italian tracts as they came out, and the result has been as I have stated. Blessed be God for the good work these tracts have done.

I was truly gratified with the enthusiasm which these brethren displayed in the cause of God's commandments and of his sacred day. One of them, a hale old man having seen sixty-five summers, whose ears were adorned with a pair of large and glittering rings according to the custom of the country, greeted me with a real apostolic kiss. "Fratello," he said, "you have been an angel to me; you have brought me out of darkness into the knowledge of God's commandments."

On Sabbath evening, Dec. 20, I preached in their chapel to a most attentive audience on 2 Tim. 2:19: "Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." On the next evening we had a very interesting discussion on the Sabbath question. Finding the brethren so well established in the Sabbath and the commandments, I thought it right to bring before their notice the subject of the approaching advent of our Saviour, and with this object I employed every available moment in reading with them those portions of Scripture that demonstrate the nearness of Christ's coming, and the manner in which he will come. Their eyes sparkled as they listened to the description of the new earth, where "they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament." And as we celebrated the ordinances, I reminded them that the act of breaking bread not only points back to the body of our Lord broken for us, but that it also looks forward to the coming glory; for it was to be done in remembrance of him "till he come." 1 Cor. 11:26. "Yes," exclaimed a dear sister, "I will in future think not only of the cross, but also of the coming glory."

I could have spent a week most profitably with these brethren, who are very desirous to study the things of the coming kingdom, but my imminent departure for Egypt obliged me to return quickly to Naples. I promised to return to them if possible. From this journey I learned two things: that for the diffusion of the truth much traveling is very necessary, and also that a large assortment of well written tracts such as we have in the English language is indispensable. These brethren expressed a great desire to read an interpretation of Daniel and the Revelation; but alas! they can read only Italian. If God wills, I hope we may be able to multiply our tracts in Italian, and also to issue a journal. The translation of "Elihu on the Sabbath" has contributed powerfully to the conviction of many.

It is with much gratitude to God that I have to relate that our brethren here and also at Naples, who have received the truth, have not hidden the talents entrusted to them, knowing that for them they will one day have to render an account. In a former letter I mentioned a deist who had received Christ with us, and then commenced a work of evangelization in his own country. He has now been shut up there in a college that is a sort of convent, where he cannot see or speak with any one without permission. An uncle of his who had shaken hands with him, on learning that he had embraced the gospel, immediately took a towel and wiped his hands. Notwithstanding this, another of our brethren, a student, has commenced the same work in another country further south. He writes to me as follows: "Many have hearkened to the word of life. Five have requested me to procure Bibles for them. There is quite an important work to be done here, and had I not to return to Naples, I would open a meeting soon. I hope to do so when I return home finally."

I have received letters from Bro. Bertola at Constantinople, and from Bro. Rupp at Alexandria, urging me to lose no time in coming to Egypt, and I have arranged matters to start by the steamer which leaves this day. Our brethren here are firm in their profession, and can stand alone for a time, but they will be without a leader or head, and have no hall for meetings on the Sabbath. When Bro. Andrews comes, he will have to see what can be done for the church at Naples.

H. P. RIBTON.