Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-09
1mprlsonment for reading tho Bible.

| letter from Florence states that another 1us-
can Protestant has been arrested for bible reading.
! Domenico CeccheIti was seized at half past four
O'clock in the morning, hurried away from his
children, to the prison of the Bargello, condemn
ed without any trial, without any witnesses, by
the Council of Prefecture, to years confinement
in the Pentenuary OF lmbrogiano, near Monte
Iupo, whittier he was conveyed in chains on the
following morning the crimes for which he was
consigned to a dungeon being the possession OF
one bible and two tesaments, and the avowal
when examined by the Chancellor OF the Delega-
tiOs of Santa Maria Novella, that he con sldered
| Christ the head of the church. He was work.
mn employed in the t,bac;o.. ..manuactlry OF MN.
| a.manual Fenz 4 Co., the well known ban
kers. VINO have for years formed this monopoly
! He lived on the first floor of house in the VIA
Taddea In another small apartment on the same
floor was lodged yuung man, the apartment OF
winter in Borgo La Noce. He was struck by
the rood conduct Of Cecchett's children, and by
the excellent aud kind bearing OF the father, and
in the course of conversation and familiar inter
cuurse at length learned that the father was In
the habi, Of reading with his children and his
| friends the Bible. And in casual chat with his
| own master he repeated this circumstance to him,
expressing his belief that the Bible could not be
such very bad book, after all, when 1t produced
sCca happy fruits.
Some three months ago. four gendarmes sud
denly entered CecchettI's house, about nine O.
clock in the evening, and seized ana carried OH
IN triumph one copy Of Diodat's Bible, and two
copies Of the New estament.
Cecchetti heard nothing more OF the matter FOR
nearly ten weeks On the morning OF the IAN
ult, however, he received an order to appear be
fore the delegate of Santa Maria Novela, and was
required to declare why three copies at Dlodati s
Bible were found in his possession Indeed
Signor Delegate" was the answer, Il wish there
had been five instead of three, for there are hive
of us, my four boys aud myself, aud we require
Bible apiece"
On being questioned as to his opinion regard
ing mass. confession, the authority of the Pope he
reDlied that Jesus Christ had been offered up once
sacrifice for the sins of mankind, that no future
sacrifice was or could be wanted. ''As TO con-
fession," he said, .when have sinned, 1t is my
duty to confess my sin, first 10 Almighty God ahd
linplore his pardon then to my brother. II have
acted wrongly against my brother. AS TO the
Pope being the head Of the church, Know ne
said, .no headShip save that OF Jesus Cnrlsl.-
The Pope is constituted authority like you oig
nor Chancelllere."
Neither wheedling or bullying could induce
him to reveal The name Of one Of the Christiar
brethren with whom he read and discoursed or
; he Scriptures The Chancelliere, finding tho
attempt hopeless, then read 'ovor the minutes o
the examinations Cecchetti himself peFused 1t
and signed the same; and 50, for the time' the at
fair terminated in the dismissal Of the accused.
The paper thus obtained was sub omitted to th'
Council OF Prefecture, which on the avowals
contained, sentenced Doinenico Ceccheltl to
years Imprisonment in the Penitantiary OF imoF0
glana.