The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-12-30
BisIop McI,yaine i'm uomc.

A letter from Rome dated Oct 3lst, written
to the Episcopal Recorder, gives an eccount OF
Protestant Episcopal services aud preaching
by Bishop Mcllvaiue, OF Ohio. The letter says:
A friend of the Bishop OF Ohio, well known
in formor years, and who has been Tor twenty
years resident in Italy, in the prosecution of
his profession as an artist, kindly rendered his
psrlor for the use Of his ceuntrymen To day
1t was indeed novel thing in Rome, the dis
tinctive service Of the American Protestant
Episcopal Chuach! The tender Of the worthy
gentleman was not made without some risk TO
his immunities as resident, without some idea
that the argus.eyed vigilance OF the police
might be attracted by the unusual gathering on
the Sabbath morn and an arrest be put to the
services. But it was in the heart OF those here
assembled, TO worship God in Rome also accord
ing TO the custom OF their fathers
The associations which Clus tered around this
spot, consecrned by the labor and sutferings
and martyrdom of apostles and holy men, OF
whom the world was not worthy, and who coun-
ted not their lives dear unto them. for the teSti-
mony of the Gosple, made US feel that it must
be counted high privilege TO the minister OF
God to preach the Gospel as Paul desired to do,
to them THAT were in Rome also" and we were
willing to follow the beloved father in God,
while he stood up in the midst Of Papal Rome
and delivered the message Of his Divine Master,
and with clarion voice proclaimed-"lr ANY
MAN THIRST, let him come ante NE and drink
Our little congregation numbering some sixty
persons, met at the appointed hour. The place
of assembling was al upper chamber on the
| Pinciau Hill. Two policemen in their well
known livery paced thu piazza, in front of the
entrance door, In full view of us rose the
massive dome ofSt. Peters, with the palace OF
the Vatican by lis side. Just below, in the Pi-
azza di Spagria, was the splendid monumental
| tol b,, Y tp eli liz,
his Decree of the Immaculate Conception" and
thus surrounded by ali the emblems of an apos
| tate church, aud in the midst of scenes Conse
Grated by the blood of martyrs, the Gospel o
Jesus Christ was proclaimed, and the Sacra-
meut of the Lords Suppei administered by al
American Protestant Bishop, for the first time
i'll Papjl Rome
The Rev Mr.. Gadsden, Of South Carolina
with great imprtssiyencSs, read the morn'n.
service. 1t was not without emotion that lh
Bishop rose to preach. He referred to the sol
emn thoughts which must ever be present Il
Ihis mind, when he should stand up, as he dit
then. to proclaim the Gospel to many who's
faces he had never seen before and whome HI
should never sea again But when that mes
suge was TO be delivered in that place, unde
all the associations of the past, and amidst al
the solemn and suddenng veritlcs OF the pres
en- he felt that in selecting his topic Of dig
course he must rememO'r thht nothing WOull
intervene between the delivery of that message
and the account to be rendered at the great da!
and therefore it became him to pass by al
minor points of ofdoctrine, aud endeavor to rreacl
the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Perhaps som'
solitary soul might be here present, to whom
the delivery of this message might bring peace
and life, and in this spirit his discourse wa
founded on St Johu vii 37:-"ln the last day
that great day OF the feast, Jesus stood anC
cried, saying -"lt any man thirst, let him come
unto ne and drink
Those who have heard Bishop McIlvsint
preach can well conceive, what it is difficult t
expr,s So in language, the manner III whice h'
unfoded the single truth of this Devine mes
sage; with what clearness he pointed out III
uniyersaity Of the Gospel invitation. cores
ponding as it did with the experienced want
and demands of the soul--nnd then with wins
tender alfectionaeness he directed the sinner
in all his felt misery, and wretchedness, to Je
sus. The mostened eye Of most Of those pres
ent spoke the sympathy which he had ava
kened--and when that little company of God
protesting people knelt around that smpl
communion table to commemorate in Rome til
love of their crucifed Redeemer in the memo
rialS of his body broken aud of his blood size
for them, they did feel how,
"Close is the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship Of kindred minds
la ikp n knf