The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-04
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Papal Intolerance.

Rhpnl Intolerance
From he Tribune.
The closing of all the Protestant places of
worship in the city of Rome, by order of the
Papal Government, has lately elected some
comment The fullest account OF it which we
have yet met with is given in letter from the
Rev. DR.. Prime, the well-known editor OF the
Observer of this city.
The Roman law strictly prohibits Protestant
yvorsbIp i'm the city of Rome. The only excep-
tiCn TO this restriction is that the Ambassadors
of foreign Governments may have divine SER
vice celebrated in their own houses. Under
this protection, the Russian, the Prussian, the
American, aud other representatives of foreign
Governments have had, for many years chapels
in their own houses,
The British Government has no diplomatic re-
latiops with Rome but the British Protestant5
have lor forty wears past been tolerated in hold.
ing worship in a hayloft, finished OF as chapel,
lust outside the walls, by the Porto del PopolO.
The practice, however, has been more tolerant
than the law, and the Roman authorities have
winked AT or overlooked other religious assem-
blies of foreign residents. Thus there nave
been for six years two stations or scotch Pres
byterians, which have never been lnterfered
with until OH December 49, the chaplains were
served with the following most remarkable
warning from the British Consulate:-
"BRITIsH CONSULATE AT ROME, December 81,
lS6G.-Sr:-It is my official duty to inform you
that MonSignOre Randi, Governor of Rome,
has lust communicated to me that you are hold
ing illegal religious meetings in your house,
which, you must know, are prohibited by the
Roman law, and that you have thus placed
Yourself IN the pOlUer Of the lNQUISIrION, both
1Or arrest and imprisonment.
"But as the MonsignOre permits me to give
YOU this notice, 1 would seriously advise that
YOU at once put an end TO these innovations,
and that you visit Monsignore Randi at Monte
CitOrio, and you assure hlm that you Will never
again repeat these Illegal acts. | hope in this
way you may possibly suspend your exile,
which is now haL ging over you. am, sir, your
obedient servant,
JOSEPH SEVERN, British Consul
'"To the Rev. James Lewis"
We are not surprised to learn that some coun-
trymen of the author Of this remarkable docu.
ment suspected him OF approving the purpose of
the Government. All the representations made
January the Presbyterian stations were closed.
Mr.. OdO Russell in VAN appealed to Cardinal
Antonelli. His reference to the liberty granted
TO the Americans to have place of worship
drew forth the remark that 'the Government
would attend to that Also"
Our dispatches by the latest steamers are
several days later than the letter of DR.. Prime,
and they inform us that the Americans have
really been attended to also. All the meetings
for Protestant worship within the walls Of the
city of Rome, except those IN the private houses
of the foreign Ambassadors, are strictly fordid-
den. To the urgent representations of the foreign
Ambassadors the Roman Government has only,
at length so tar yielded as to allow the Pro
testants to meet outside of the walls OF the city,
Thus the case remains for the present, and in
this state it may remain, until the Roman people
aided by the sympathy OF Italy and of al
civilized nations, shall forever put an end to th'
Roman Inquisition and to the prohibition 0
Protestant worship in Rome.