New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-02
P1pH INTOLERANCE.

The closing of all the Protestant places OF
worship in the City of Rome, by order of the Pa
pal Government, has lately elected some com
mcnt The fullest account of it which we have
yet met with is given in letter from the Rev
Dr. Prime, the wcll-knOwn editor OF The %
Serrer of this city.
The Roman law strictly prohibits Protestant
worship in the City of Rome. The only eXcep-
ton to tins 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, and other representatives of foreign
Governments have had for many years chapcls
in their own houses. The British Govern
mcnt has no diplomatic relations with
Rome, but the British Protcstants have
for forty years past been tolerated
in holding worship in q hayloft, finished off rs
chapel, Just outside the walls, 10y the Porto
del Popolo The practice however, has been
more tolerant than the law. and the Roman
authorities have winked at or overlooked other
religion, assemblies of foreign residents. Thus
there have been for six years two stations OF
Scotch PrcSbytcrans, which have never been in
terfered with until, on December 20, the chap
lains were served with the following most re-
maIkabe warning from the British Consulate :;
"BEuIsH CONSULATE AT ROME, Dee. q, 1866.
"sR: II Is my official duty TO inform you that Monsls
more Randi Governor Of Rome, has just communicated
TO that you holding Illegal religious meetings in
your house which, you must know are prohibited by the
Roman law and that you have thus placed yourself IN NE
po,er Of nc ISQuI,uoN, both for arrest aud mpison
mcnt.
But as the Monsgnore permits me 90 give you thia
notice would seriously advise that you at put An
end to these Innovations and that you visit Monsgnore
Randi at Monte Ctoro and assure him that you wall
never again repeat these Illegal acts hope In this way
you may possibly suspend your oxile which Is now hang
ing over you. am, sir, your obedent servant,
"JosEru SEVERN, British Consul
"To the Rev James Lewis"
We are not surprised to learn that some
countrymen of the author of this remarkable
document suspected him of approving the pur-
pose of the Government. All the representa-
tions made to the Papal authorities were
fruitlcss, and on Jan. the Presbyterian sta
tons were closed Mr. 0dO Russell in vain ap-
peaed to Cardinal Antonelli. His reference to
the liberty granted to the Americans 20 have a
place of worship drew forth the remark, that
1.-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 tho meetings
for Protestant worship within the walls of the
City of Rome, except those in tho private
houses of the foreign ambassadors, are strictly
forbidden. TO the urgent representations OF
the foreign ambassadors, tho Roman Govern
mcnt has only, at length, so far yielded
as to allow the Protestants to meet out
side Of the walls Of the city. Thus tho case
remains for the present and in this state it
may remain, until the Roman people aided by
the sympathy Of Italy and Of all civilized ma
tons, shall forever put an end to the Roman
Inquisition and to the prohibition of Protestant
worship IN Rome.