The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-29
THE FREE CHURCH OF ITALY.
Father Cavazfi as Stcin1vny Har-Thc
Prospects of EvnnRaiIzn,ion in Hom..

Father Cavazfi re Stcin1vay HGu-Thc
Prospects of GENERALIZATION in Home.
stcinway Hall was only comfortably filed ycstor-
day morning, when Father Cavazzl was announced
70 discourse upon the "Frce Churc! Of Ilaly.r
There were numbers o. seats vacant throughout the
hail, and the audience that were seated did not
Seem filed with that enthusiasm over the old
Italian which greeted him so warmly at the Assoca-
ton Hall on Saturday night week ago. The Oddly
OF his manner and the difficulty Of understand
ing his English doubtless persuaded many
VINO fully appreciated the magnetic power OF
his eloeuence to forego hearing him yesterday 1t
was only after he himself became enthused with
his own ardor and had forsaken the pulpit ana
taken the whole width OF the stage Ia which to
manmuvre while he talked, that the congregation
had learned to overlook the French viyacity Of his
action and listen to the Italian ieiyor OF his an-
guagc. DR.. Hepworti, DR.. Thompson, Gavazzi's
coaborer in the work Of italian evangeIzaton,
and a number Of prominent Christian gentlemen
and ladies were seated on the platform.
DR.. Hepworth introduced Father Gavazzi by re-
calling incidents OF his visit here twenty years
ago, and the reverend father commenced his dis
course without further prelude. lie took no text
whatever. lie opened his batteries at once. upon
IL has been the privilege, he said, OF America and
England to convert many heathen5-ChDose, In
dian eud savage heather. They were quite easily
persuaded, because they were Ignorant. You can
not persuade the Roman Catholics TO admit evan
gelization into Rome so easily, for they ere smart
GENERALIZATION In Italy has been gradnal-sloW Ii
You wish-put firm and sure. II has not been evan
polizaton by government or governments, but
~ people. Spain has been almost eyangelized;
MEXICO, here on your own Continent Is under going
cancellation; but al slowly. Germany and Eng.
land were themselves Popish countries few years
ago. In America here you would 20 like light
ming train and evangeZe Italy all ut once.
You must not expect old nations to 90
like you. You must take things az they
come Protestants in america have everything to
gain and nothing 10 lOse In Rome they have
everything to lose and almost nothing 20 gnin, A
Protestant loses position under the government,
loses friends, and even relatives desert him. Chll-
dren are driven from their parents homes II they
embrace Professionalism az against Catholicism. We
are only moving slowly. We are only making a be-
ginning Ike baby learning To walk; but we are
doing well In 1913 there was not one,evangellcal
Church member in Italy. In 1852 and 1883 the Free
Church was founded. In 1869 N numbered four
congregations four hundred communicates aud
one thousand constant hearers. There Is its pro
Qress In eleven years. la 1855 left my exile IN
England to Join the armies Of Garibaldl. In the
island OF Sicily the idea OF united Evangelical
Church OF Italy took root. In 1880 Garibadi planted
Il in Italy. Now In 1870, we haye--counting the
Wadensan, Baptist and Christian Chufches-one
hundred congregations, ten thousand commnn
cants aud thirty thousand constant hearers. Make
yonr own calculation We will have three hundred
Congregations in 1880 People say see things so
rosy. Well at my age II IL q consolation II | can
see things rosy. During my exile hoped 10 see
Italy free, and Italy Is free. hoped W see Rome