The New York herald., 1872-04-20
FATHER GAVAZZI.
The Founding Of an Evangelical Church in Roma
the Secret Of His Mission-Hi Efforts for
Italian Unity-His Opinion Of New
York City After Twenty
Years. Absence


the HERALD, is at the New York Hotel He b
entered on the books as "Aessandr0 Gavazzi.
Roma" He arrived on Wednesday, and spent most
of yesterday and the day before in conference with
religious committees In the Bible House and In
viewing the wonders of what he calls the "neW
city " up town. Late In the afternoon he returned
to the hotel, where number OF distinguished visit
ors had left their cards for him during the day.
HERALD reporter met him in the Office and was cor
daily granted the privilege OF submitting him to
that new American torture, the "interview.n
Father Gavazz Is about sixty years old, nearly six
feet high, and Is proportonately porty. His face s
fine one, the features large, eyes, nose mouth and
forehead all denoting strength and clearness Of
thought His hair is iron gray, worn somewhat
long and c0mbed straight back from the forehead.
His eyes are overshadowed by thick, shaggy eye
brows, and he wears thin patches Of iron gray
whiskers high up on each cheek Altogether
his face is very like that OF Charles
Sumner He Is anable and cordial in his manner,
and speaks choice English, though sometimes with
very bewildering accent. His manner is hearty
and enthusiastic, and he is greatly given to vehe-
ment gesticulation. He escorted the reporter to
his room, and at once went into the business with
thorough zest, of being interviewed.
"What is the object Of your present mission,
Father 9'
ave are deputaton,n said he-"Dr. Thompson
and from the Free Christian Church of Italy to
make Its objects and prospects known to our friends
In America, and also to ask for assistance. hope
to carry home from America the beginning OF an
Evangelical College, which shall dinuse throughout
oil United Italy the true doctrine Of free Chris1
tianity.' S-r'', y ''' '7,=.y'y> =y,
'Who is Dr. Thompson ~
"He is an American, who came to Rome some two
years ago merely visit. interested him in the
Evangelical movement, and he entered heartily into
It, He has accompanied me here to pilot nae
through, and he will return to Rome with me.n 4
"What is the general doctrine Of your Church rI1
''We call it the Free Christian Church Of United
Italy, i ls open TO al classes Of Protestants.
Some Baptists have churches there though not
many. The Presbyterians have some and the Meth.
odlsts have most. They are most Jealous In the
work of Evangelizaton. But we unite them all
under the one head of Free Christian Church. Our
creed is very simple 1t is only to love your fellow
man, follow the golden rule and pay no obedience
to the Vatican. We have thirty-fve churches, and
the governing power Is vested In o committee Of
seven, sitting at Florence"
'You are, then, thoroughly at enmity with the
Pope ?"
"Oh, yes We were once friends; but there is
now too wide difference of opinion between US
for thatn
"How does your theory Of belief compare with
that, say, Of Pere HyacintheS"
SIN the one particular, that while he and DOL
linger and Straussmeyer refuse to obey certain be-
hests OF the Catholic Church, they still claim to be
members Of OF it. accept my excommunication,
and have left 1t. have argued this matter with
Hyacinthe and D0lnger both, but they not pre-
pared to go entirely out OF the Catholic fold into the
Catholic doctres has ats ss BEEN
giving religious conferences at the Teatro Argen-
tina in Rome but they were not well attended, and
hnnr rd VNVn n ntn mi
were being arranged for him to have audience with
the Pope So it is likely the two will be recon-
GLOW came you to leave the Church of Rome,
II was excommuncated for defending Rome
against the French in 1s49, and also, on the same
occasion, for giving religious consolation to my
own dying solders.solders defending Rome and
born and raised in the Roman Church,
"You served with Garibald?"
~ went with Garbaldi in 1862 organizing hospi-
tails for his troops, for was the chief of what you
1866 in the Tyrol and in 1867 at Montana. also
made it my duty as we marched along to stir the
people up to the duty Of uniting and republcaniz-
Ing Italy,"
aHow do You stand in reference to the present
''Wel you see, Garibaldl and are republicans,
but we must take the best we can get. Now, as 9
pear is ripe it will fall into our laps; SO when Italy
Is ready to become republic she will be all the
Sl sHs w nas nothing hing yss1r
plain Of. He treats all the republicans WELL"
to the be any Of the
'HaH said the great agitator with his massive
hand uplifted. "rell your American Catholics, your
Irish and German Catholics, who are contributing
money to rescue Rome, tell them 1t is impossible
to rescue Rome from Itay-from Italyl' and he
brought his hand down upon the table. "Let them
save their money for more reasonable purposes"
"How do the clergy generally look upon the In
fallibty doctrine IN Itay,n y. ~ oo,or oooon. . ,,.
the lower orders are moving against it, In Pied
mont and some other provinces they are very out
sHow long viii you remain here y,
''In New York about two weeks. Then we shall 60
through the country, to Boston first, then Chicago
We shall probably remain In the country until
August or II our business is not finished until Octo
ber. will preach on sunday next l do not know
Just where yet. The church Is engaged but can
not recall Its name will also lecture while am
falbility and its startling consequences; the vat
can council and its effects and the general political
and yn religious prospects aaay Of dalyp nesve,
eyes, twenty years ago, In 1852. remember your
General Pierce was then elected President"
"You have probably found some changes In the
city since thenSn
Father Gavazzi hereupon became enthusiastic.
''Oh most wonderfu!' lie exclaimed. 'When
was here then there were only few houses here
and there above Union square-do you call it,
Park to-day and walked down, for 8 said cannot
see this great city in what-wOuldy
coach. walked down your Fifth avenue and re-
membered some talk when | was here before Of
making your Filth avenue fine thoroughfare.
Ia, what is 1t nowS rode up through a tunnel ON
Fourth avenue, yes When was here before there
was some talk OF making tunnel there and some
aborers put to work then. remember pick
ing away at IL. / have seen new city and the
grand buildings; your great depot, your Christian
Association building, your Artists palace with the
Mosaic front-what do you call itg ah-the Academy
OF Design. II looks like the Duca Palace In Verona.
say there are in this city more fine buildings
than in Rome, Florence vence-,all the cities Of
Italy put together II is wonderful, SIR"
When the reporter, thanking him for his courtesy,
arose go, the Father saw him to the door and into
the elevator which was near at hand.
~ always like TO conclude lecture or q sermon
with one grand conception" said he, with pleas
ant smile s'and conclude now with this-that In
great, free America here everything is great and
grand and shall hope for something great and
grand for the beginning OF our Evangelical
College,
with that ne planted his hands upon his hips,
beamed luxuriantly and the descending elevator
shut him out of view.
A public reception will be given to him and his