The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-12
Protcstants in Italy.


In one Of his recent allocutions Popo LEO
Mi. referred, with something like indigna.
! ton, TO the attempts to carry on Protes-
tant propaganda within the walls of Rome.
Attention was drawn TO the same subject by
a letter OF the Cardinal Vicar. the substance
" which was telcgraphcd some days ago.
| What is there In the movement thus pointed
out to excite apprehension l. It likely to
win over many converts from the Catholic
fold outside the ranks OF transient sujourn-
crs in the worlds capital? In other words,
what hold, If any has the Protestant re-
ligion acquired over the Italian population
since tho House Of Savoy became master OF
the whole peninsula
1t Is true that the native italians who pro-
fcss some form Of the Protestant faith are
not numerous, but IL would be mistake TO
| ignore them altogether. The fact is curious
enough that NICroR EMANUEL took steps to
rrorganizc that historic community Of the
! Naudois-bcttcr known in England and
America as the Waldcnscs-whch had
been well-nigh cxtinguishcd by the per-
sccution OF Duke OF Savoy The re-
vivul, however, Of that medieval relig-
ious movement was retarded by the for
'tl~h ihiS hhSt MllltH tue NtSffItllllS
OF the Protestant fugltives had acquired
during their second exile. It is we'll known
that the Naudois sect arose in the south of
France during the twelfth century. and
translated al that epoch the Bible into
the iaHguc doc. Whom they were driven
from their original homes by the species If
crusade led 10y De MoNrFoRr, they took
refuge in Piedmont. CARRYING with them
their Bible and their native tongue. They
kept both. until the House of Savoy, in the
seventeenth century, following the policy OF
Louis NV. forced them again 10 emigratc
this time 10 Geneva. Here their primitive
speech fell into dlsuse. their native min
listers being gradually displaced by Gcnevan
Calvinists, who introduced the French Ian
guage into their religious services. Thus II
happened that when they returned once
more to Piedmont they brought with them
the French tongue, which isolated them in
the midst Of the surrounding population
and rendered them strangers In Italy.
Up 10 1889 when the Franco-Austrian war
occurred, the Protestant missionary work
in Italy was limited 10 the Naudois settle
mcuts. and to few other sectarirs OF d.
verse origin who assumed the collective
title OF the Free Church. In proportion,
however, as the Savoyard dynasty gained
territory the evangelical propaganda was
extended TO Lombardy, Tuscany. and cen
trail Italy; penetrated Naples and Sicily
after the downfall Of the Bourbons. and
finally reached Rome. Indeed the first
vehicle which entered the city after It's oc-
cupation by the royal troops is said TO have
been n wagon loaded with Protestant Bibles.
Since 1870 Scotland, and more notably the
United States, through their missionary 500
cIete-, have made strenuous attempts 10
recruit and establish Professionalism in the
face OF the Vatican. And there Is no doubt
that their opinions. invested with the at
traction of a lOug-forbidden fruit. gained a
certain number Of proselytos-e enough, np-
parcntly 70 encourage an effort 10 set aside
the Naudois Constitution, which had con-
troled the Free Italian Church and given
performance within it to the French ele-
ment. The small body OF Protestants in
Tuscany remained faithful 10 their old afll-
iations, but many 81 the other sectaros at
present accept the synodal or PRESBYTERIAN
organization. The latter are distributed
into 80 communities and 80 so-callcd stations
where the Gospel is preached in Italian
every Sunday. There exist, Likewise. con-
gregations founded by the American Method
list aud Baptist societies, as we'll as some
Episcopal churches belonging 10 the Angl-
can Communion or TO its American oiTshoot.
On the whole, it is computed that the inlu-
ence Of Protestant preaching now reaches
some sixty thousand persons in Italy,
divided among some 2SO places OF meeting.
We may add that the Protestant schools are
attended by about six thousand children.
This is all that Professionalism has yet ac-
complished in the Italian peninsula. Its
efforts have doubtless modified in some de-
gree the notions entertained by the humber
classes of the population touching the scope
aud purpoIt Of herotical doctrines. But it
seems TO have made no Roadway among the
better educated people, perhaps because the
majority e the missionaries are not con-
spcuous for theological promndity or lit
erary culture. An exception should be made,
however, in favor Of the Yaudois ministers,
most Of whom have graduated at Geneva or
from German Protestant universities.
Although the progress Of Professionalism
in Italy, as above outlined can hardly afford
ground for serious disquietudc, yet it may
well appear substantial enough to deserve
the attention OF the head Of the Catholic
Church, chiefly because the propaganda, If
vigorously furthcred by the Governments
Of Italy and Germany, might have weighter
consequences than are as yet exhibited.