Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-15
DR.. cOSTAREL SPEAKS
BEFORE COLLEGE Gil
The Past, Present and Future of Mes
sina, Where He Was Formerly Lo-
Gated.

A meeting of the College club was
held on Saturday afternoon at the
home Of Mrs. JOHN c. Averill OF Broad
way. The ladies Of the Wednesday At
ternoon Literary club, the Pantops. the
Dickens club and the Art Students as
ISOLATION were the guests of the Col
lege club on this occasion and there
was a large attendance who thorough
" enjoyed the fine address given by
the Rev. V. Alberto Costabel upon Inc
Past. Present and Future Of Messina.
Rev. Mr. Costabel who spoke in one
OF the Norwich churches year or so
ago upon The Waldensian Church IN
Italy, is now pastor Of the Waldenslah
church in Milan. Previous to TINS ne
was for six years-from 1900 to 1906
pastor at Messina. He is consequently
an authority upon the conditions ana
people of Messfna, whom he pronounced
with no exception the best people ne
knows in the world. Although the
. earthquake has destroyed the build
ings, it cannot destroy over twenty
centuries of history-twenty-si cen
turtles il we go back to the TRADITIONAL
founding of this city in 732 b. Q. py
pirates. It's original name was Zancle
meaning a scytlle. It's first founders
we're CshaIcldians. People from Mes
sina came later and changed the name
RI that of their native city in Greece.
II was twice destroyed by the Cartha-
ginfans. has belonged to Rome, been
conquered by Saracens, No-mans'
Hohenstaufens and Spaniards. Rich
ard the Lion Hearted spent six months
tbere on his way to Palestine. In 1743
tT& plague killed 10000 people and in
1888 an earthquake completely destroy
ed the city. In 1854 the cholera killed
is 600 people. The cause Of this was
moor drinking water. He spoke OF the
7. palaces along the Waterfront IN Mes
| sina, the front walls of which are sun
| standing and seem a screen to hide the
/ ruin and devastation back Of them. The
| onlv house in Messina not destroyed
/ was one built in American fashion OF
I reinforced concrete. Messina has lost
all its former importance and has been
1 a poor province for the past zoo years.
I The government, the church and the
/ mobiles have conspired to degrade the
I Dopulace and keep them IN state OF
/ sep,i-starvation. while they themselves
/ have become very wealthy and lnhu-
| entail. Trade in lemons, oranges and
/ SULPHUR has also passed from there 70
| America. The new city of Messlna Is
4 to be built on a plain south Oh tne
! former city-the harbor being the only
part Of the older city to be preserved
/ Mr.. Costabel then told Of the walden
| sian church in Messina. In 1890 a
| CsIabrian nobleman passed through the
/ yValdensian valley and admired the
| neonIe SO much that he invited them
! down to his estates in Calabria- This
was the beginning Of 2 stream or I'M
roirration In 1850 the Waldensian
churches were destroyed and many OF
me people butchered by the Catholics
AS late as 1850, when the church was
/ reopened in Messina, a regiment OF
soldiers was sent to protect Its people
Since then they have won the respect
/ Of all classes in Messina and only re
Gently at the anniversary exercises al
the officials came to show their respect
and do them honor. There were PROB
a1oIv 900 members at the time OF the
! srthouaKe-two-th thirds OF whom per
ished. He told Of the death OF the
rastor and the experiences Of othel
members OF the church. In one family
Of fourt 7rn only two survive.
Rev Mr.. Costabel was introduced by
the president Of the club, Miss Heller
Marshall. At the close Of the meeting
tea was served by the hostess.