The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
MISSION WORKER
WRITES TO BOARD
Rev. James 2. Stuart Tells of
Recent Mob Trouble in
Italy.
PROTECTED By SOLDIERS
Recites Facts Showing Professionals
were not Responsible for
Earthquake.
PROTECTED By SOLDIERS

In a letter which the Foreign Mis-
sion Board at Richmond has just re-
ceived Rev. James =. Stuart, one of
the Baptist missionaries in Italy who
was threatened by mob during the
recent earthquake disturbance in that
country because the people thought
the Protestants were responsible for
the earthquake, gives a full and de-
tailed account of the affair, rehears-
ing the causes which, In his opinion.
precipitated the trouble. Mrs. Emma
L. Stuart, 6I6 North Sixth street, moth
err OF the missionary. has also received
a letter from him telling of the trou-
BILE.
The epistie addressed to the foreign
board, of which Rev. DR.. r. ]. Will
| lingham is corresponding secretary
reads in part a. foliows
Il have just returned from one of
the towns in the south, where our
people are being greatly prosecuted
The people Of that town, Bisaccia, are
very ignorant and fanatical. There
are about 1000 In the town. Our
pastor there wrote an article which
offended the inhabitants and gave the
priests an opportunity to stir the
people into frenzy against all Pro-
testants. The pastor had to leave
town. Members of our church and
their friends. numbering about 100,
remained true, but begged for a pas
tor to lead them. The people -mobbed
the one we sent DR.. WhittinghilI and
i took the matter UP with the au-
thorities Of the government The Min
lister of the Interior said that we
must wait indefinitely until the peo
pie We're calmer. but We insisted that
we must have a pastor.
''Impossibic 10 Protect U.s."
The authorities then said that they
would do what they could, but II was
impossible to promise to protect US.
We decided to send three good men.
Scalera, of Naples, and two others.
determined to go with them TO keep
up their courage. and 10 have the
backing OF Uncle Sam, II necessary.
When the authorities knew that | was
going, 1t had great effect upon them.
for they are afraid Of our government.
/ talked with our am AMBASSADOR before
leaving and took my passport with
me On the way ! went to see the
governor OF the province. He tried
to persuade me not to go but to wait
a month or two. That would have
been a great blunder for US. for al
ready our people were being perse-
cuted in other towns OF the province,
showed the governor my passport
and told him ! was going, ana h9i
would have to take the consequences,
He would not see the Italians with
me and so / had 10 talk with him
alone While there was danger. l
knew that he was blufting and would
be compelled to protec, us
Escorted by Soldiers.
'.At the station Nc were met by
an escort Of 4avalry and infantry and
SO drove into town Saturday evening.
That night We had service/in our 1T
tie church which was guafded by sol
diers and filled with the brethren ana
friends. Sunday we held two services
and Monday evening another.
''Signor Scalera. who is one of the
finest preachers in Italy, preached at
these services with great force, en-
courasing. comforting and teaching
the people. After an investigation, We
pu blished a manifesto. saying that IL
had not been the intention OF our pas
tor to insult the people by his article.
that we were sorry for all that haa
happened, and that we hoped We
might all live and work together iii
peace, protected by the laws of the
country The better classes came to
cur aid and having won complete
victory for our poor people. we arrang-
ed for preaching for them in the
future and planned to leave the next
morning at $50 O'Clock.
Earthquake Blocks Plans.
However, at O'Clock In the night,
there was a terrible earthquake. The
people came out on the streets. like
mad Wild beasts, frenZied with terror.
They screamed and cried and prayed.
After a little while they began to say
that the Protestants had brought the
earthquake and We were In great dan
ger AT o'clock the officers came
and wanted us to leave secretly at
once told them that II they insisted
| would do IL for their sakes, but /
protested against leaving in that way.
( / knew that the people would say that
We had fled out OF the city and all that
we had accomplished would be I'M
done.
People Yell and Curse.
MY opinion was verified at this
time by the appearance of our
brethren. who came to see II we had
left telling us that the people were
already saying that had fled for my
life. He was happy when he saw that
1t was not true. I told the officers
that we would leave az we had planned
and informed them the night before.
So we left guarded by zoe soldiers on
one side and 100 on the other with
guns and bayonets. while the people,
from 5000 to 1000 lined the streets
yelling and cursing and threatening
us, as though they had been so many
hungry hyenas or viciousls insane per-
sons turned loose.
Troops VIII STAY.
The government L. going to keep
the soldiers there until the town Is
Gained sand we are going to have
preaching there every Sunday and q
pastor on the field. 1t did us good to
see how arm and faithful our little
flock has been. They are worthy OF
anything that we can do for them.
Several are waiting for baptism when
new pastor 10 established on the
field.
while about ATTY persons were
killed In the earthquake in the
province. forty of that number were
killed In the town OF Caiitri. some
seven or eight miles away. Nobody
was killed in Bisaccia and none Of
our members were injured In the
province. This ought to be sufficient
to relieve us of the. charge Of causing
the earthquake
In a postscript, Rev. Mr.. Stuart
adds as follows: "since writing this.
/ have been able to talk with Signor
Luzxatti. the prime minister, and
have reason to hope for protection for
our people In the liberty of worship.
Our ami assador is looking after the
interests Of our country and SPLEEN
didiy. wish, II you think wise.
n AT u