The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1913-07-31

BKt. =. v. RAt1
The Rev s v RAW ~ar born "a
the town a Mlno. Sicily. March 10.
1888 he died Of apoplesy 10 New
ton. Mas. July -, 1913 He faith
or vas a laaded proprietor Of COO.
siderable wealth for the times and
place; many u bis Immediate re.a'
lives hcld places ~ power 10 tbs
Church
Through the Influence Of hi'
Oldest cousin. who Was secretary q
the general of the capuchin order
he Was sent 10 Bologna, the Oxford
OF Italy. for his education. remain
Ing there nntll be was ordained %
the priesthood Of the Latin Church
and had obtained various diplomas Ia
theology aud philosophy
subsequently he was transferred
back 10 sicily. as Reitore OF the
Seminary OF Santa Lucia, and lee
turer in philosophy IN the monas-
try OF Rosnetta.
lie was held In such esteem that
be was granted permission b,
Pope Plus TX to read the forbidden
books placed on the Index Enpur-
gatorious. This privilege opened "a
him the treasures OF the western
world OF thought. An indefaiicable
student, he did not rest by day or
by night until he had explored this
new world. In so far as he had ac-
cess 10 II. The result OF his stu
dies was that he developed strong
points of difference with the teach
ings and practices Of the Church OF
which he was an accredited teacher
and priest After terrific mental
struggle. which almost drove him IN
sane. he withdrew from the Latin
Church. was communicated, disin-
herited, and cast adrift. In Naples
he found employment as school
teacher. Later he came under the
influence OF famous French MIN
lister OF Waldensian origin, Giorgio
Appia. who used his influence to
open the doors Of the Waldensian
Theological School at Florence Al
ter completing the three year course
In this institution. he went to the
Free Curchh College at Edinburgh,
and for two terms was a classmate
of men who In later years achieved
fame. as for instance. DR.. Dale
and DR.. Watson, (lan Maclaren }.
Al the end OF this postgraduate
course. he was ordained TO the min
istry by the Edinburgh Presbytery'
presented with a beautiful commun-
ion set, and commissioned to estab-
.ish Protestant Church in Rome
where religious freedom has Just
been proclaimed with the fall OF the
temporal power. This task MI
Raw achieved with marked success.
In the course of time the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church sent Dr.
Leroy M. Vernon to found mis-
sion in Rome DR.. Vernon had am
pie funds but could not speak ltai-
ian: Mr.. Raw was in financial
straits. but had a promising church.
Eventually Mr.. Ravi's church was
taken over by the Methodist author
tiles. and became the nucleus OF the
Methodist institutions now
In Rome.
Mr.. Raw has held pastorates In
Rome, Naples, Palermo, Florence
Milan. In his prime he was great
preacher, In the opinion of many thel
successor of Gavazzi In brilliancy
and power. His name is house
hold word in all the Protestant
Churches of Italy.
Mr.. Raw has travelled extensively
English speaking countries,
crossing the Atlantic repeatedly ior
the purpose of interesting Ameri-
cans IN the struggles of Protestant
tism in latly.
In the closing years OF his lie
10 made his home most OF the time
with his eldest daughter. Mrs. james
brooks. But the people OF Man
hester never knew who was among
them, for when he came he had SUI
Tered one slight paralytic shock,
md his work was over He Is sur
yiyed by his wife, tthe daughter OF
The minister of mnerleithen, scot
land. the sister of the minister OF
Stobo, the niece OF the minister OF
Il. Giles, Edinburgh. Also by
.hree daughters. Mrs. Brooks oil
Mrs. Bailey Of Weston,
Mass, Mrs. Schoonover OF Oxford, N.
T.. and one son, Rev. Vincent Raw,
OF the North Church. Cam
bridge, Mass.
The first volume Of his autobiogra-
ply will soon come from the press
under the title. "Sicilian Monster
les"
The interment was In the family
lot in Dellwood cemetery. after ser
vices at the home OF Mr.. Albert
NJ Reed on Saturday afternoon.