THE
FOREIGN MISSION JOURNAL
Vol. XXII — February, 1891— No. 7.
OUR ITALIAN MISSION.
Tliis mission is, to our mind, one of the most interesting in which
Southern Baptists arc engaged, and by no means the least promising
in permanent and glorious results. Like many another mission, it has
suffered in the minds of the brethren who contribute to its support, by
its failure to realize all the great expectations which were awakened in
their minds by the enthusiastic reports of success made by the earliest
workers. When the Italian army entered Rome in 1870, and the dream
of Italian liberty and unity, which had for many years occupied the
minds of her noblest and best sons, had become a reality, enthusiastic
Christian workers rushed in, eager to preach the Word in the
hitherto fast closed city' and to win converts to the truth in this
centre of papal power and influence. There was much in this idea of
preaching the gospel in Rome to fire the imagination, arouse the enthu¬
siasm, and stimulate the zeal of men who had long waited and longed
and prayed for such an opportunity. And on their entrance into the
city, carrying the long-forbidden Bible and eager to preach its
truths, thc\' were gladly received and eagerly listened to by a people
who had, for the first time, an opportunity' to eat to their fill of for¬
bidden fruit, and to do it in safety, even while their former masters
forbade their indulgence. Under such circumstances, it is easy to see
that many persons, in the very wantonness of freedom, and in order to
feel and show that freedom, yvould turn from Romanism to Protest¬
antism, not because they were really in heart Protestants, but simply
to be anti-Romanists. It is easy’ to see, too, lioyv the enthusiastic
Christian workers yvould be deceived as to manythings they witnessed,
and, led on by their hopes and desires rather than by their judgment,
would put to the account of evangelical progress much that belonged
merely to some other account. That good, honest, earnest men should
have been so mistaken, and being so mistaken, should have given glow¬
ing accounts of the turning of the people to the truth, is not to be won¬
dered at. Among the deceived ones yvere the first appointees of our
Board to the Italian mission, and so yvonderful yvere the accounts of
the progress of the yvork which yvere sent to this country, that the
