WESLEYAN METHODIST ASSOCIATION

MAGAZINE.

AUGUST, 1852.

INTOLERANCE IN TUSCANY-IMPRISONMENT FOR READING THE BIBLE.

ATROCIOUS are the means by which the Papacy endeavours to hinder the progress of the knowledge of Divine truth. The diabolical spirit-by which, in acts of religious persecution, unnumbered murders have been perpetrated by the Papacy-is not dead; it only slumbereth; or rather lies in wait looking for its opportunity to resume its work of horrible carnage. Even now, in those countries which are under the power of the Papacy, the most awful acts of injustice are being committed.

On the 25th of April 1851, the Tuscan Government issued a decree, authorising magistrates to imprison all persons known to possess, or to read the Bible; and to commit to prison any person suspected to be averse to the Romish religion.

Under this decree, Count Guicciardini and seven other persons, were arrested on the 7th of May 1851 by the police. The Count and his companions were, when arrested, engaged in reading the fifteenth chapter of John. They were privately examined in prison; and, because they confessed their faith in Christ, they were on the 17th of the same month sentenced to banishment.

On the 10th of June 1851, a man was sentenced to a year's imprisonment and hard labour for breaking his images of the Virgin Mary and other saints. A Bible was found in his house, and he stated that he was induced by what he read in the Bible to destroy the images. On the eighth of last September eight or ten persons were committed to prison on suspicion of reading the Scriptures.

As usual, the priests employ their influence, in confessing the deluded members of the Romish church, to increase the horrible persecution, by inducing persons to betray their nearest relatives. A father has been induced to inform against two of his sons. He was refused absolution until he denounced his sons to the police; and then the sons were cast into prison. A wife was induced by the solicitations and threatenings of her priest to betray her husband. carpenter, and his Bible was found in his basket covered with chips. His name is Pasquale Casacci. In August last he was cast into prison, and we believe is yet in prison, though he has been so weak as to deny that he read the Bible.

He was a

On the 17th of August last, between seven and eight in the evening, the police visited the lodging-house of Francesco and Rosa

Madiai, in the city of Florence. When the police arrived Francesco was not at home. The house was searched. Two Bibles, and an English religious book were found, and seized. Francesco Madiai came in and was arrested, as were also three other persons who were in the house, and they were all taken to prison. One of the persons arrested was an Englishman. He obtained the interference of the British legation, and after being in prison for twenty-two hours he was released. Two other of the persons arrested, after they had been in prison seven days, were offered their choice of imprisonment or banishment; yet no crime was perferred against them. They chose banishment, and left the country. Twelve days after the arrest of her husband, Madame Madiai was taken into custody. She and her husband avowed themselves to be Protestants.

In these persecutions the Jesuits are particularly active. Efforts are made to persuade the people, that what is sold as the Bible, is not the true Bible, but a spurious work put forth by Protestants. It is said that special instructions have been sent from Rome directing the priests how to deal with those who confess having read the Scriptures, or heard them read by others.

prison, but not brought The result of the trial,

Francesco and Rosa Madiai were kept in to trial, until the early part of last month. with some appropriate remarks thereon, are contained in the following extract from the July number of "Evangelical Christendom.”

TRIAL AND SENTENCE OF FRANCESCO AND ROSA MADIAI.

The following letter will inform our readers of the issue to which the prosecution has been brought, in the case of these humble but noble Christian confessors. They will read the sentence, we are persuaded, as we ourselves have read it, with no surprise. Romanism is the State religion of Tuscany. The Civil Courts and all the institutions of the country act under its control. Rome is ever true to her instincts, ever consistent with herself. She is the unchanged and unchangeable, the inveterate and inflexible enemy of the Bible, and the intolerant persecutor of all who love it. Her malice never dies, her resolution never flinches. Give her power, place her on the throne, or the seat of judgment, and her ancient tendencies to injustice and cruelty, however long they may have lain dormant, exfoliate again, with the freshness of a flower in Spring. But while this iniquitous sentence is no more than might have been looked for, it will awaken sentiments of righteous indignation and abhorrence in every British mind. It is said, the presiding judge trembled as he pronounced it. Conscience was doing its office, and, by its silent testimony against this infamous crime, unnerving and appalling, in his high place of judicial authority, the chief instrument in its perpetration. A crime we call it—a flagitious wickedness -which, under the sacred names of law and justice, condemns these unoffending people to the galleys for possessing a Bible. We charge these judges, and all who are parties to the prosecution we charge with the crime of violating the laws of God and of humanity. It is

an inhuman thing to send a man to the galleys, and that for four years and eight months, upon such an allegation. How much more a woman! Where was the manhood of the judges who could deliberately frame such a sentence? How could they look that woman in the face while they pronounced her doom? But there was ANOTHER JUDGE present, witnessing these proceedings, who will summon all these parties to His tribunal, and give the case a re-hearing. He will adjudicate upon it after another method than that by which it has now been determined. The accused and the accusers may then be placed in different positions, for He will vindicate the oppressed, and hurl the oppressor to the ground. When the Lord maketh inquisition, He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. The laws of God cannot be trampled upon with impunity, and terrible will be the condition of all tyrants and persecutors, in the day when these laws re-assert their sovereignty, and assume their final office. In the meantime, we bespeak attention and sympathy to these persecuted servants of Christ. None who read this account, but will admire the constancy of their faith, and the simple dignity with which they conducted themselves before the Court. We thank God on their behalf, for He strengthened them for the occasion, and stood by them in the day of trial; nor can we doubt, that if the barbarity to which they are sentenced is actually inflicted, He will sustain them under their sufferings with his abundant consolations. The letter of MADAME MADIAI to her husband, after the sentence had been pronounced upon them, breathes the spirit of the ancient martyrs, and shows to what extent she already enjoys the fulfilment of the same promises that supported them. It will commend both her husband and herself, more effectually than anything we can say, to the intercessory supplications of the people of God. But we must take the liberty of suggesting to Christian ministers of all churches, whether they will not deem it right to offer public prayer for them, and request also that they may be remembered in the private devotions of their congregations? And is there nothing else that we can do? True, they are not British subjects; we cannot therefore call Diplomacy to their aid. But they are fellow-creatures, and fellowChristians, and can we quietly look on while such wrongs are perpetrated, and utter no remonstrance, and make no effort to obtain redress? Or if, as is but too probable, redress be out of the question, is it not a duty we owe to our common humanity, and to Christianity itself, to protest against the outrage done to both? Ought not the Popedom to know, ought not Christendom to be made acquainted with the detestation which this nefarious proceeding has engendered in the minds of all who can appreciate the value of religious liberty, or who know the inestimable worth of the Word of God? We call upon all the organs of Christian opinion, to give utterance to their sentiments; and upon all Committees and Societies, whose objects are germane to the purpose, to adopt and publish resolutions upon it. The "Protestant Alliance," under the presidency of THE EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, than whom, among British nobleman, there is not a sincerer friend to religious liberty, has set the example. Their Resolutions, already

published in the Times, we gladly subjoin; and in doing so, express our earnest hope that no time will be lost by kindred Institutions and Committees, in acting in a similar manner. The Committee of the Evangelical Alliance will, of course, resume the matter, and pursue it in whatever ways Divine Providence may open for their action. We believe that, while we are writing, summonses are preparing to call a special meeting in relation to it. Everything that lies in our power should be done, to expose the undying malignity of Romanism, and to rescue these victims from its grasp.

Extract from a Letter, dated Florence, June 9, 1852.

Yesterday, at three o'clock, with closed doors, sentence was pronounced against the dear Madiais. Fifty-six months of the galleys and hard labour for Francesco, and forty-four months at the ergastolo (the female galleys), also with hard labour, for his wife! Besides this, all the expenses of the trial, and three years of surveillance from the police, after they have finished their punishment. Pasquale Casacci, who denied every thing, was acquitted of the criminal charge, but was detained to answer two actions against him by the police, according to the law of April, 1851. That history may render justice to the chief actors in this trial, I will tell you that Nervini was the president of the court; Cocchi, the interrogating judge; and Biechierai, the public prosecutor. The trial began on the 4th of June, and lasted four days. Rosa (Madame Madiai) was pale, and trembled with emotion on entering; Francesco (her husband) appeared happy to see his wife again, and press her hand. All were surprised and moved with their tranquillity and firmness. Casacci was the picture of an unhappy man, and with all my heart I pity him.

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At the commencement of the trial, Francesco was asked if he was born in the bosom of the Holy Mother, the Roman Catholic Church. Yes," he answered, "but now I am a Christian, according to the Gospel." "Who has made you such, and does there exist an act of abjuration amongst those to whom you are united ?" My convictions have existed for many years, but have acquired strength from the study of the Word of God. It has been a matter between God and my own soul, but which was outwardly manifested when I took the communion in the Swiss church." Rosa replied to her interrogator, that she had not changed her religion lightly, nor to please men, as in that case she would have done it when in England (where she lived sixteen or nineteen years); but after having read the Word of God, and contrasted with it the Romish doctrines, she was convinced, and having abandoned that church, had made a public confession of faith, by partaking of the Lord's Supper, at a time when the laws gave and protected religious liberty to the citizens. The audience were struck with the simplicity and sincerity of the Madiais. Then, on the two following days, the witnesses were examined, and the defence was heard (made by the advocate Maggiorani, with much warmth and feeling), and finally the summing up of the public prosecutor. The fourth day, the Court remained long in consultation; the votes were divided, and one vote decided the question,-two being in favour of acquittal, three of condemnation. The Madiais listened to the sentence with the greatest firmness and dignity. The voice of the presiding judge who read it, trembled; the public were indignant at the sentence and the judges, but displayed sympathy for the Madiais and contempt for poor Casacci. The Madiais have the right of appeal to the Court of Cassation, and have been advised by their advocate to make use of it. Perhaps, a superior tribunal, having more liberty of action, may acquit them. Signor Landucci, Minister of the Interior, advised that a commutation of the sentence into exile should be immediately applied for.

Letter from Madame Madiai to her Husband.

The following letter was written from prison, after the judge had concluded the condemnation :

"My dear Madiai,-You know that I have always loved you, but how much more ought I to love you, now that we have been together in the battle of the Great King-that we have been beaten, but not vanquished! I hope through the merits of Jesus Christ, God our Father will have accepted our testimony, and will give us grace to drink, to the last drop, the portion of that bitter cup, which is prepared for us, with returning of thanks. My good Madiai, life is only a day, and a day of grief! Yesterday we were young, to-day we are old! Nevertheless, we can say, with old Simeon, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.'

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Courage, my dear, since we know by the Holy Spirit that this Christ, loaded with opprobrium, trodden down and calumniated, is our Saviour; and we, by His holy light and power, are called to defend the Holy Cross, and Christ who died for us, receiving his reproaches, that we may afterwards participate in His glory. Do not fear if the punishment be hard. God, who made the chains fall from Peter, and opened the doors of his prison, will never forget us. Keep in good spirits, let us trust entirely in God. Let me see you cheerful, as I trust, by the same grace, you will see me cheerful. I embrace you with my whole heart.

Resolutions of the Committee of the Protestant Alliance, adopted at a Meeting held June 22, 1852.

I. "That this Committee, having been made acquainted with the trial of Francesco and Rosina Madiai, at Florence, and with the sentence pronounced upon them, condemning the husband to fifty-six months at the galleys, with hard labour, and the wife to forty-four months at the ergastolo, or female galleys, with hard labour, and each of them to three additional years of surveillance of the police, with all the costs of the trial, for the imputed crime of possessing the Bible, and leaving the communion of the Romish Church, hereby express their grief and detestation at the iniquity of the charge, and the inhumanity of the sentence, and their deep sense of the wrong thereby inflicted upon these really blameless persons, in whose punishment for such a cause not only are justice and humanity violated, but the natural rights and liberties of mankind are trampled under foot, and Christianity itself is outraged, while its sacred name is prostituted to this iniquitous and cruel persecution.

II. "That this Committee have contemplated with unspeakable satisfaction and devout gratitude to God, the constant faith and calm dignity of these persecuted fellow-Christians under their severe trials and the good confession' they maintained before the Court of Judicature, at whose bar they were arraigned, not doubting that they were strengthened and upheld by the promised grace of the Holy Spirit; and they assure them in this public manner of their most cordial sympathy and fervent prayers, while enduring their sufferings for righteousness' sake, and for the Word of God.

III.

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"That these Resolutions be published in the Times.""

A Special Meeting of the Committee of the Evangelical Alliance has been held, at which the following resolutions were unanimously adopted, and ordered to be put into extensive circulation, both in this country and on the continent of Europe:-