1 p.m. the Rev. Salvatore Ragghiante (Ragyante), who is called the Father Hyacinthe of Southern Italy. He is a powerful speaker. Very Punshon-like in his build and manner. The Italian language, so musical in itself, when in the mouth of an eloquent orator is almost as pleasant as the chiming of bells. One can listen with delight to an orator like Ragghiante, even when not understanding his words.

In the great reform which is slowly being worked out in Italy this good brother has borne a noble part. At the beginning of the reform movement, ten thousand priests jointly protested against the continuance of the temporal (Papal) power. The time was apparently not yet ripe for their action. Their movement as an organization gradually failed, for the Pope and his conservative adherents were as yet too strong for the protestants.

From the ruins of this organization arose another somewhat similar, though really more advanced in sentiment. This not only protested against the temporal power, but also protested against obligatory confession; against the use of the Latin language in the church service, etc. Some of the members also strongly favored the putting of the Bible into the hands of the people.

The Government sided with the reformers.

When they were silenced by the Pope, and suspended from their functions as priests, the Government appointed some of them to civil offices, and in various other ways assisted them, but there came an hour, when the Government somewhat relaxed its policy and decided as far as possible to conciliate the Papacy. Then these reformers found themselves between two stools, and of course came to the ground. Some of them recanted, repented, and returned forgiven to their loving father the Pope, but Ragghiante would not yield. Not only too spirited and manly was he to turn to the Pope for forgiveness, but he had been conscientious in all that he had done. For a time the way was dark for him. To cast off all churchism and become a simple preacher of Christ; without any of that loud-sounding and showy ritual to which he had been trained, was too much for him.

God by His Spirit wrought on this noble mind, however, until he was led to see the full simplicity of the Gospel, and he applied to Mr. Jones (with whom he had often conversed, but with whom he could not agree at the first respecting this simplicity of preaching Christ) and he was accepted as a Wesleyan preacher, and he is, as I have intimated, a teacher that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth, and enforcing it with emphasis and spirit upon those who hear him.

In my next I shall notice at greater length the growing divergence between the Italian people and the Papacy.

LONDON, ENGLAND, March 15th, 1888.

EIGHTH LETTER.

E visited one division of the Catacombs of Rome where, it is said, one million of persons were buried, nearly a hundred thousand of whom died violent deaths, being slain by the cruel hand of persecution,-" overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, loving not their lives unto the death." Many thousands of these were killed in the Catacombs, whither they had fled from the soldiers.

In the Sistine chapel we saw the famous picture of the "Last Judgment," in which Michael Angelo represents a cardinal, who had offended him, in hell with a pair of horns on his head. When the cardinal saw the picture he went to the Pope and told him that the great painter had put him with the lost in hell, and asked the Pope to use his influence with Angelo to take him from that part of the picture and put him somewhere else.

I think, very likely, the cardinal was no greater favorite with the Pope than he was with Angelo, so he was told that if he was in hell his Holiness could

do nothing for him, as his "jurisdiction extended only to purgatory." So there is the poor cardinal to this day, with his horns and his horrors forever.

It is well for him if he is there only in a picture. I am afraid some of his brethren have not come off so well.

The Sistine chapel is a wonderful exhibition of the