THE 
 
 ITALY MISSION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church 
 
GINEVRA LAUSANNE BERNE 
 
 • • • 
 
John F. Goueher 
 
 Number - »».» 
 
 History. 
 
 In 1832 Rev. Charles Elliot D.D. began to ad- 
 vocate the establishment of a Mission to Italy, 
 and again in 1850 he became especially urgent 
 for the project. Bishop Gilbert Haven joined 
 heartily in the advocacy of this movement. 
 
 In September 1870 a resolution was passed by 
 the Board adopting the proposal. 
 
 In March 1871 Rev. Leroy M. Vernon was ap- 
 pointed superintendent of our Mission in Italy 
 with temporary residence at Genoa. 
 
 December 1872 the head quarters of the Mission 
 was fixed at Bologna. Services were formally 
 inaugurated July 22, 1873. 
 
 The Mission, was organized into an Annual 
 Conference in 1881 Bishop Merrill presiding. 
 
 In 1886 Bishop Foss transferred the 
 Rev. William Burt from the New York East Con- 
 ference to the Italy Conference. 
 
 In 1888 Rev. Dr. Vernon returned to the United 
 States. 
 
 In 1893 Bishop Joyce transferred the Rev. N. 
 Walling Clark from the Germany Conference to 
 the Italy Conference. 
 
 At present we have 31 organized Churches or 
 Stations and 10 other places regularly visited 
 by our preachers. 
 
 There are 23 members of the Annual Conference 
 and 8 in the different classes on trial making a 
 total of 31. Of these eleven are graduates of our 
 Theological School. 
 
 3 
 
Members and Probationers 2326 
 
 Gain in one year of 331 
 
 Conversions during last year 656 
 
 Sunday School - Scholars and Teachers. . 1194 
 
 Day School - Scholars 792 
 
 Theological School 18 
 
 Boys College 38 
 
 Girl's School 59 
 
 Young Ladies School . . . . , 77 
 
 Boy's Industrial School, Venice 34 
 
 Net value of Property 210,000, 00 Dollars 
 
 Total collections during the year 3,228. 82 » 
 Total local receipts including 
 
 Schools 16,345. 22 » 
 
 There is no Church better adapted by its doctri- 
 nes, spirit, usages and organization to take the 
 lead in the work of evangelization in Italy than 
 the Methodist Episcopal. Wherever we have had 
 a fair trial we have succeeded. Last among the 
 denominations to enter the held we are fast And 
 ing our place among the leaders. 
 
 Boys' College Rome. 
 
 4 
 
An interesting contrast. 
 
 Dates 
 
 Members 
 
 GQ 
 
 a 
 o 
 *-£ 
 s 
 
 © 
 
 Total Members 
 
 Sunday School 
 Scholars and 
 Teachers 
 
 Total 
 local receipts 
 
 Net value 
 of property 
 
 .2 S 
 
 £ >> 
 S <P 
 
 P-.o 
 
 For the work 
 only 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Dollars 
 
 Dollars 
 
 Dollars 
 
 Dollars 
 
 1888 
 
 883 
 
 161 
 
 1044 
 
 392 
 
 917.75 
 
 52,000. 
 
 52,257 
 
 36,237 
 
 1899 
 
 1636 
 
 
 2326 
 
 1194 
 
 16,345-23 
 
 210.000 
 
 
 34,926 
 
 Gain 
 
 753 
 
 529 
 
 1282 
 
 802 
 
 15,427.48 
 
 168.000 
 
 
 
 Less 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11,746 
 
 1,311 
 
 Of the 34,960 dollars appropriated for the work 
 in 1899 we must deduct the sura appropriated 
 for those departments of the work which did not 
 exist in 1838, as for instance, the Theological 
 School, the Boy's College, the Industrial School, 
 and the Press, total 8,500 dollars, leaving only 
 26,420 dollars or 10,000 dollars less than in 1888. 
 
 5 
 
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. 
 
 The ladies have now also a Creche for little 
 Children: a Home School for girls; and a Young 
 Ladies Boarding School, all centers of increasing 
 influence. 
 
 The Young Ladies School in three years has 
 become as nearly self-supporting as any similar 
 school of our church at home or abroad. In op- 
 position to this school the Jesuits have organized 
 a Society with the blessing of the Pope and with 
 special indulgences granted to the zealous who 
 will work for its destruction. 
 
 Girls' Home School. 
 
 6 
 
The Press. 
 
 Besides own weekly paper 1' Evangelista and 
 our monthly illustrated Y Aurora and the Quar- 
 terly Cor Sunday School Teachers we have issued 
 from our Press this year a new Hymnal, with 632 
 well selected hymns, in two editions, one with 
 music and the other without music. This pub- 
 lication will certainly mark an epoch in our 
 Mission since it introduces into our work hearty 
 Methodist singing. 
 
 Mr. Samuel H. Pye of St. Louis in a letter to 
 the Central Advocate June 14, 1899 says: 
 
 " I was impressed with the musical tendency 
 of the Italians while attending the services of 
 our Italian Church. Rome. In a congregation of 
 four hundred it seemed that every one from the 
 youngest to the oldest joined heartily in the ser- 
 vice of song and such singing 1 never heard 
 before. " 
 
 What a power our Publishing House would be- 
 come, if it could be enlarged to meet the actual 
 demands. We urgently need about 2500 dollars 
 for a new Press, a small gas engine, and some 
 new type. 
 
Evidences of Success. 
 
 Our success cannot yet be measured by simple 
 statistics, though these are encouraging. Among 
 the most encouraging indications of our success 
 and of promise for the future we would mention 
 the following. 
 
 1. The preparation of future leaders in our 
 Schools. 
 
 2. The presence already among our ministers 
 of eleven young men trained in our schools. 
 
 3. Onr changed position especially since the 
 erection of our new building in Rome. The Li- 
 berals who would be our friends have more con- 
 fidence in our future. We are better known 
 than ever before and we enjoy the sincere 
 sympathy of thousands of Italian patriots. The 
 King himself has on several occasions expressed 
 his interest in our work. 
 
 4. Our changed position among the Evangelical 
 denominations in Italy. The success of our Church 
 in any country is not simply in that which she 
 has accomplished directly, but also in that which 
 in the Providence of God she has been called 
 to accomplish through her influence on sister 
 Churches. 
 
 Let me quote here the observations of one of 
 our ministers: 
 
 " Twelve years ago no one could speak of our 
 influence for we were influenced instead of exert- 
 ing an influence on others. " 
 
 But now we can speak of our influence which 
 is being exerted in the following particulars. 
 
 a) We have introduced the element of joy into 
 christian worship. 
 
 There is more fervor and enthusiasm in the 
 singing. The sermons are rendered more interest- 
 ing and effective by means of illustrations and 
 direct appeals to the heart and conscience, 
 
 8 
 
b) We have introduced the custom of giving 
 part of christian worship. 
 
 c) We are exercising a most salutary influence 
 in reference to the activity of the laity in all 
 the churches. 
 
 d) Our influence however is being felt most 
 in our seasons of revival, which we pray God 
 to bless to His glory in all the Churches. 
 
 Entrance to the Epwortli League Hall, Rome. 
 9 
 
Our more urgent needs. 
 
 1. Money with which to pay the debt on our 
 Building at Rome. To accomplish this some will 
 givea 1000 dollars a year for five years, others 500; 
 others 100; and still others will give what they 
 can in one definite sum. Let not the Roman Ca- 
 tholic world know that the great Methodist Epi- 
 scopal Church has not Protestant fervour enough 
 to pay oft" in Ave years, if not in one year, every 
 cent of said debt. It can be done, and it must 
 be done! 
 
 We already have several memorial tablets in 
 the Building and we shall be glad to add others. 
 
 2. A Building for the Young Ladies School, 
 Rome. We cannot accept one half of the young 
 ladies who aie asking admission to our School. 
 We have two or three splendid offers of property 
 for sale. Who will furnish the necessary 50,000 
 dollars. 
 
 3. A Building for the Preparatory Department 
 of our Boy's College Rome. We cannot rent a 
 place, but we can buy to advantage. We need 
 about 15,000 dollars. Who will honor himself 
 and his Lord by giving this Building, and nam- 
 ing it, for our College in Rome. 
 
 4. Help for our struggling, heroic Church at 
 S. Marzano Oliveto. 
 
 5. A New Press, Engine and Type for our Pub- 
 lishing House. 
 
 6. Scholarships for boys and girls who cannot 
 pay full tuition and board in our Schools. 
 
 Full scholarship Half scholarship 
 Theological School 120 dollars per year 60 
 
 Young Ladies 140 » » 70 
 
 Boys College 75 » » 40 
 
 Girl's Home School 60 » » 30 
 
 Boy's Industrial School 60 » » 30 
 
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The Rev. Dr. Burt, who is at present 
 in the United States on a furlough, will 
 be glad to give any further information in 
 reference to the work either in person or 
 by letter. Donations for any of the above 
 mentioned objects may be sent to the Mis- 
 sionary Secretaries or to Rev. Dr. Burt 
 150 Fifth Ave, New York City. 
 
 SUBSCRIPTION. 
 
 Sum 
 
 Name 
 
 Address 
 
 Objects for which the money is given: 
 
 11 
 
Addresses. 
 
 Alessandria - Giovanni Pons, 14 Corso Roma. 
 
 Calosso » 6 Via Ghilini. 
 
 Atessa - Umberto Sarrubbi. . 
 
 Adria - Alberto Morsiani. 
 
 Bari - Piccardo Santi, 71 Sanarrica Visconti. 
 
 Bologna - Vittorio Bani, 3 Via del Carbone. 
 
 * Crisanzio Bambini P. E., 22 Via Indi- 
 
 pendenza. 
 Dovadola (supplied from Forli). 
 Florence - Costantino Tollis, 2 Via S. Gallo. 
 Foggia - Daniele Pivoire, Piazza della Prefettura. 
 Forli and Faenza - Augusto Manini. 
 Genoa - Domenico Polsinelli, 1 Via Venti Settembre. 
 Geneve (Switzerland) - Eduardo Taglialatela, 22 
 
 Rue du Marche. 
 Lausanne (Circuit) - Edoardo Toorn, P. E., 13 Rue 
 
 Pre du Marche. 
 Milan (1st Church) - Alfredo Taglialatela, 2 Via 
 
 degli Angeli. 
 
 Milan (2nd Church) - Angelo Penninetti, 12 Corso 
 Loreto. 
 
 Modena - Cav. Bernardo Bracchetto, 5 Via San 
 Yincenzo. 
 
 Naples - Eduardo Stasio, P. E., 60 Salita Pon- 
 tecorvo. 
 
 Neuchatel (Switzerland) - Pisorgi Carrari, 15 Rue 
 
 de V Industrie. 
 Palermo - Alfredo Barone. 
 Pavia - Valentino Ambrosini. 5 Via Noverina. 
 Pisa - Vincenzo Nitti, 11 bis Via S. Martino. 
 Perugia - 13, Via dei Priori. 
 
 PonteJera (supplied from Pisa). 
 Ppggio Emilia - P. G. Balla'rini. 
 Pome (Italian Church) - Dr. Antonio Beltrami, 38 
 Via Firenze. 
 
 Rome (American Church) - 38 Via 
 
 Firenze. 
 
 S. Marzano Oliveto - Pietro Innocenti. 
 Spinazzola - Giuseppe Paciarelli. 
 
 13 
 
Sestri Ponente and Pegli - Ugo Bazoli, 23 Via Au- 
 
 relio Saffi, Sestri. 
 Terni - Giuseppe Ghiara, Via Cornelio Tacito. 
 Turin - Giacom6 Carboneri, P. E., 13 Via Lagrange. 
 Trieste (Austria} - Felice Dardi, 2 Via del Bosco. 
 Venice - Alberto Burattini, Under Hotel Victoria. 
 Venosa - Saverio Granucci. 
 
 Theological School - President, Dr. Mf. Walling 
 Clark - Vice President Paolo Gat, 38 Via Fi- 
 renze, jRome. 
 
 Boys' College - Director Aristide Frizziero, 38 Via 
 
 Firenze, Borne. 
 Editor of Publications - Dr. N. W. Clark- Assistant 
 
 Editor Salvatore Musso, 38 Via Firenze, Borne. 
 Young Ladies School - Directress Miss M. Ellen 
 
 Vickery, Palazzo Moroni, Borne. 
 Girls' Home School - Directress Miss E. M. Hall, 
 
 Matron Miss Ida M. Bowne, 38 Via Garibaldi. 
 Isabella Creche - Matron, Miss P. Quaratesi, Via 
 
 Conte Verde, Borne. 
 Boys' Industrial School - Directress Mrs. A. B. An- 
 
 tonini, 923 Canaregio, Venice. 
 
 14