Falkland Islands Conflict
Owing to the seizure of the Falkland Islands by Argentina, and owing to the failure of diplomatic means to resolve the crisis Britain was forced into armed conflict with Argentina. The Prime Minister has made quite clear to the Argentine Government that Argentine forces must be removed from these islands before any discussion on their future can be entered into.
The outbreak of hostilities in any part of the world is a serious matter in view of the divided state of the nations of the world. It is to be hoped that the present conflict can be speedily resolved and the Falkland Islanders left free to pursue their way of life unmolested by outside forces. At the same time it is proper for us as a nation to ask the question why this trouble has broken out and what purpose the Lord has in it for us as a nation. The answer may not be far to seek.
Anti-Sabbath Legislation
The Lord’s Day Observance Society is organising a nationwide petition against a Bill due to come before the House of Commons. The Bill would
make it legal for any shop to trade on the Lord’s Day. Much legislation of this nature has been before Parliament already and some of it has failed to obtain endorsement by the Lords and Commons. We trust that this Bill will meet the same fate. The increasing secularisation of the Sabbath is one of the sad features of our day and anything that can be done to hinder it is to be welcomed.
Illegitimate Births
Dundee obtained the dishonour this year of having the highest illegitimate birth rate in Scotland at 20 per cent, just slightly ahead of Glasgow’s 19.5 per cent. These figures are indicative of the low standard of moral conduct prevalent today and are indeed alarming. Yet the cause is not far to seek when we consider how moral standards have been under attack for over two decades. This has encouraged promiscuous behaviour and men and women have lost sight of their accountability to God. Only a revival of genuine religion can bring the people of the nation back to Christian standards of decency and godliness.
Fornaci di Barga
In the late summer of last year I spent some four weeks visiting the little group in this Tuscan village with whom we, as a Church, maintain contact. It was a pleasant experience to renew acquaintance with them and especially to enjoy again Gospel fellowship with Emelia Campani and her mother Irene. Readers of this magazine will know these two women as the back-bone of the Lord’s cause in Fornaci. The situation there I found, in general, much as before. There are some grounds for encouragement in the work, and much reason for thankfulness to the Lord for maintaining the witness of his people in a very dark place.
As Rev John Tallach has indicated in previous articles Emilia is a meek, humbleminded and deeply-exercised Christian. Suffering from a chronic nervous condition she is particularly liable to some of Satan’s most cruel assaults. She gets easily downcast and often doubts the reality of her own experience. Speaking of this one evening she said, “One thing I am sure of is that there is no merit in me. I do not think there is any merit in my doubts either. They are sin. But salvation is of the Lord.” While her standing in grace is seldom clear to herself, Emelia’s evident love to the Saviour and his cause and her longing for the conversion of the Christless about her, make plain to others the reality of grace in her heart. The following passage (translated) from one of her letters is typical of her exercises:
“I hope and pray to the Lord that He will bless His work in the Gospel, and all those who seek its advancement. I myself am passing through a distressing period in which I do not have the same fervency that I have felt at other times — perhaps this will be because I do not read the Scriptures enough? I do pray that the Lord would cause his face to shine on me and bless me because of the merits of Jesus . . .
“It is one of those nights when I cannot sleep. I am always terribly tired, especially now that mother cannot do so much to help me . . . Just before returning upstairs I wanted to read Daily Light for the 9th of April and I read “Fear not; for I have redeemed thee.” The whole page is appropriate to my state of mind and the words bring me comfort. I do not have assurance, but I hope that the most precious blood of Jesus has redeemed even me and brought me near to the Father. May it be so also for my family, and oh that it were so even for the whole world . . .”
Irene, Emelia’s elderly mother, has a bright, cheerful personality. Her strength is a considerable support to Emelia. Unable now to do the work she used to do she spends a good deal of time reading the Bible for which she has a very evident love. It will be understood that in the Roman Catholic environment in which they live, these women encounter many difficulties. They are no strangers to the persecution which is the lot of “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus.” One day when her daughter was out Irene spoke to me of how the world no longer held anything for her. She would be glad at any time to go to be with Christ. “My only concern,” she said with tears, “is the thought of leaving Emelia alone in this terrible situation. But I know that the Lord would take care of her.” Pray for these women that the Lord would strengthen and preserve them and bless their witness to many around.
As yet, Emelia’s husband Claudio gives no evidence of a saving change. He does show real kindness in his home and was present quite regularly at the services. There are, however, many obstacles in his way. Some time ago his aged mother threatened him that if he should “change his religion” as his wife and mother-in-law had done, she would completely disown him as her son. How essential is the power of grace to deal with pressures like these! The three children in the family, Renzo, Dario and Simonetta are growing up fast. While I was there Renzo was waiting to receive his call-up for a period of military service, Dario was hoping to get a job in the same local factory in which his father works, while Simonetta, the youngest in the family, is still at school. She, in particular, showed real attentiveness at the services and does seem to have a sincere interest in
the Word. Claudio and the children, too, need much prayer that they may be made willing to take up the cross and follow Christ.
From time to time, as their work permitted, Grazia and Laura Marchi, whom many readers will remember, were present at the meetings. It was encouraging to see indications of renewed interest on their part.
Also encouraging was the regular attendance of Giorgina and Arturo Mazzei. This was a marked change from previous visits. Arturo, who has always been a very staunch R.C., was less argumentative than I had found him previously and more than once he seemed quite affected. I could not but feel that the Spirit was striving with him. May he be graciously convinced of the truth, so unpalatable to the natural man, that “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 9.
Miriana, the friend of Emelia of whom Mr Tallach has written before, was at a few of the meetings. She and her husband and little daughter Tania were on holiday during part of my stay so I did not see as much of her as I would otherwise have done. Miriana is a very interesting person. Over the years she has been growing increasingly disillusioned with what she sees as the hypocrisy and formalism of Roman Catholicism. She feels that “true religion simply cannot be like that.” This has led her to look at various alternatives. She had recently visited a commune in which a group of young Catholics, similarly disillusioned, had come together to seek to live in the simple, communal life-style of the early disciples. It soon became clear, however, that Mariolatry (an evil much encouraged by the present Pope) was an essential part of the set-up. Miriana understood the wrongness of such a practice, and could not associate with them. While Miriana has considerable interest in the Word of God and acknowledges as true the Gospel she has heard preached in the Campani home, it is evident that the world still reigns in her heart. Emelia’s concern for her friend can be seen in the following extract from a letter. Mr Tallach had written asking her to find out if Miriana would be willing to maintain contact with us in Scotland by correspondence. Emelia replied:
“Dearest friends, I hope you are all well . . . We are fairly well, thanks to God, except that mother is slowly recovering from bronchitis and still has a cough; but I am glad that she is better than she was.
My delay in writing was because I did not have an opportunity to speak to Miriana; but one day I saw her from the window and asked her. She said Yes: but as we talked I realised that she was not really
happy about it, because she said that one doesn’t want to get involved, that she would have to tell her husband about it; and then she said that, with the shop, it is important not to offend the customers. I was very upset about this, but I knew that I should not insist. In any case nothing is changed among us . . .”
It is our hope that what Emelia has written will encourage readers to remember Miriana in prayer. The Lord is able to “break in pieces the gates of brass and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”
One of the Sabbaths during my visit we were glad to have with us at the services Mr Kenneth MacKenzie and Mr John Lewis from Fearn. With a friend they were on business in the north of Italy and motored to Fornaci for the weekend. Their presence and fellowship was a real source of encouragement to us all and especially to Emelia and her mother.
The Church in Fornaci is still very small in numbers. In many ways it is a wonder that the Lord has a church there at all. Let us seek to be diligent on their behalf at a Throne of Grace, pleading the Lord’s own promise, “A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” Is. 60:22.
During my short stay I was able to pay a brief visit to Finale where I met Franco Maggiotto and other members of the Fede Viva committee. Despite various difficulties the work there continues to make progress. It was especially encouraging to see a completed translation into Italian of the Canons of the Synod of Dort and a new issue of the Fede Viva magazine which, for a number of reasons, had not appeared for some time. The standard of material in this magazine is very high and it is calculated to do much good. May the Lord prosper this and other aspects of Franco’s work.
Mr Tallach has visited Italy since I was last there and may his many labours in connection with the cause of the Gospel in Italy be richly owned of God.
Postscript News has just arrived that Emelia has given birth to a baby daughter. In the Lord’s good providence, both mother and child are well.
A.M.