"This horrible indifference may sometimes pamper the vile pride of our heart, but these moments of deadly folly very soon disperse, for the soul, longing for assurance, cannot remain without a peaceful possession."—Gioberti.
THE Apuan Alps form the S.W. chain of the central Apennines, and stand facing the Mediterranean, just where Liguria joins Tuscany. They contain over 1000 marble quarries, some of which were opened by the Romans. Several prosperous little towns lie in the plains below, the most important of these being Carrara, which is the center of the marble trade, and has a population of 20,000 inhabitants The people are of an independent character, and the youth show a somewhat insubordinate spirit. The workmen gain a good wage, but spend more, and it is a rare exception to find a man out of debt. But as nearly all are mutually debtors, debt is neither considered a dishonor nor a burden.
It was in this center of commerce and art that Ernesta planted her scuola evangelica in which hundreds of children were taught the branches of knowledge that pertain to the life that now is and that which is to come. The question of evangelical schools in Italy found a large place in the Heart of Mr. Miller of Bristol, as it has done in his worthy successors. They have solved the problem by insisting upon Christian teachers for Christian Schools. Ernesta was one of the first of the Italian Christian teachers supported by the Institution founded by Mr. Muller.
Born of religious and respectable parents, she was gifted with exceptional facilities for study. She was sent early to school, and soon surpassed all her fellow scholars. She then proceeded to the Normal School, and passed with honors her examination as a teacher. In the course of her studies, however, she had imbibed some rationalistic ideas, and the tendency of her mind was only to reason. She had grown out of the superstitious aspect of her native creed, and was now subjecting its historical aspect to a severe critical investigation.
Just at this point in her experience she heard the Gospel preached by several Italian evangelists, and at once accepted the “reformed " religion as more reasonable than the papal system. She especially enjoyed controversy, and took part in many lengthy debates with Romish prelates. She had read numerous Roman Catholic and Protestant authors, and had a predilection for that school of thought which gave to the world what is known as higher criticism. While passing through this experience she was called to help in the translation of a sound and important apologetic work into Italian, and the truth of its pages became an effective antidote to the rationalistic principles which she was embracing.
Ernesta's heart and mind, however, were unsatisfied: she felt a void which neither reason nor reform could fill. While in this spiritually dark condition, the light of life shone into her soul. God sent one of His servants who preached the necessity of spiritual conversion, not religious controversy. The following is translated from one of his published Gospel addresses which Ernesta never forgot: “The women went to the sepulcher to find Christ dead. The sentiment of their heart corresponds exactly to all human religions: they are dead religions, and always seek the dead, because they are afraid of the living One. Why seek ye Him that liveth among the dead? ‘(Luke 24:55And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (Luke 24:5)). This is the reproof which the angel gives to the women. It is the reproof which is still given to those who would find the Lord in the Manger, on the Cross, in the Tomb, in the custody, in the sacrament. It is the reproof which is still given to the enemies of the miracles, of the resurrection of Christ. It is the reproof which is still given to those who speak of Christ as the life, without wishing to receive life, and who therefore remain in the world, in death.
“He is not here, but is risen,' added the angel.
The risen One, therefore, is not on earth: ‘He is not here.' Where shall we find Him? Oh! lift your hearts to Heaven by the power of faith. He has entered into Heaven, the propitiation for our sins, the Mediator between God and man. He intercedes for us. He calls us, draws us by the power of His love.
“It is useless, therefore, to look to earth, it is useless to do as they did in the days of the Crusades: to search for the sepulcher of Christ. He is on high. It is there we must find Him, and He gives us the needed faith to ascend to Heaven, saved by Him, quickened by Him, that we may rest in His love."
The Gospel became a new revelation to Ernesta, and with a pure and personal faith she believed it. She was now a believer through Christ in God (1 Peter 1:2121Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:21)). This made all the difference. God had raised Christ from the dead: that was the foundation of Ernesta's faith. God had given Christ glory: that was the foundation of her hope, so her faith and hope were in God (22). As the Alpine traveler who reaches a loftier height than that which he left, and so gains a higher view of the panorama below, so Ernesta now found that the vision of faith did not contradict reason but surpassed it. She became a devout student of the Holy Scriptures, and her intelligence in God's Word enabled her to become a mother in Israel. She became most spiritually minded, and judged men and things from a spiritual standpoint. On one occasion an Italian gentleman, who had been going about visiting the Churches, posing as a Christian and aspiring to become an acknowledged preacher, visited Carrara. The culture and eloquence of the would-be evangelist had captivated not a few admirers. Impressed by Ernesta's reticence on the subject, the elders of the Church asked for her conscientious and confidential opinion of the new preacher. “He has considerable natural ability," was her significant reply, which enabled her brethren to reach the conclusion, soon proved to be correct, that the novice was an educated but unconverted man.
The Christian education of the Italian children, as we have said, found a warm place in the heart of the late Mr. Milner of Bristol. Through his practical sympathy the scuola evangelica was planted in Carrara, and Ernesta became linked on with “the work of faith “in which he was such a faithful leader. He found in Ernesta a truly exemplary worker. Hundreds of children in her school were well taught the necessary branches of secular education, and these were made sacred by the daily teaching of the Sacred writings which are able to make wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Few districts have been visited more than Carrara with extreme socialistic movements, secularizing the religious thought of the people. In her public capacity as a school teacher she was frequently brought into contact with leading socialists, and she had to steer the barque of her testimony between the sands and rocks of Romanism and Rationalism, by keeping in the safe track of Revelation.
One day a young socialist leader and lecturer called upon Ernesta in the hope of enlisting her influence in favor of his propaganda. Having introduced himself he assured her that he accepted Christ as the great founder of Socialism, “which," said he, “aims at making this world a paradise."
Ernesta: “You seem to know all about Christ's teaching."
Socialist: “Well, I know enough about it to make me believe in Him as the founder of Socialism, which seeks to make our Heaven here and now, for there is no other."
Ernesta: “Then, where do you find your justification for considering all this to be His teaching I”
Socialist: “I confine myself to His sermon on the Mount."
Ernesta: " And do you believe it I”
Socialist: “Yes, it is the very basis of my socialistic creed."
Ernesta: " Well, it is a firm foundation, but are you sure you are upon it I Let us see, please read the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 6., from verse 19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth consume, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where thy treasure is, there will thy heart be also.' So you see that Christ taught the reality of Heaven, and how it ought to influence our earthly life."
Socialist: " Are you sure that this passage forms part of Christ's sermon on the Mount?"
Ernesta: “Yes, I am sure. It is a vital link in His chain which men would vainly break. His sermon on the Mount, which you profess to accept as the basis of your socialistic opinions, contains many references to Heaven which I fear you ignore."
From that day the young socialist leader and lecturer changed his views on the subject of “Heaven here and now."
In the fulfillment of her scholastic duties Ernesta was frequently brought into contact with the priests. On one occasion a zealous curate called on her to complain that she had taken away one of his children.
Priest: “She belongs to me."
Ernesta: “I thought she belonged to her parents who brought her to my school, and without any influence on my part. In fact I did not know them before."
Priest: " Well, the girl is mine: she belongs to my flock."
Ernesta: “You might say the same of all the children in my school. According to you they were all yours. I have never influenced their parents to bring them to me. I am leading them to the Good Shepherd. They should belong to Him. Neither you nor I died for them: He did, and says: I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd layeth down His life for the sheep' (John 10:1111I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)). Therefore, do not say that these children are yours nor mine, but let us lead them to Christ."
Priest: “But I fear you yourself are not in the fold. There is only one fold."
Ernesta: " That is true, and there is only one door, for Christ said: I am the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved'" (John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)).
Priest: “Well, what can these children know about such questions?”
The priest found Ernesta's position spiritually invulnerable. For many years she continued her patient and pious work. Many a girl left her school prepared by faith in Christ for the duties of womanhood; many a lad found his work lighter and brighter as he excavated the marble from the snow-like mountain, while singing one of the sweet hymns he learned in Ernesta's school.
It has become a great and grave question: “What is woman's work?" History answers: " To influence." Woman's true influence is silent and indirect, but great and certain. Ernesta had very rich and rare gifts, and these adorned her true womanhood, and she exercised them faithfully without leaving that sphere of life in which God has placed woman. The influence of her faith, hope, and love is still a power for good in all who remember her. There are many parents who delight to tell their children of the bright and blessed days spent in the school of the “maestra."