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Francesco Modon: Colporteur and Evangelist at Rome, 18701

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2009

Duane Koenig
Duane Koenig
Affiliation:
Professor of History, University of Miami
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Extract

Nineteenth century liberals constantly expressed dissatisfaction that non-Catholic worship was banned in Rome by the pontiffs. Traditionally, diplomats such as Prussians, Americans, and Russians, were allowed chapels of choice for themselves and their nationals, usually in legations or in licensed buildings outside the city gates. The fact that Pope Pius IX had removed to extra-mural quarters two Scottish Presbyterian churches and the false rumor that he threatened the American place of worship, played a role in causing the United States to cut off as of June 30, 1867, funds for its minister to the Vatican. A discreet Protestant cemetery containing the tombs of Shelley, Keats, and Alexander von Humboldt, cheek by jowl against the walls of Rome near the Porta San Paolo, is reminder that dissenters were not permitted to give scandal to the faithful by ostentatious religious ceremonies. The situation changed abruptly once the Patrimony of Saint Peter became part of Italy.

Type
Research Article
Information
Church History , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , December 1966 , pp. 438 - 445
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Church History 1966

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References

2. Marraro, Howard R., “The Closing of the American Diplomatic Mission to the Vatican and Efforts to Revive It, 1868–1869,” Catholic Historical Review XXXIII (01, 1948), 431Google Scholar; Arnold Blumberg, “George Bancroft, France, and the Vatican: Some Aspects of American, French, and Vatican Diplomacy: 1866–1870,” Ibid., L (January, 1965), 488, note 41.

3. Rufus King to William H. Seward, February 18, 1867, Message of the President of the United States and Accompanying Documeats to the Two Houses of Congress at the Commencement of the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress, 1867–1868, Part L (Washington, 1868), 700–701.Google Scholar

4. David M. Armstrong to Hamilton Fish, September 23, 1870, Stock, Leo Francis, Consular Relations between the United States and the Papal States; Instructions and Despatches (Washington, 1945), pp. 355–356Google Scholar; Cadorna, Raffaele, La Liberazione di Roma nell' Anno 1870 ed il Plebiscito (Turin, 3rd ed., 1898), pp. 188–191.Google Scholar

5. Canton, William, A History of the British and Foreign Bible Society (5 vols.; London, 1904–1910), III:92Google Scholar; Piggott, T. C. and Durley, T., Life and Letters of Henry James Piggott, B.A., of Rome (London, 1921), p. 76Google Scholar; Comba, Ernesto, Breve Storia dei Valdesi (Turin, 4th ed., 1961), pp. 173–175.Google Scholar

6. Cento Anni di Storia Valdese, 1848–1948 (Torre Pellice, n.d), p. 143Google Scholar; Comba, p. 187; Sylvain, Robert, Alessandro Gavavri (1809–1889): Clere, Garibaldien, Prddicant des Deur Mondes (2 vols.; Quebee, 1962), II:502.Google Scholar Prochet reached Rome on October 2 from his residence at Genoa.

7. Late in life John A. Modon (1882–1963) put in order the stories his father's transactions. These were copyrighted on September 20, 1960, the ninetieth anniversary of the Italian seizure of Rome. The papers were manifolded piece-meal, 1959–1961, and called, The Birth of the First Evangelic Church in the Captail of Italy; A Historical Event (Miami, 1960).Google Scholar There were 135 numbered pages, 27 insert sheets, 28 paste-in photographs and photostats, and a rough map of Italy, 1847–1848. History, chronology, and sequence were frequently confused. My graduate student William L. Moeller put hands on the loose-leaf volume for me.

8. Ibid., pp. 6, 30–31, 33, 39–40, 123, 127; Frederick F. Bory, treasurer, Mount Olivet Cemetery, Maspeth, New York, letter to writer, December 10, 1965. On page 6 of the papers is a photograph of Modon in old age with white beard, Garibaldian costume, and four decorations.

9. Modon, pp. 31–38, 40–44.

10. Ibid., pp. 5, 20–22, 45–48.

11. Modon, pp. 58, 126; Comba, 188; Enciclopedia Cattolica (12 vols.; Vatican City, 1949–1954), IV:38Google Scholar; Enciclopedia Italiana (36 vols.; Rome, 1929–1950), X:911;Google Scholar64th Report of the British and Foreign Bible Society, 1868 (London, 1868), p. 121.Google Scholar Modon probably studied at Florence where there was a Waldensian theological school. Emilio Comba (1839–1904) was a celebrated Waldensian pastor and historian. The above Report spoke of Modon hearing Comba preach at Venice.

12. Modon, p. 68a; Canton, III:92, 130.

13. Modon, p. 12; Canton, III: 101–102; 63rd Report, 1867, pp. 135–136; 64th Report, 1868, pp. 119–121; 65th Report, 1869, p. 158.

14. Modon, p. 51; Canton, III:120; 67th Report, 1871, pp. 164–167.

15. Modon, pp. 27, 55–57; Canton, Ibid.; Piggott and Durley, Ibid.; 67th Report, 1871, ibid.

16. Stock, Ibid.; Ralperin, S. William, Italy, nd the Vatiean at War: A Study of their Reiations from the Outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War to the Death of Pius IX (Chicago, 1939), p. 60Google Scholar; Cadorna, pp. 186–191; Pesei, Ugo, Come Siomo Entrati in Roma (Florence, n.d.), p. 87.Google Scholar

17. Modon, pp. 56–57; Stock, Ibid.; Halperin, p. 61; Cadorna, pp. 201–202; 67th Report, 1871, p. 166.

18. Modon, pp. 59–60; Cadorna, p. 218.

19. Modon, pp. 25–26, 61–64.

20. Ibid., pp. 65–68.

21. Ibid., pp. 3, 26, 69–70.

22. Ibid., p. 71. The diary, quoted in the memoirs, has been lost.

23. Ibid., pp. 71–74.

24. Stock, p. 357.

25. Modon, pp. 75–80, 82; Canton, III:90, 121; 63rd Report, 1867, p. 132; 67th Report, 1871, pp. 166–167.

26. Modon, p. 81. The words rhyme in Italian: Porta aperta per chi porta per chi non porta, parta.

27. Ibid., pp. 23, 82–85; Miami Heraid, September 27, 1958.

28. Modon, pp. 86–91.

29. Ibid., pp. 92–94. The Italian was: Fuori di Roma, Protestanti, o morte.

30. Ibid., pp. 95–108; Canton, III:129.

31. Piggott and Durley, pp. 76–78; Sylvain, Ibid.; Torre, Arnaldo della, II Cristianesimo in Italia (Milan, n.d.), p. 233.Google Scholar

32. Modon, pp. 113; 121–122; Canton, III:131.

33. Modon, Ibid.; Maria Modon in Quaresima, East Meadow, New York, letter to writer, March 17, 1965; interview with William and Emil Modon, Miami, January 14, 1966. Modon's second wife was a Protestant Roman girl named Albina Quaresima. The Cento Anni, p. 196, listed no Modon at Rocca Imperiale. It did list a Vitali; Modon claimed to follow him.

34. New York Times, April 4, 1920; Bory letter, Ibid. Francesco Modon landed from the Giuseppe Verdi in New York, April 3, 1920. The ship came from Naples.

35. Letter to writer, March 23, 1965.

36. Letter to writer, October 22, 1965; Canton, Ibid.

37. Letter to writer, October 22, 1965.

38. Letter to writer, October 29, 1965.

39. 67th Report, 1871, Ibid.; Canton, III:120; Jacini, Stefano, II Conte Piero Guicciardini (1808–1886); Un Riforinatore Toscano dell'Epoca del Risorgimento (Florence, 1940), pp. 258–259.Google Scholar

40. Letter to writer, February 22, 1965; and Spini letter, Ibid.

41. Letter to writer, October 30, 1964.

42. Leizia Girardet Rostagno, letter to writer, October 31, 1965; Modon, pp. 11, 110, 110a, 123. Modon mentioned Pastor Rostagno several times.