ITALY, FREE CHURCH IN, established by the Italian patriot and reformer Gavazzi. It originated with the dawn of civil liberty in 1848, when men began to read the Bible, though for the act they were sent to prison and exile. But in 1853 it free church was begun in Turin. After Pius IX. had changed his liberal policy, Gavaz7I was arrested by his orders, but, being rescued by the citizens of Viterbo, he visited England, Scotland, and 'subsequently the United States, where in addresses to crowded assemblies, he related the wrongs of the Italian nation. The movement for a free church made but little progress for want of union. In 1870 Gavazzi returned to Italy; a general assembly was held, in which 23 churches were represented; a confession of faith was prepared; and the name Free Church in Italy was adopted. This confession is a declara tion of the principles held by all evangelical Christians, and the Free church is in har mony with the W'aidensian and other Protestantchurches. The constitution is partly Presbyterian and partly Congregational or Independent, the general assembly being composed of deputies from the churches, and each church independent of all the others in local affairs. The general assembly appoints the committee that superintends the entire work, and the funds collected by the commissioners are remitted directly to that committee. The Free Church in Italy now has 71 places of worship, 1800 comnmnicants,
800 Sunday-school children, 1700 clay scholars, with 21 teachers, 15 ordained ministers, 15 evangelists, 49 elders, 67 deacons, and 11 deaconesses. There is scarcely one impor tant town in Italy in which there is not a Free church congregation. A new church has recently been built in Turin. Native evangelists visit every place. There are several theological colleges. In Rome is a theological seminary near the Vatican, in which Gavazzi is professor of sacred rhetoric. The Free church of Scotland has given it a pro fessor of didactic theology, and Christians in Great Britain have bought and presented to it the old church of San Jacopio in Florence. Recently a valuable church on the piazza San Marco in Venice was purchased. The Free church has received from the city of Florence an annual bounty for one of their schools, and the minister of public instruction in Rome sent a complimentary letter with 300 francs. The Free church, since its regular organization, has grown steadily, and its influence is felt in every province of