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28 June 1903 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Sunday. 28th June [1903]. Truly odd things happen to me—& here is one of the oddest that has yet come. I went to morning service at 10.30—then to the Palace & wrote my name on the Queen’s book—& then came quietly home—& lunched at 1.30. While at lunch Alessandro said he had forgotten to say that a gentleman Joseph Sandalgian had called yesterday & said he had urgent business with me & he would call today between 1 & 2 o’cl. In a few minutes—I having hardly finished my lunch the said J.S. arrived– He is a tall dark oriental with a long beard, dressed in soutane with a skull cap very dignified looking in his flowing robes. After coffee had been served we spoke of trivial things—& then of the Servian atrocities & then he said he was “se [illegible word] toujours plus [illegible word] vers l’Occident”– At last he came to the object of his visit & handed me a letter containing 2 enclosures, one his biography & the other a letter to Mr Harston announcing his intention of renouncing his allegiance to the Church of Rome & his desire to be received into the Anglican Church– Would I arrange he said that he should meet Mr Harston here as soon as possible so as to make arrangements for his speedy departure for London? So here I am with a R. Catholic priest on my hands who is looking to me to change his religion. He declares that he has long thought of the step but had promised his mother not to do it—& had deferred till now but his conscience will no longer admit of it. He said that he had seen such horrors of vice & crime & wickedness amongst the R.C. priests that he could no longer remain amongst them. In fact the last straw that gave him the resolve was horror at at an awful crime between a nun & a priest wh he had told his mother of & his resolve to give up the R.C. church. At her urgent request he did not then carry out his intention. He said he wished to meet our chaplain in my house & at once so I agreed to let him come tomorrow at 11 to meet him here. J.S. said that he was not led to take this step by any material considerations for he could have high employment & even the Patriarchal of Constantinople if he would remain in the R.C. church. He wd also have means of getting a little money from his brother & had now 250 francs wh wd suffice to pay his journey to England, but he would want help & advice & money when he once got to London. He could speak English & has even written in that language to Mr Harston– He says he is determined to go come what may, but wishes his departure kept secret as he says he wd not be allowed to go if it were known & he did not either wish to hurt the feelings of the high clergy here who have always treated him well. I told him I wd give his letter to Mr Harston whom I should see at the Sailor’s Inst: this evening—but since thinking the matter over I thought I wd go at once to Mr Harston as he wd be able to consult with the Bp of Southwark who is staying here at Hotel d’Europe & who leaves tomorrow– This I have done & have come home glad to get in out of the heat of the sun. Mrs Denny who is staying at Venice a short time came to tea with me & when she had gone, I went out again to call on the Bp & found him at the Hotel & he came down to the public sitting room where we had a talk over this conversion affair. He said that the man must be proved and deprecated any haste & said that he ought before going further to communicate with the Bp of Salisbury who had all matters concerning Eastern Churches in his hands. The Bishop then asked me to take him for a short row out, as being not very well, he had not been out & longed for a little fresh air. So I took him a giro towards the public gardens & he was most agreeable & interesting. he told me how his eldest son has chosen the life of a practical farmer & that in order to learn the business thoroughly he had insisted upon being for a time a common hired labourer—& had dressed like & lived with them, & now has his own farm which is doing well. It was past 7 when I got home & my dinner was waiting as I generally dine at 7 on Sundays to go afterwards to the service at the Sailor’s Institute. I gave up going tonight but sent Baker, my maid, & asked her to beg Mr Harston to come to see me on his way home wh he did & I told him what the Bishop had said & we agreed that when Monsr Sandalgian should meet him tomorrow he should try to persuade him to wait until he had communicated with the Bp of Salisbury– I am going to be out tomorrow & Mr Harston is to meet Mr S. in the morning & do what he can. | |
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