ATHEISTIC EDITOR DARED GOD TO SEND EARTHQUAKE

It was Christmas Eve in 1908, but the citizens of Messina, Italy, were not planning the traditional observances of the birth of Christ, because they were an atheistic community. In its Christmas issue on the 21st, the town newspaper, Il Telefono, blatantly irreligious in tone, had published an ugly parody defying God and daring Him to make Himself known by sending an earthquake. Now, on the very eve of Christmas, the city council, in the same disparaging mood, passed a series of shockingly disrespectful and irreverent resolutions flouting God. In effect, the resolutions mocked God on behalf of the entire community. No sooner had the defamatory actions of the town council been accepted by the unprotesting people than distress and panic seemed to enter into all the animals quartered in the town and the outlying districts. Dogs and donkeys began dashing about in frantic but aimless distress, howling and braying, eyes distended in wild and staring terror. Horses, mules and oxen neighed, bawled and trembled in every limb, pointing their ears forward, and rolling their glaring eyes. Geese, pigeons and other domestic fowls fluttered wildly in fright. Even wild birds flew screaming through the air in obvious alarm. Fishes in the sea rose to the surface and floated there, alive, but inert. They were caught in large numbers. The wind began to howl; the sea began to toss and roar. Underground noises like the rolling of thunder could be heard. Then, only three hours after the passage of the infamous “Christmas Resolutions” by the city council, came the warning signs of the earthquake the local newspaper had so mockingly dared God to send upon the town. With the first shock of the quake, the frightened people, understanding at last the reason for the animal behaviour exhibited all around them, had time to note that the dashing, cavorting animals suddenly stood stock still, with legs braced far apart. Then, as the surface of the earth heaved like the billows of the sea, buildings shook and swayed, tilted and tumbled, crushing the horrified townspeople as they fled. The sky let loose a torrent of rain, with thunder and chilling winds. Lightning darted with frightening speed. Ground thunder roared incessantly. The first concussion leveled the strongest buildings. Mountains were thrown down. Level fields were raised up. Streams of water gushed forth from dry rocks. Pools and streams appeared where none had existed before. Olive trees were overturned. Half an olive orchard moved off its owner’s acreage. Chasms opened to swallow people, animals, trees, or rubble. Some of them closed again entombing their victims forever. Roads were cracked and destroyed. Amidst the crash of falling houses and the flickering flames of the wreckage, the dismal screams of the wretched inhabitants were heard. The beautiful city of Messina and surrounding districts were destroyed. There were few survivors to tell of the horrors experienced. Seventy-five thousand inhabitants were wiped out! – The Mighty Hand of God by Katherine Pollard Carter