New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-04
The Huguenots and Religious Liberty.
BY REV. J. LORD.


The fourth lecture of this gentleman on Thurs
day, in the Hope Chapel was on the Hugaeno s,
and their struggle to secure what had been OBJ
tanned in Germany by the Thirty Years War
liberty of worshiping God. In Germany the
struggle bad been glorious and successful, not
withdrawing all the evils which civil war engen.
dered. In France the contest was equally he
roic, bat not attended with such permanent out
ward triumphs. But no heroism is ever wasted
nor 10 ultimate victory to be measured by imme-
date results. 1t is to the no small praise of the
Huguenots that they struggled bravely aud so
long against such fearful league az that com
posed by the absolute Kings of France, the
Courts Of Law, the majority OF the mobiles, the
Roman Catholic Clergy, the doctors of the Uni
verslty, the Papa agents, the Emperor OF Aus.
tia, the King OF SPAN, the Duke of SaxOny, and
the most able generals of the age. The wonder
is that, against such a tremendous contederacy,
they should not have been entirely crushed, as
were the unfortunate Bohemians, when they re.
sisted the Emperor Ferdinand
In surveying the Huguenotc contest in the light
of true herosm, it is invested with melancholy but
profound interest, since see at least In it's ear
ier DAYS the exhibition of exalted vlrLaes-sub-
lime suffering and lofty faith-those qualities
which ennOble man and show the evidence OF
Christianity in the soul.
This contest, however, while it exhibited great
energy and faith amo6g this people, also showed
the my steriOus providence OF the moral Governor
o the world, in not affecting the hearts OF the ru-
ers of the French nation To favor reiorm-fOr 1t is
a great historical truth that ProtestaDtism sue
ceeded whenever kings favored it, aud failed
whenever they opposed tat least SO Tar as out
ward triumph is concerned.
The Reformation in France commenced during
the reign OF Frsncis 1.-The patron of artists and
and scholars, the lover OF earning and wit, fond OF
glory and smusements and pomp. OF arts and mis-
tresIes and palaces and armies, but not of those
truths which favor individuality OF character,
aud are opposed to blind authority. A superb.
cal observer however, would have pronounced
France. in that age, as country peculiarly
favorable for the spread of the doctrines aud spirit
OF the reformation, in comparison with England,
which was then ruled by Henry viii But
France remained Catholic, while England be-
came Protestant. .
Still, in France the movement, iuasmuch az 1t
proceeded from popular conviction, rather tnsn
the aid Of Princes, was glorious one. Tne Peo-
pie enlightened by the Bible, sought the worship
of God in manner distasteiui TO the re'gnlng
power This was followed by persecution, and
persecution by war. Such were the fortunes, and
cruelties and inustces inflicted on the Calvinists
that they ct last resolved 70 make distinct
stand. At first they were ready to die as mar
tyrs, but when martyrdOm did not touch the SYM
pathies of their enemies, and produced no appa.
tent fruit, they determined to fight In defense OF
truths dearer TO them than their lives.
Ilustrious defenders arose to shield them from
any Of the faults Of the great, who have them
selves adopted the new opinion among whom
were the King of Navarro, Condo, Margaret of
Vaoise Jeanne the mother of Henry ", Colig-
ny. admiral OF France, and Andelot all of whom
were worthy Of the brightest ages of chivalry.
But their enemies were still more powerful
the King, his mother Catherine de Medcl-of in
famous immo tally, the Guises Montmorency, and
all the Papsl Influence.
At first the Protestsnts were successful In their
resistance, but met with series OF misfortunes-
sometimes obtaining slight advantage, securing
peace on favorable terms but when Knocked and
deceived, plunged into new hOstilitles, gaining
Dew victories, and then again losing all the ad.
vantage OF them by the unPrnciPled treachery OF
the Catholic
Mr. Lord did not attempt to present all the de-
tails OF that contest or even its leading events
but only sketched the great outlines and leading
characters. He was very severe on Catherine de
Medici whom he lib enea to an incarnate 6end with
a smiling face, cruel revengeful, ambitious hate
fol, vicious, without even the poor excuse with
which violent passions palliate a crime.
IL was chiefly through her influence that the
horrio bsrbarity of the massacre of st. Barthoe-
new was perpetrated-a crime the most odious
and unjustifabe in the whole history Of civilized
nations but resulting, as all such bunders do, in
aiming the Protestants once again in their de-
fense and causing them to fight brsvey until their
liberties were fairly guaranteed
And they were aided by hero whom Provi.
dsnce sigDslly raised up for them in their msfor.
tunes. for the Catholic Monarch and Court had re.
solved on the utter extrpation of Protestant opin.
ions This was Henry Of Navare-sfserward
King OF France-the most popular of all the
French Sovereigns. and one Of the modest charac-
tiers y ho ever wore crown. In perils. and 10
lsbors and in misiortunes were the early life Of
this hero passed, until he fitted, like second
Moses, to deliver bis suffering brethren.
Mir Lord then sketebed his military history,
and the general progress of the war until the con-
test was ended by the subsection Of bis enemies,
throne sud the declaration Of the ediet of Nantes,
u hich secured religious federation TO the Hague
tfat they bad ever claimed-ah that
Henry WAS bound 10 grant