New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-05
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 Hugueno 2,
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 had been glorious and successful, not
withstanding all the evils which civil war engen-
dered. In France the contest was equally he
roic, but not attended with such permanent out
ward triumphs But no heroism is ever wasted,
nor is ultimate victory to be measured by imme-
date results. 1t is to the no small praise of the
Huguenots that they struggled 80 bravely and 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
yersity, the Papal agents, the Emperor of Aus.
tria, the King OF Spain, the Duke OF Saxony and
the most able generals of the age. The wonder
IT, that against such tremendous confederacy,
they should not have been entirely crushed as
were the unfortunate Bohemians, when they re-
sisted the Emperor Ferdinand.
In surveying the Huguenotic contest in the light
of true heroism, it is invested with melancholy but
profound interest since see at least In Its ear
iier days, the exhibition of exalted virtues-sub-
lime suffering and lofty faith-those qualities
which ennobe man and show the evidence of
Christianity in the soul.
This contest, however, while it exhibited great
energy and faith among this people, also showed
the my steriOus providence OF the moral Governor
of the world in not affecting the hearts of the ru-
lers of the French nation to favor reformfor il is
great historical truth that Professionalism sue
ceeded whenever kings favored it, and failed
whenever they opposed it-ae least so Tar as out.
ward triumph 10 concerned.
The Reformation in France commenced during
the reign of Francis 1.-The patron of artists and
and scholars the lover of learning and wit fond Of
glory and smusements and pomp OF arts and mis-
treSses and palaces and armies, but not OF those
truths which favor individuality Of character,
and are opposed to blind authority. A superb
cial observer, however, would have pronounced
France, in that age, as country peculiarly
favorable for the spread of the doctrines and spirit
of the reformation in comparison with England,
which was then ruled by Henry Viii Bat
France remained Catholic, while England be-
came Protestant.
Still. in France the movement, inasmuch as it
proceeded from popular conviction, rather than
the aid OF Princes, was a glorious one. Tue peO-
pie, enlightened by the Bible, sought the worship
of God in a manner distasteful to the regning
power. This was followed by persecution, and
persecution by war. Such were the fortunes and
cruelties and injustces inflicted the Calvinists
that they at last resolved to make a 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 apps'
rent fruit, they determined to fight in defense Of
truths dearer to them than their lives
Illustrious 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
Naloise, Jeanne, the mother of Henry ~, Collg-
ny, admiral OF France and Andelot, all OF whom
were worthy of the brightest ages Of chivslry.
But their enemies were still more powerful
the King his mother Catherine de Medici-ot In.
famous Immortality, the Guises, Montmorency, and
all the Pspal influence.
At first, the Protestants were successful In their
resistance, but met with & series OF misort1nes-
sometimes obtaining slight advantage, securing
peace on favorable terms, but when Knocked and
deceived, plunged into new hostilitles, gaining
new victories, and then again losing all the ad.
vantage OF them by the unPrincipled treAchery OF
the Catholic.
MIR. Lord did not attempt to present all the de-
tails of that contest, even its leading events,
bat only sketched the great outlines and leading
characters. He was very severe on Catherine de
Medici whom be hkened TO an incsrnate bend, with
a smiling face, cruel. revengef1l, ambitious, hate
ful, vicious, without even the poor excuse with
which violent passions palate crime.
1t was chiefly through her influence that the
horrid barbsrity Of the massacre OF st. BarthOle-
new was perpetrated-a crime the most Odious
and unjusti6able in the whole history Of civilized
nations, but resulting as all such blunders do, in
aIming the Professionals once again in their de-
Tense and causing them to fight brayely until their
liberties were fairly guaranteed
And they were aided by hero whom Provi.
dence siguRlly raised up for them 10 their misfor
tunes, for the Catholic Monarch and Court had re-
solved on the utter extirpation Of Protestant opn-
ions. This was Henry Of Nsvare-afterward
King of France-the most popular Of ali the
French Sovereigns, and one Of the noblest charac-
tiers who ever wore crown. In pers, and in
lAbors and In misiortunes were the early life Of
this hero passed, until be was fitted like Ascend
Moses. to deliver his Suffering brethren
MIR Lord then sketched his military history,
and the general progress of the war until the con-
test was ended by the subsection of his enemies,
his exaltation to the peaceful enjoyment Of his
throne and the declaration Of the edict Of Nantes,
which secured religious liberation TO the Hague
nots-all that they had ever claimed-Rl that
Henry was bound 10 grant
Some remarks were then made IN sHasion to
l. al. "a 4 III atff