Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-12
VOL. 2.--NO. g.
THE WALDENSES.

THE WALDENSES.
In the beautiful valley OF Piedmont there
exists people whose history, inpoint Of Pc
culiarity and interest, rivals even that of the
ancient Jews. Their origin isa subject Of dis
pute. Some attribute it 10 Peter Waldo,
wealthy merchant of Lyons, who being deeply
impressed by the suddeu death of a friend, with
the sense of fhuman frailty, renowned the world
and devoted himself 10 the promotion OF re-
ligious truth. Others maintain that the Pro-
testant doctrines are of much earlier origin,
and that Claudius OF Turin as<lcir founder,
a devoted Christian OF the ninth century.
Whoever their founder may have been there
is strong historical evidence of the ancient or
igin OF the Waldenses, and that they received
large accessions by the labors of Waldo, be-
ing also, especially favored by him With a
translation OF the Bible into the WaldensIaa
tongue. They were originally called Failen-
ses, Cnen OF the Yalley.) which being easily
changed into Waldenses the Papists took ad-
vantage OF this circumstance TO disprove their
ancient origin.
Hhs atgEs gs ap as f9atss pGRs heiFfs9 e sosy
ofthe most violent and inhuman prosecutions,
and furnishes us with beautiful example OF
frmness and Christian fortitude. Great and
learned men they had not but all were able
TO read and write, and their pastors were usu-
ally men of no ordinary powers of argumenta-
ton.
The bishops OF Rome, at first eudeavored 70
pursuade this people to renounce their heresy,
and accordingly sent monks 20 confar with
them; but the later soon returned, some o.
them declaring that they had learned more
scripture from the Waldensian children than
from all the religious controversies they had
ever heard. The Waldensians, at length, pro-
posed TO defend their principles in open de-
bate. The bishops and monks could not hon
ora6'y decline so fair q proposition. They &C
ccpted the terms OF debate, and Montreal near
Carcossone was selected as the place 70, ami
cably and fairly deciding Tho great contes. be-
tween 2 .oteStantsm and CatLolicisIa Atthe
appointed time this ecclesiastical discussion,
commenced, and was earnestly s.v-~a,l.es
for several days; but Popery haTing faiied SC
support itself by scriptural argument, abrupt
ly terminated the discussion and had recourse
A-----i --.,ra-- The ambitions and tyran-
meal pope, Innocent the H., instituted the
1nquisition and the Waldensiacs were the first
victims of its inhuman tortures. Thousands
were subjected 10 the most cruel punishmops
whose only crime was that of religious life
A few princes were convinced of their loyalty,
and seemed desiious of favoring them ; but the
false and siande-ous reports OF tie papai
church too easily insti gated these riArs agains:
the helpless Waldenses. Falsehood and cal
umny were heaped upon the peaceable Men
Of the Valleys, and the civil and papal power
now united for their eXtermination.-It was
contest, on the part OF the Waldensians, for
on the part of their enemies for
olunde1. For period of more than four CEN
ufies did this righteous people endure all the
prosecutions that the MALICE ayarice and blind
zeal Of their enemies could devise but in
tead Of being annihilated their doctrines were
disseminated, and settlements established in
he valleys ofPregala, Fraissinaire, Loyse,
Jauphing, in Provence, Flanders and Calabris
n Austria and Germany, and, at one time,
hey numbered in Europe, eight hundred thou
and. 1t is said that they still exist in the
alleys ofthe Alps, protected by the Businesses
{ their mountain homes, and the power OF
i'm for whom they suffered, ssa peculiar pso-
le eeGtcus Of good icorks.''