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

In the beautiful valley Of Piedmont there
exists people whose history, in point Of Pc
culiarity and interest, rivals even that of the
ancient Jews. Their origin isa subject of dis
pute. Soine attribute it TO Peter Waldo,
wealthy merchant of Lyons, who being deeply
| impressed by the sudden death of friend, with
the sense ofhuman frailty, renounced the world
and devoted himself to the promotion of re-
| ligious TRUTH Others maintain that the Pro-
testant doctrines are of much earlier origin,
and that Claudius of Turin was tier founder,
a devoted Christian of the ninth century.
! Whoever their founder may have been there
| is strong historical evidence of the ancient or
! gin of the Waidenses and that they received
/ large acccssions by the labors of Waldo, be-
/ ing also, especially favored by him with
/ translation of TIE Bible into the Waldensian
tongue. They were originally called Yallen-
ses, Gncn OF the Falley,) which being easily
changed into Waldenses the Papists took ad-
vantage of this circumstance 10 disproye their
ancient origin.
Their history is the contest between Protes-
tantism and the Papal power. 1t is history
of the most violent and inhuman prosecutions,
ard furnishes with beautiful example of
irmness 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 endeavored to
pursuade this people TO renouncc their heresy,
and accordingly sent monks to confsr with
them; but the later soon returned, some OF
+lfnr, Nat I'D
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
orably decline so fair proposition. They ac-
cepted the terms Of debate, and Montreal near
Carcossone was selected as the place for ami
cably and fairly deciding the great contest be-
appofnPEs ffhs fs eeefessfsaff ascssaTas a
commenced, and was earnestly prosecuted
for several days; but Popery having failed to
support itself by scriptural argument, abrupt
ly terminated the discussion and had recourse
TO physical power. The ambitious and tyran-
nical pope, Innocent the Ill, Instituted the
1nquisition and the Waldensians were the first
---'~ al IFS inhuman tortures. Thousands
were sHi9ecteo 70 Tue. - --.-al ,,,n;Sb,,on,
whose only crime was that of relgIo..s-
4 few princes were convinced of their loyalty,
and seemed desirous of favoring them but tho
false and slanderous reports of the papai
church too easily instigated these rulers against
the helpless Waldcnses. Falsehood and cal
umny were heapcd upon the pcaceable Men
of the Valleys, and the civil and papal power
now united for their eXtcrminaton.-It
contest, on the part OF the Waldensians, for
principle, on the part of their enemies for
plundeI. For period Of more than four CEN
turics did this righteous people endure all the
that the malice, avarice and blind
zeal of their enemies could devise but in
stead of being annihilated their doctrines wero
disseminated, and settlements established in
the valleys of Pregaia, Frassinaire, Loyse,
Dauphing, in Provence. Flanders and Calabria
in Austria and Germany, and; at one time,
they numbered in Europe, eight hundred thou
sand. 1t is said that they still exist in the
valleys of the Alps, protected By the fastnesscs
of their mountain homes, and the power of
him for whom they suffered, ga peculiar reo-
pic jealous Of good irorlss.''