Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-11-08

TUE WALDENsEs,-Dr Baird delivered very
interesting lecture upon the Waldenses at First
Presbyterian Church on Sabbath evening. The
largo church was densoly crowded and all listened
with deep interest to tho information impaired by
the speaker regarding this strange handfI of peo-
pie who have so wonderfully lived through oppres-
sion and persecution.
The speaker first referred to Italy as tho oldest
country Of Europe, the great city of Rome having
been the centre of science, art and luxury in the
early ages. There has ever resided the Pope, that
"Old man who never dies" as French writer has
expressed IT, aud consequently that has been the
centre O religious interest to all Catholic countries
IL is still an important city, although it is insig-
nIicant compared to what it has been in time past,
Italy hal now about 80, 600, 900 inhabitants, miner
ty,uino huudrcdths Of whom are Roman Catholics,
The Waldensos, who iuhubit "A small section of
country no larger than enc Of our counties, itbe-
ing only fifteen or sixteen miles long and fourteen
wide, are not Catholics, nor yet are they Profess
tants-iOr never having been Catholics they could
not come out from that creed. They are descend
cd from, and are part OF the primitive church,
and date their eX Xistencc, as "a people from the
fourth century. They have Writings still existing
which clearly traces their history back to the elev,
enth century. They have ever been people
apart by themselves, having b5en oppressed by the
Roman Catholics, and hunted like Wild beasts for
their religions sake. Through three hundred years
OF tireess oppression and two hundred more of
bloody persecution have they lived and through
il oil, have adhered vigorously and tTustingly to
the faith Of their fathers.
Their country is IN the western portion Of tho
kingdom Of Sardinia. This kingdom was origi-
nalIy the Duchy Of SaGony, which, commencing
in the tenth century, gradually enlaTg d and took
in surrounding territory until at length, in tho
year l7l3 the reigning Duke, whose possessions
included the island Of Sicily made an exchange
Of that island with tho King Of Naples, for the
island OF Sardinia, az which time he took upon
himso elf tho title Of tho King of Sardinia,
Do. Baird here gave u very interesting account
of the origin and progress of the Liberal constitu.
tion and system Of government that renders Sar-
diuil at this time one Of the most republican ma.
tions Of Europe. The present prosperity Of the
country and all it's institutions, political and edu-
caOnal, is the best evidence o. the wisdom of the
King, who in AiS, gave it its present constitution.
lie al leo spoke Of the causes which led TO the
o cent war IN which Sardinia bore so prominent a
part
The population of Sardinia is about 5000, 600
The country OF the Waldenses h divided inlu Hf
y teen parishes, only four of which have any avail
able land TO cultivate, the rest being upon the sides
d Of the mountains, which i all that region Thett
are 1900 Wadunscs in these parishes, and 900
% Catholics who live among them, and here h appa
rCut some remains OF the Old oppression which
has b0uGd them down, for while no Waldensian il
p allowed 10 make any Cndeayur to convert Catho
lie TO their faith, the Catholic priests are allowed
70 go directly into their houses and question and
Instruct the children right before their parents
when those children are ten or twelve years Old
But as Que father said TO DR.. b, who feared The
elect Of such training upon the children, "Neyol
fear, our children are 50 well aud firmly established
IN our faith before they reach thet age, that II one
should yield TO the priests aud be converted by
him TO ltOmlnlsm, he would DO unworthy OF hi
name and people"
# The WaIdenses are poor Their country vii
I'd produce but little, and In their whole country ther
is not as much wealth AS in any one Of the fOu
d. = Presbyterian churches Of Cleveland. Many Of tn
families do not see as much as three dollars in
nr year Ihcy are too poor TO emigrate, or mani
JT would do 30. Yet ,hey are a cOnteuted, social
'N polite and kind hearted people who care for N
10, more than to preserve the religion Of their ances
tors, aud 10 educate their children
" La the days OF their persecution Oliver Cromwell
was their ir, nd, aud sent them money TO suppl
their need. William of Orange likewise greatl
aided them both with money and influence. b.
his efforts peace came 10 this poor, hunted peOpl
Ia 1890, since which time they have been unmO
Tested. Bonaparte. too, was their friend, and O
an instance Of bis greatness Of mind, DR.. Is. sal
that IN the midst OF his terrible disaster at Mos
mp cow that great general found time TO send d'i
= patoh 10 poor Wadensan minister, which the
- yet preserve with YeneratiOn
They now have l9l schools. a college femal
seminaries, hospital, ETC., aud 1900 children al
yearly instructed in the schools
They call their church the "Evangelical Cburc
Ia the Nallies Of tie Piedmont" Their Synod
composed Of oil the ministers aud missionaries
meets once ia three years They have two Eide
20 each church, and have thTty-seYen minister
The Executive Committee has the power of ii
J. Synod 70 ,ordan, &c They ale moderate Calyi
ist, or Pedo-Bapli-is, baptising by sprinkliI
in infancy.