The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-06

labors as a religious reformer, the Vaadois pro-
fessed the same creed which they still hold Dur
ing the long lapse of centuries they have changed
neither their time-honorcd customs nor their au-
Gent doctrines They have ever been simple |
pastoral people pure in morals devout in feeling,
and hospiahlc TO the extent of ;.cir ability |
Yielding prompt obedience to the government In
all things that did not infringe upon their reli-
Fious convictions and ever ready 10 suffer "ior
conscience sake, they kept the faith which their
forealhers kept in spite OF the crusndes That were
preached against them; the many aud cruel acts
of persecution to which they were subjected, and
the civil disabilities by which they were for ages
oppressed. II WAS in behalf Of this people, when
harnssed by FIRE and sword, that CROMWELL,
through his Latin Secretary, JONI MILToS, wrote
to the Duke of SAVOY, warning him TO desist from
his bloody doings or 10 beware Of the consequences
It was also in behalf of this same people that Nil
TON wrote his famous sonnet, commencing:
"Avenge, Lord thy slaughtered Saints whose bones
"Le scattered on the Alpine mountains cold"
CRoMwELLs stern protest was successful. Whilst
he held rule in England, the terror of his name,
| and, perhaps, the remembrance Of his achieve
ments at Dunbar and at Drogheda, repressed all
further ncursions into the country of the Vaudois.
| The feeble remnant of the mountaneers, who had
taken refuge in the Businesses OF the higher Alps,
returned, the withdrawal ofthe soldiery, to their
beloved valleys, and resumed their customary re-
ligious exercises and their usual pastoral occpa-
TONS They rebuilt their ruined churches, re-or-
eanized their parish schools and re-establshed at
La Tore their humble Theological College. Since
those evil days many generations have passed.
The community has slowly increased in num-
bers, but has always been poor, and, on several
occasions even down to a recent period, has found
it necessary to solicit in other countries contribu-
tons in aid of the young men who were studying
for the ministry in the College at La Tore II
we except the brief period during which Piedmont
at the beginning of the present century, was an
nexed to France-when the Vaudois were placed
by NAPOLEON l. on equal footing with then
Roman Catholic countrymen and were assigned
funds for the support of their clergy-they cannot
be said to have ever enjoyed absolute relinf from
the intolerance of bgotry until the aces
sion of VIcToR EMANUEL to the throne of Sar.
DINA. And now, after series of prosecutions
which make up, in the narration the larger por
ton of history that dates back-as some assert
almost to the introduction of Christianity into
| Southern Europe, this little Church which fol
centuries has trained up its youth to the pastorat
under the shadow of the Cottian Alps and within
sound of the torrent and waterfall, taking heart
grace from the changes that have transpired il
Central Italy, has overleaped its rocky barrier
and planted its Theological College at Florence
by the waters of the Arno and in the midst Of
| CARTS masterworks when Art in its prince
Is there nothing significant in this transe
of the germ of that religious creed which
for, perhaps more than thousand years la
preserved its vitality among the passes of tn
Western Alps to a more fruitful soil bordering
on the States of the Church? Who can tell wha
results may flow from this bold movement O
the part of the despised pastors of the Vaudos
If VIcToR EMANUEL sanctions the step, and we ma
fairly presume that it meets with his concurrenc,
the bonds of Professionalism in Italy are indeed &
length unloosed and whilst the temporal power
the PORE is seriously weakened by the loss of IL
Romagnas, in the course of time his spiritual al
thority may be quite as much enieebled by IL
doctrines which are taught by the modern d.
scendants of MILToN's Slaughtered Saints"