The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
(trom the London Christian.)
A Visit to Valdrome, South
France.

- 'S''Nb httNO JusJ I6JuIu6u
from three days visit to Valdrome,
and have been so much interested in the
church there that 1 think others may
like to hear something of it. Valdr6me
is Protestant town, and has been Pro-
ttestant for nearly 800 years And yet
Its history Is strange one. During the
tune OF Louis XIV, when the whole of
the Temples of Dauphine were destroyed
with only four exceptions, the Temple of
yaldr6me shared the fate of the rest.
The Catholic edi6ces were built, and two
cures took charge Of the town, and COM
PEELED, under penalty of confscation,
death. or the galleys, the inhabitants to
attend mass.
For 200 years this continued, genera
tlons attended mass, solacing themselves
with an occasional assembly in the
desert, and clinging with dumb fidelity
to their own faith. Fathers taught their
children carefully, 1--WE are forced 10 90
to mass, but we are Protestants still. ="
AT last, in 1902, an edict of liberty of
conscience was passed, and then the
peasants rose as one man, and informed
the cures they were not needed in Pro-
testant town, pulled down the two Roman
Catholic chapels, and built their temple
with the materials 1t is this church
that Miss Nude and myself have had
the privilege of visiting.
IHE CHRISTIAN is not the place for
descriptions of scenery, but the road to
Valdr6me surpasses in desolation any
that L have yet seen, the continual
danger of falling rocks adding to the ex-
element of the journey. Only last
winter, Pasteur Remond narrowly es-
capped death from rock which fell lust
after he passed. 1t is surprise after a
road so desolate, to come on a town, but
Valdr6me certainly is one, and very
ancient one, built on the ancient Roman
iiortlhcatlons now gradually undermined
by the Qr6me flowing in the valley be-
meath. Three villages besides are under
the care of the pasteaIr, as well as a scat
tered population in some of the Catholic
communes
Saturday morning we looked out on
the snow capped hills on all sides, and
then on the extraordinary streets of the
town, the principal one about FIVE feet
vide, with flights of steps up to the
streets above, and down to those below.
we then went to see what was more in
terestlng, the paSteur and his work. His
wife warned us that we should not know
whether he was in cellar or school, and
we found that he had taken the cellar of
his house, level with the street on one
slde' yaulted like crypt, and with
roughly paved floor, for college hall.
There he sat with half-a- dozen young
men whom he is preparing for evan
gellsts, who he hopes will one day be
power to rouse many who are now sleep
ing the sleep of death. They are peas
ants, sons OF peasant proprietors, accus-
toned to economy, hardship, and labor.
Who knows to what this may grow
In the evening we walked down the
icy paths about two miles to hamlet,
where the pa8tealy assured us a meeting
would gather at once. Entering one Of
the bare, rather gloomy houses, where,
however, there were evidences of neat
ness and care, we were heartily well
coined, and after few minutes a young
man went in front of the house and blew
horn. 1t was evidently a well-known
signal, joyful sound, for in five minutes
guests arrived from all the houses near
grey-haired men leaning on their slaves,
fathers with young children asleep in
their arms, mothers with their children.
young men and maidens Two rooms
were soon Sled, and then we heard sing.
ing really from the heart solemn, hushed
listening; and then the concluding pray
er and hymn to the tune of our evening
hymn.
Sabbath morning came with its cloud
less sky and its quiet. We were greatly
interested in the temple, with it's mem
ories, but were utterly unprepared for
the congregation. The pulpit and the
elders seat are from the Catholic chapel
the floor is rudely paved, the room un-
heated, The area was entirely occupied
by the women, almost all in their snow
white caps, the older ones bringing each
her chauferettc But / must confess nv
interest was most drawn to the galleries.
While we have in England constant
complaints Of the absence of men from
public worship, here two. o.thirds of the
congregation were men. The rough open
galleries, the upper one almost close to
the roof, were crowded with young men
in blouses and broad black hats, kept on
during the service, except when lifted
with a simultaneous wave at the an
nouncement Of the text and during pray
er.
Altogether there were nearly 500