Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-09
Two Hundred Years of Italian Prot
estantiSm.

Italy offers nothing OF more interest TO the
historian OF religion and 10 the observer OF
Christian progress in recent times, than the
community Of Pro;estants dwelling on the
slope Of the Alps from twenty-five to forty
miles southwest Of Turin, in some thirteen
parochial divisions and numbering -, 000
with long history and famous name as
Waldenses
Two hundred years ago the coming autumn,
the landing of William of Orange in England,
and his obtaining tue English throne the next
spring, gave occasion to a movement OF go
Waldenses from exile near Geneva, In SSitZ-
erland, back into their native valleys IN Pied
mont, the success of whicl their descendants
are preparing to celebrate the bi-cen tenary Of
next year.
1t was a desperate fighting movement dur
ing thirty -one days aud against more than
ten times their own number; and 10 hold
their ground subsequent to the return the
heroic band had to night no less Than eighteen
pitched battles, the following winter, against
Ere nch army OF p, 600 men. But all this
they did, and replanted themselves In their
ancient seats. where for two hundred years
they have maintained their Protestant testl-
mony 10 pure Christian simplicity Of spirit
ual faith.
DR.. X ID. Hitchcock who was foremost
scholar In Chr stan history, is authority for
the statement that about ll7J, more than
three hundred Years before Columbus discov.
cred Amer ca, and almost three and a half
cen turtles before Luther began, and Calvin
gave an organic doctrine to the Protestant
reformation, there appeared as Christian
teacher one Peter Waldo, wealthy merchant
OF Lyons in France, who had been awakened
by the sudden death of an eminent citizen,
his near friend, to undertake religious re-
form, and who gathered companions, sepa
ratists from the Catholic fold, whose object
was to bring back among Christians the sim
pie, seli-denying, spiritual plety OF the early
church.
Waldo was excommuu lcated by his arch
bishop in ll79, was condemned by the Catho.
lie church aud driven into eX lie In ISL and
in 1877 Is believed to have died In northern
Italy, where lis pure work was destined TO a
remarkable survival during the ages OF perse.
cution aud down to the present time. Ills
followers multiplied rapidly indeed in other
quarters, and gained special hold in south
ern France and northern Spain as well as in
northern Italy, but when persecution befell
they gathered In the valleys OF Piedmont and
SAVOY, and have there held their ground for
600 years.
1t is only since 1913 that they have ever had
full liberty OF worship. and for ages, down to
200 years since, they had TO face every form
and horror OF persecution. Three aud thirty
distinct prosecutions are counted in their an =
nails OF martyr heroism, AMI among these are
some Of the bloodiest which stain with in
rffaceable shame AS synagogue OF Satan.
the Romanlst church Of the lon ages when
Christian simplicity working separatism in
faith and life, was punished .th wicbedly
cruel shedding OF blood.
The recent history az the Wal1onses. which
gives to their hi centenary of next year n sig.
nfcance OF great interest throughout
Protestant Christendom, is a story OF re-
vival, OF expansion and OF mani III activity,
not alone IN their homes, but In missions
throughout Italy. They have n iheolog cal
seminary at Florence, disclplesh of l.5J)
ia Turin aud many hopeful beg innings OF
organic Protestantism In all paris OF the Ital-
ian realm.-lKda and Typreys