New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
THE WALDENSEs.
THE PRECURSORS OF THE REFORMATION.
g1aroAy or THE wALDENsN OF ITALY; FROM
THEIR ORIGIN TO THE REFORMATION: ~ ~
Hmffso eouba, D. d. Transmitted nom w
authors revised edition by Teodla h. Iomp&
6yo. nm. 3b7 scritner A wexford.


hmiiio eoa;Sa. D. D. TRANSLATED nom E.r, VIC
svo sG 81. sST 'e1 se sS'1.sn y wsit s-
Though the story of the waldenses has been
oftSa told there are many points in 1t still OBSCURE
Ind peshaps nothing could more conelusively prove
tbs ned az fuller light upon the pass OF these re-
nArlsb)e people than the fact that they "efe
AiiostSa 10 LIE under stigma and to be saoleo'eo
"a an annsR Of legal disabilities, even IN the ieno
OF yAetr origin, until few years ago. 80 i,''e
indeed vss Known of their early history f"r long
tisoe th.s thew have been repeatedly, nay, almost
hAhimAlly. confeunded with the Cathari OF ADJ
-. h,tween whom ana them the differences
80 nevertheless az great s those between the
rArr.h Al Rome and the Church OF England LIT
Co.rha hss therefore accomplished an important
ana necessary work In examining the origin OF
sha Waidenses; In analyzins the traduohs anu
iecsnAs which fos centuries msled suparnoiai SUI
dsro Of their history in separating the my'n'cai
nor he nal elements; and In thua creauhs tne
ART thoroughly trustworthy and complete ske'ch
Of their genesis and early records that mas oech
Riveh to che world.
~. .av n comulete sketch, for unfortunately, no
.uvvsv Of the ancient Waldenses can ever be more
- s.r,s were illiterate from the beginning, aud
49, yrro carly exposed to persecution They
1900 ssv documentary records, and these have
=, ne mest part been destroyed or lost. Even
ga, ...red literature has so nearly disappeared
49,. 4. q. m longer possible for the most Jealous
..,,o,., N tpooe the religious writings With wh'oh
.. t.r waldo began his mission, and the crlHc 10
,saucea 20 weighing the probabilities TOT Gnu
ssatrst several publications, Of which possibly ~
- N the work 30 anxiousS o"'
lsberisusly sought. The danger OF missing
the pervpectve, which is incident TO all arcnno 'e
u.ssAh. IN increased in the case OF the Wnnen'''
bv Are SEXUAL ooincident existence OF otner lorns
N dissent and schism having some fca'ures III
common with Wsldensiansrn one confusing
1890 AZ this has been to reinforce the lesenoh'S
.,,.,sh .vhtoh AZ n comparatively early period was
hfeusht In support Of far remoter "h''f"'s ~
IS. NTH than could be rightfully asserted. IL
possible that the contentious WIN u'e "anoN'
ehrsy which were frequent before inc suo'Ns"
ton by Rome Of persecution Tor argument mo-
have Hrst suggested the fiction Of the aneih' VII
gia OF the Waldenses ,or
They were tainted with Jack OF autnor'Iy "'''"
&hsv ALLEGED the apostolic character OF ther crceu
ara Il IA not wonderful that presently 'ne "s'u
nsed Of such an unbroken succession as o0u ,,Id
NOR for the representative of st. Peter shouia
80. Isd 20 the evolution Of the theory which put
hs.s An. genesis OF the Wsidensian Church to the
.t,,. ~ Consts nsine and explained that organ oS
,h. re.ntion OF Sylvester's faithessness upon Tic
s.,thSuI sops Of the Church Apostolic Hu' nov"
.v.r Agreeable or useful this legend may nave oe0n
q, tsa thiyte. nth and fourteenth centuries us uc
shs,Aoter must now be recognized ana 'ae ','s"
az fhe Waldenses must be placed Whee
e. sstnallv belongs, toward the ena OF 'he
,,.sfth century and in the CITY OF LyoH'
1hs Cathasi owed their rise TO more CAUSES IMAM
80 As AIbieenses the still potent influence OF
hs,f-sunuressed Paganism facilitated reaction
e..snss Reme and the spread OF Manicheisn' "n'ie
,s,e su6seopsl character Of the new sect appe"'e'
., !. sneeial way TO the Provencai nobility 20
vhose eountenance and approval II owed US rap'o
,ro~th The Waldenses came into beng QUIET
.dse In the first place, the time was rie 'o'
religious and especially for eeclesIasucai i"o'
sor the corruption Of Rome filled the eartn WIN
tssroach. The hungry sheep looked up anu ~e's
mt fed. saeerdotal decentralization ma re"ches
a climax, insomuch that protest. COMPANY "n.
aenpneiaaon rsounded hs wei n'A'
from without the Church. ,.r..s.,,.
rhe conduct of the majority OF eccieSiaseics
Sss scsudalous Religion was reduced 70 r'1ua' ~,
Sinony and proaisacy OF every KIM S''ne ~.
pssAey. temporal power alone was sought at 'he
v.s,ssn Learning was paralyzed by the vain
subtietjes Of the schools. In these circumstances
Abe,ard struck the first heavy blow against tne
,o,iss a, the ,cboomen a blow indeed from when
th.v nsyer recovered. But the common peopie
u..t,a for living religion, and what feter "Sioo
s,A 1p>s IN supply this urgent need. Ills, IKE MI
..,,v reform vas conducted scrupulousiy upon
e.r,nSnrnl lines Centuries were TO pass pefore ~
~ouh occur TO any man, however heret'cai, "
,.sstion the authority OF the eanonical wriHhss
:, IN subject them to scientific analysis and Gnu
s;xys Peter Waldo, merchant Of Lyons In Vne
ssr>,fth ceatury went 70 the Gospel for eN'oenos
AGAINST the Church Of his time, and he soon iouho
..s,s~r 10, indictment. The Church, he per
..tx~d had departed entirely from the apostohe
,naa,, had become worldly, corrupt, carnsi, ano
"a Scrteised bsr spiritual power and her title
TIA ALLEGIANCE Of men. 10 far, however, "''u'
sh a. ,nturc at Hrst His initial purpose wa
.,,ouis ensagh lie employed two priests to trans
49, tex him-into precisely what language o.
Atslsst n stal matter az controversy-'he eospeiN
soens Of the epasties, the psslms, and poruohs
toh ana the Book Of Wisdom THIS transia"o'
IA had fairly copied and put into boox ,or'n' am
t,s.n thu hind Of manual be proceeded 10 rea'
scceAouslly 70 such IS would listen, with Little
- ssnnsnsav.
n. hsd decided that apostolic poverty wss tn
vsht raj, dous state and TO the attainment OF Una
and Ia dispoeed Of his property, providing wei
80 ~, vife before kaving her, and bestow1ns nj
-. a.n eb,ers in O convent. The people wer
,ssav 20 ,elsome the simple gospel SO presented
"a Waldo's example soon became contaeiou'
4 ho6v Al believers grew up, calling themscive
81 he Poor of Lyons" At first they were mefe'
S,au tess. It required persecution to make OF ther
s.hismaties The Archbishop OF Lyons, nndin
go waldo and his colleagues were emptying IN
,ha,ehss. forbad. their preaching Then Waia
vent TO Rome. He was oil this time rai'hiu
s.n a the Church, for Alexander the ih'fa CAV
lin the hiss of peace on his reception but
seaid not obtain permission TO preach lie wa
psrssitsed to take the vow OF poverty ana 70 i0un
n ssdsr Of mendieants II ne desired 70 10 so, ~
thssy could Be no preaching out Of oraen. "a 40