The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-11

\ Thrifty italian People Who nay Ao.
cate In North Caroline.
PARIS, Feb. 2S.-The Waldenses. descend
ants of the famous sect SO cruelty persecu-
ted for centuries ON account of their re-
ligious opinions. who still inhabit the
mountain district on the Italian
side Of the Cottian Alps. are pre-
pairing to emigrate to the United
States. Their chief business is cloth max
ing. and it has become so depressed that
even with their frugality they find it Diff
cult to live. They are sending agents to
North Carolina to make inquiries looking
to settlement there. If reports be favor
able, 1900 of them will emigrate in the
spring. They are q hardy, thrifty people,
retaining to a remarkable degree the vir-
tues Of their ancestors.
THE Waldenses. or Vaudois, derived their
name from Petrus Wadrus, or Peter Waldo, or
Pierre de Vaux, an opulent citizen OF Lyons,
about ITO. who is regarded a. the founder of
this religious denomination. 1t 10 also
claimed that the name was derived from
rails valley, and denoting inhabitants
OF the valleys. Petrus Waldrus conceived the
idea OF reforming the Roman church, and bring
ing 1t back to primitive and Apostolic purity.
He gave his possessions to the poor and
began preaching. The body of associates
he collected became. known a. the "Poor Of
Lyons" Leoniste, from the name Of the city:
sabatati. from their wearing wooden shoes: or
Humiliati, from their humility. They had prob
ably no intention OF seeding from the church
until the Archbishop of Lyons and Pope Alex
ander Ill forbade their meetings in 1l7a.
Waldus refused to obey the papal man
date and in lisa he and his followers were
accommodated by Pope Lucius I'LL waldus'
teachings spread in France, Italy and Bohemia,
and especially in the valley OF Piedmont In
1912 they were again condemned by the senate
death. Those living in valleys suffered especially
from persecution. and under Sixtus ". cru
SADIE was preached against them. In Bohemia
thev united with the Hussites, especially with
the Taborites and the Bohemian Brethren. The
prosecution of the Waldenses ofPiedmont con-
tinued with but rare Interruptions throughout
the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries
In 1855 they were attacked BY the
French and Italian army and 5000 were killed
and 10000 imprisoned. Until 1s4S they were con-
fined to three retired valleys OF the Cottian
Alps, Lucerna, Perosa and San Martina, but
they have since organised new congrega-
tions in all parts OF Italy. In that
year Turin became the center of their oper-
atoms, but when all Italy was opened to
them by the subsequent revolutions, they fixed
upon Florence as the center Of their denomiua-
ton, and consequently their theological SEM
mary was removed thither in 1869, and the
printing press with their peculiar organ
in 1861 They have been especially &C.
tive in the publication OF theological
books and the promotion OF religious education.
In Rome they have organization and q
church edfice. and Sabbath and other schools.
They also have colony at Rosario. in Argen-
tine Republic. In doctrine and church
constitution the Waldenses approach near
est to the Reformed church of
France. They recognize the Bible as their
only rule OF faith, and believe their 'Conies-
sisn OF Faith" published in 1855 to be the most
correct expression Of Biblical theology. With
regard to the Lords Supper they
agree with the Colvinists, but they have
not adopted the doctrine of absolute
predestination. In their public services they
use the Bible and especially the Psalms. Their
synod consists OF all their ministers aud twice
many lay delegates who, however, cast only an
equal number OF votes with the clergy. The meet
ings are yearly. Each of their congregations has
consistory, composed 0f the minister, an elder
and deacon. Above these local consistories is
a supreme consistory, called the 'table," which
is composed Of three clergymen and two lay
men,