The Waldensian Church in the valleys of Piedmont/Chapter 13
CHAPTER XIII.
The Emancipated Church
Preparations for emancipation, and Charles Albert’s final grant of an equality of civil rights and religious toleration to his Vaudois subjects.
BEFORE entering on a new period of the Vaudois Church, and one of vital improvement and gradual progress, it will be advisable to take a survey of the condition—material, mental, and spiritual—in which the dawning century found her children. Modern historians, as well as still existing witnesses, agree in deploring it as one of lukewarmness, declension, and deterioration. The stir of politics, the spread of revolutionary principles, the idolatry of military power embodied in the dominant hero of the day, in whose army many of the Vaudois youth were enrolled, naturally exercised an influence over the manners and desires of the hitherto unambitious Waldenses. And there was another cause, whose consequences were still more injurious. Destitute of the means of training their young
men for the ministry at home, they were obliged to accept
the bursaries liberally offered to them by the Swiss and
German colleges, and thus imbibed much of the error which
had begun to taint the pure stream of instruction in those
celebrated seminaries. Thus the simple truths of the Word
of God were, even in the Church of primitive Christianity,
too often diluted by the philosophy of the schools, and its
Divine Author set aside; whilst “justice, reason, and
humanity” were substituted for the fruit of the Spirit, and
the Christian graces of faith, hope, and charity.
But, thanks be to God, there were still in the bosom of their mountains pastors, whose heads were silvered over with age and experience, to protest against these innovations, and fathers and mothers who yet taught, and read, and prayed over their Palladium, the Family Bible; and surely the wonder would be, not that her candle burnt dimly, but that the light of the Vaudois Church was not entirely extinguished, when we consider the adverse gales to which it was exposed.
But in the midst of all these stirrings of evil, when here, and everywhere, the Church of God seemed to have no resting-place on earth, its great Shepherd was leading this little mountain flock by the only path, steep and briery as it was, by which they could escape the mazes of error in which their feet were entangled. The longer continuance of French influence, above alluded to, must have under mined the religious principles of the rising generation; and the timely check which they received was doubtless intended to sober their spirit and recall them to the pure first principles, so long kept inviolate by their forefathers. Their wants and woes also stirred the hearts of the faithful among all nations and denominations. The ambassador, the soldier, the divine, the Swiss pastor, nay, every summer tourist that passed through their valleys, felt desirous in one way or another to plead for and help them. It is a grateful task to trace the gradual progress of their own amelioration, as well as their preparation for the great work they were now called on to perform.
The first breathings of the Spirit on the fading embers were felt in the teaching of the young apostle of the Alps, Felix Neff, the memory of whose reviving ministrations is still cherished in the hearts and evidenced in the lives of his spiritual children. But he passed through their valleys like a gale of spring, which calls forth the early bud, but waits not for the unfolding flower; and mounting into higher and yet more sterile regions, he cultivated them by the efforts of his Christian love, while other philanthropists succeeded him in the vales below.
As the commencement of material progress, the building of the hospitals of La Torre and Pomaret may be noticed, for which contributions were sent from almost every country in Europe;[1] and it was an additional recommendation to the former institution, and well worthy the notice of travellers, that the duties of matron were performed effectively and gratuitously by one of the deaconesses of Eschalon, the Protestant and practical Sisters of Mercy of Switzerland, embracing all that can minister ease to the suffering body or soothing to the dejected mind, together with the regulation of accounts and the details of household arrangement.
A short distance from the hospital rises another building of recent date, the College of the Holy Trinity.
WALDENSIAN COLLEGE AND CHURCH, LA TOUR.
Crossing the road a little further up the valley, still surrounded with vineyards and maize plantations, and shaded with mulberry trees, we trace the hand of a “master mason” in the beautiful Protestant church and Presbytère of the pastor of Torre Pellice, and the range of commodious habitations of the college professors. Nor does the stream of instruction water these alone; it flows through the whole country, leaps from every mountain precipice, and feeds every valley. Schools rise in every part; and if they were mainly indebted to the open hand of General Beckwith for their erection and endowment, let us also state that the inhabitants aided all in their power in their progress, and repay with grateful love the liberality of their late benefactor. Let it also be borne in mind, whilst we offer our silver and gold, our services and sympathy, that we can never cancel, though we may recognise, the debt we owe to this long-enduring Church, this faithful guardian of the bulwarks of truth.
But colleges and schools would have been of comparatively little use without books, of which there was a great destitution. These too were furnished through British generosity, especially of members of the Free Church of Scotland, as the well-filled shelves of the college library attest; whilst books of humbler pretensions have circulated throughout the population, arranged as parochial libraries, and affording much amusement and instruction during the long winter months. Large grants of Bibles have also been procured, completing the spiritual and mental stores, so long required and so long withheld.
But whilst these preparations were going on, the political horizon was dark and lowering, and seemed to promise little sunshine for their development, and it needed the unflagging spirit of their benefactors to cheer them over the rugged road. But the penetration which could discover, through the dark vista of the valleys, the Italian fields whitening for the harvest, was accompanied by the resolution to persevere in efforts, so often discouraged, for the preparation of those labourers destined to gather in the fruits. In truth, the patience of all was severely tried. Shut up within their valleys, denied the free exercise of their religion, yet doomed to observe the oppressive holidays of the Roman Church; to submit to every effort for the perversion of their children, yet forbidden, under the heaviest penalties, to defend their own opinions; dejected, poverty-stricken, and maligned, the Vaudois felt emphatically the sickness of “hope deferred.” Each successive prince had disappointed their expectations; and although Charles Albert had granted them the power of rising in his army to the rank of officer, and had combated the bigotry that denied honourable burial to a Vaudois veteran, Major Bonnet; yet, when it was found he had given his permission to one of their chief enemies, the Bishop of Pinerolo, to build a church at the gates of La Torre, adding to it an establishment of the Propaganda, consisting of eight fathers, their hearts died within them. “Alas!” they said, “the persecutions of our forefathers are about to be renewed; and where is now the strength to meet them?”
Old Waldensian Church near Torre Pellice (Les Coppiers). The buildings, however, progressed, commodious houses
for the residence of the monks of “the Priory of the holy
religion, and of the military order of Saints Maurice and
Lazarus,” arose, and a handsome church, dedicated to the
same pair of anomalous saints, was ready for consecration.
And now alarming tidings are bruited abroad that the king,
as grand master of the order of the patron saints, was to
honour the ceremony with his presence, and that a large
detachment of regular troops were already on their march to
protect their sovereign during his visit to the valleys to
protect him amongst his own liege subjects! How galling
were such precautions to their feelings, and how joyful the
revulsion, when the answer of Charles Albert was reported
to them “I want no guards,” said he, with his characteristic chivalry, “in the midst of the Vaudois.”
The militia of the valley turned out to a man to welcome their prince, who drove through their files to the church, which, the service ended, he left on foot, and walked to his carriage in the midst of a crowd of his cheering subjects. At Luserna, whither the militia had preceded him, he stood at the door of the palace as they filed off before him, saluting each standard, and good-humouredly smiling at the energetic loyalty of one of the bearers, who took off his hat as well as lowered his colours as he passed him. The Table (or Board of Ecclesiastical Authority) had their share of the king’s smiles, and the poor of each denomination an equal portion of his alms; whilst the syndic of La Torre had the unusual distinction of “the Order of St. Maurice and St. Lazarus” conferred on him. In commemoration of this visit, which appears to have made an equal impression on both prince and people, Charles Albert caused to be erected close to the church and monastery of the Propaganda, a marble fountain, with this inscription, “Il re, Carlo Alberto, al popolo che l’accoglieva con tanto affetto.”[2]
But, although the aurora of emancipation streaked the eastern cloud, it was yet four years ere the full sun arose. Still the friends of the dejected people continued to point to the rosy dawn, and strove to prepare them for the business of the coming day.
In 1847 the Marquis d’Azeglio, a man of high birth, talents, and reputation, took into his consideration the claims of the Jews and their brethren in bondage, the Protestants of the valleys, and eloquently pleaded the double emancipation, in a petition addressed to the king, and signed by upwards of six hundred of the most influential persons in the realm. Having received the boon of a free constitution themselves, they generously wished their fellow-subjects to participate with them. Thus had liberty opened their hearts and expanded their minds; and long may it be granted to those on whom it has operated so favourably!
The 25th of February, 1848, arrived, and with it the emancipation so ardently desired, so long withheld accorded, to his immortal honour, by Charles Albert. Letters patent were issued, granting the Vaudois an equality of civil rights with his other subjects, and free toleration in the matters of religious difference. This great Good News reached the people of the valleys, there congregated, as usual, at the market of Luserna, and put a hasty stop to their bargains. Cries of joy and mutual felicitations resounded on all sides; and where the happiness was too great for utterance, “the bounding heart and grasping hand,” the tears of joy, the embrace of affection, were equally eloquent. Every one hastened home to tell the joyful news, which spread over hill and dale. That night, the illumination of the Protestant ambassadors and residents in the capital shed a second day over the broad streets of Turin, and brighter bonfires blazed amid the dazzling snows of the Alpine mountains.
“Yes, the long pilgrimage was done,
The perils past, the land was won.”
Blessings invoked on their earthly sovereign, mingled with songs of thanksgiving to their heavenly King, rose in grateful chorus that night from the long-enduring but now emancipated people of the valleys of Piedmont.
But there was yet another scene of rejoicing, a more general demonstration, which took place two days after, when the troops and deputations from all the parishes of the kingdom were convoked to express their gratitude to the king for the free constitution he had granted his people; and this time the poor proscribed Vaudois had their share—a generous share—accorded them without grudge. When the six hundred Valdesi arrived, headed by ten pastors, at the place of general rendezvous, the field of Mars, they were greeted with the liveliest welcome; “Long live our brethren of the valleys!” rent the air. The place of each band in the procession was to be decided by lot; but with a refined benevolence the committee of management, of which the Marquis d’Azeglio was the head, carried by acclamation the proposal that the Vaudois should march at the head of the corporation of the capital. “They have been long enough last!” they cried; “for once, at least, they shall be first.” But their honours did not end here; as the procession paraded the streets of Turin for four hours, the men of the valleys preceding with their floating banner of purple velvet,[3] on which was inscribed “Al re Carlo Alberto i Valdesi riconoscenti,” their progress was one
continued ovation. Cries of fraternity and welcome burst on all sides from these impetuous children of the south; hand kerchiefs were waved, and bouquets thrown from fair hands; and even some priests, with an impulse of still higher benevolence, were seen to rush through the ranks to seize the hands of those they once denounced as worthy of death.
ENTRANCE TO TORRE PELLICE. At the “Place du Chateau” that spot crowded with so many hallowed recollections the children of its martyrs saluted, with voices trembling with emotion, the “Liberator King,” as they loved to designate him, who stood surrounded by his family and court to receive the thanks of his subjects
for the free constitution he had granted them, which alone stood firm among the many given by various rulers when danger threatened them. It is worthy of remembrance not only that the constitution which gave religious liberty to the Waldenses has remained unchanged, but that the kingdom of Sardinia has become the Free United Kingdom of Italy, where religious liberty is established from the Alps to Mount Etna.
Carlo Alberto abdicated in 1849 in favour of his son Victor Emmanuel, and died in 1850. Nobly did his successor fulfil the promise given to the Waldenses, not only maintaining their liberties intact, but showing openly the regard he felt for them. When the German Emperor visited Italy, and again when his son the Crown Prince was at Milan, a deputation from the Waldenses was received with every mark of honour, and on the moderator, Pastor Lantaret, was bestowed the title of Commendatore. Well might Italy weep when “il re galant uomo” was laid low by the fatal fever, and when tidings were flashed in every direction that Victor Emmanuel had passed away from the throne of Italy. Never was sovereign more universally regretted, and well was it that his son and successor King Umberto could give the assurance that he would be faithful to the constitution and to the cause of religious liberty well is it that he has thus far been true to his promise.
In the concluding chapter of our little work, we purpose giving the subsequent history of the Waldensian Church up to the present time. We have long enough called on our readers to sympathize in their sufferings; our pleasing task will now be to ask their participation in the brighter prospects of tolerance and emancipation that have opened around them.