Читать книгу The American Missionary. Volume 48, No. 10, October, 1894 - Various - Страница 8

THE WALDENSES AT VALDESE, N.C

SECRETARY C.J. RYDER

This new field of work, which was reported for the first time at our annual meeting last year, is one of unique and especial interest. Two years ago the steamship Kaiser Wilhelm arrived in New York with one hundred and sixty-six Waldenses among her steerage passengers. These people came from the Piedmont valley and mountain regions of Italy. Their purpose in coming to America was to establish for themselves homes in our own mountain region of the South. This little company that came down from the deck of the Kaiser Wilhelm were the pioneers in the establishment of their colonies in this new land. They were rather the Pilgrim Fathers of this Waldensean movement. Before the actual colonists had come, Rev. Chas. A. Tron, D.D., pastor of the Waldensean Church, and member of the Board of Evangelization in Italy, had been to the mountain regions of North Carolina, and after careful investigation had purchased a tract of land for these Waldensean colonists.

Soon after the coming of these Waldenses, correspondence was opened with them by the American Missionary Association. The colony was to be planted in the midst of our great mountain field, and we had every confidence that the coming of these conscientious and devoted Christian colonists would be of real helpfulness in our work there. Rev. C.M. Prochet, D.D., whose name is well known to the readers of this magazine, and to the Christian public generally, came to look after the interests of the Waldensean colony not long after their first settlement. In conference with Drs. Tron and Prochet, and after learning thoroughly the condition of their colony, an appropriation was voted by the Executive Committee to assist them in the beginning of their work, as they were in great need of such help.

These Waldenses have begun their settlement in America in a wise and sensible way. Let us notice their business-like arrangement before speaking of the interesting educational and religious work which has developed among them with the assistance of the Association.

They have purchased five thousand acres of land. In dividing this land, they first set aside a portion for a church and manse, together with a small farm for the use of the pastor. Then they set aside a good, commodious site for the school-house. After this a considerable portion of the land, three thousand five hundred acres in extent, is divided into farms of fifty acres each.

In addition to this first company who came on the Kaiser Wilhelm, others have come at various times until there is a considerable colony there. These people are poor. They come from the splendid stock of Waldenses who have been so potent a factor in freeing thousands in France and Italy from the degrading superstitions of Romanism. As all our readers know, the Waldenses have stood for religious freedom from first to last The fibre of their character has been tested through many a conflict. Dr. Edward Everett Hale, who told the story of the Waldensean heroism and devotion in the beautiful legend "In His Name," brings out the noble features of their character in soft, yet bright colors. It is most fitting that our Congregational churches through the Association should welcome this new colony and extend to them the right hand of Christian fellowship. This they have done.

As soon as the colony was established and the people were felling the forests and building their humble homes, they applied to us for assistance for the support of the pastor and teacher. The colonists themselves made large sacrifices, and only asked us to assist them in the support of their religious and educational leaders.

Rev. Enrico Vinay, a native of Italy, was their first pastor. Mr. M.A. Jahier, was selected as their teacher. Mr. Jahier, together with Dr. Tron, was in conference with us in New York, and the simple, Christian character and progressive educational ideas of the Waldensean teacher charmed and impressed us all. He went into the field and opened a school and Sunday-school at Valdese, as the colonists call their mountain village.

The Rev. Enrico Vinay remained with the people for nearly a year, being in regular correspondence with the officers of this Association. He was then called to another field, and Rev. B. Soulier was chosen as their pastor. Mr. Soulier is also a native of Italy. He is a thoroughly educated young man, and speaks English readily. He was educated in his own school in Italy, and completed a course at Edinburgh University in Scotland. His work is proving most successful.