Français / French: Vaudois Bible History (3)

**List: French Ministry the Holy Bible ( la Sainte Bible ) French: Vaudois... VAUDOIS. "THE Vaudois dialect, a modification of the old Provençal language, is spoken on the east or Italian side of the Cottian Alps, in the three high valleys of Lucerna, Perosa, and San Martino.   These valleys average about twenty-two miles as the greatest length, and eighteen as the greatest breadth, and include a population of about 20,000: since the year 1814, they have been re-annexed to the dominions of the King of Sardinia.    The Vaudois, or Waldenses, as they are sometimes called, maintain to this day the pure form of [N.T.] Christianity, to which they stedfastly adhered during the long ages of papal superstition. As a religious body, bearing witness against the corruptions of the Church of Rome, the Waldenses seem to have originated at a very early period in Southern France: in A.D. 1184 they were excom- municated by the pope at the Council of Verona, and soon afterwards they spread themselves in the South of France, the North of Italy, and Germany.    The identity of the Vaudois with the Waldenses, has, however, been contested by recent writers, and a more rigid investigation of historical particulars has led to the supposition, that, "whatever these professors of a purer faith might have had in common, there were certain points on which they differed, and certain local references and relations by which they were distinguished from each other."   Yet it is certain that the ancient version of the Scriptures, described in a previous memoir, was in use among them.   Waldo, or Waldensis, who was probably the main agent in producing this translation, was a rich merchant of Lyons.   His attention, it is said, was first turned to religious subjects by hearing a troubadour recite, in the streets of Lyons, a poem in favour of voluntary poverty, called, "The Life of Alexis."   Waldo invited the troubadour to his house, and was so affected by his conversation (for many of the troubadours were men of deep piety), that he went the next day to the school of Theology, to seek instruction in the way of salvation.   The celebrated master to whom he addressed himself, referred him to these words of our Lord--"If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor[.]"   Waldo acted in accordance with the spirit of this exhortation, and a portion of his funds was appropriated to the payment of two priests for translating the Scriptures into the vernacular tongue. This translation was greatly blessed by God to the edification of these early Christians, and supported them in the endurance of many cruel persecutions; in one of which, that of 1686, 11,000 of their number perished, and the survivors, who amounted only to about 3000, were driven from their homes. It was said of these Waldenses by one of their enemies, "They instruct even little girls in the Gospels and Epistles, that they may be brought to embrace their doctrines even from childhood." . . . . "All, without exception, men and women, small and great, cease not day and night to receive and to give instruction.   The labourer who toils during the day, either learns or teaches at night."    The descendants of these faithful people, as the Vaudois are generally considered, have not been forgotten in the efforts made within recent years for the general distribution of the Scriptures.   In 1830, a specimen of a translation of the Gospels of St. Luke and St. John into the dialect now spoken by the Vaudois of Piedmont, was forwarded by Lieut.-Col. Beckwith to the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society.   The translator was the Rev. Mr. Berte, pastor of La Tour.   The Society undertook to publish 1000 copies, in parallel columns with Martin's French version, and the edition was carried through the press by Colonel Beckwith and the Rev. T. Sims.   In 1832, 600 copies had been distributed among the Vaudois, and another edition was called for.   The Society therefore published 2000 copies, the press being corrected by the Rev. T. Sims.   The last notice we have received of this version occurs in a letter from Colonel Beckwith, dated 1840, in which he states that the Gospels sent into North Italy are freely circulating among the Protestants.   With the progress of education, however, the use of the modern French language is rapidly gaining ground among these valleys.   French is the medium of instruction in all the schools, and all the books in general circulation (with the exception of the early literary works) are in that language.   French seems to have been first employed as a vehicle of public instruction by those pastors whom the Vaudois obtained from France and Switzerland, when their own ministers were almost all cut off by the plague of 1630: Martin's French version is now more generally read by them than the Vaudois Gospels.   The Sardinian govern- ment has of late years accorded perfect tolerance to the Vaudois in the exercise of their pure and simple worship."--The Bible of Every Land. (1860, Second Edition)   Samuel Bagster   [Info only] VAUDOIS.--1860   S. Bagster   [Info only: n.d. John 1:1-14 unknown (Fill unic = only Son @ 1:14).]

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