A Visit to the Caves That Sheltered the Waldenses.
By S. N. Haskell
For many years I had been desirous of visiting, not only this people, but some of the caves which had sheltered them during the time of persecution. In the summer of 1882, in company with Bro. J. W. Gardner, I found myself in the valleys where this people dwelt. There are a few of our brethren and sisters living there. Sister Revel who is the oldest native member of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in Europe, resides in the vicinity of Torre Pellice. A Bro. Jamet also lives there. He had previously acted as guide to travelers to places of interest upon the mountains. Accordingly, Aug. 13, 3 A. M. was the time appointed to start for the mountains. It was thought advisable to start thus early that we might wind our way over some of the difficult part of the route in the cooler portion of the day. We drank of the springs from which the Waldenses had often drank. We found the shepherds that were taking their flocks of goats and sheep to spots of green pasture on the mountain side. Every thing we saw was of the deepest interest to us. The ruins of buildings and old churches we examined with the greatest pleasure. Our imaginations were vivid; and while sadness filled our hearts as we called up the persecutions of these people in former years, it was mingled with joy at the thought that the gospel had triumphed, and we were permitted to stand upon the spot where so many faithful men and women had lived and died in defense of the truth. Every rock had its story; and the rocks which we beheld were the scenes of martyrdoms. As we passed up the mountains we saw in the niches of the same relics of old churches, the stones of the walls still standing. There were the rocks against which young children were dashed by the cruel persecutors; and the cliffs of rocks where men and women were stripped naked and rolled up as balls and precipitated down the mountains. There were the decayed stumps of trees, and the sharp angles of rocks where they were caught and hung transfixed, enduring for days the agony of a living death. Our guide pointed out the mountain-side where small companies were hunted like beasts, for months, guilty of no crime but that of worshiping God according to the Bible. Time would fail to tell even a tenth of what has transpired in some of these passes and caves, which now exist as they did in the time of persecution. We finally reached a cave where 400 men, women, and children were hid at one time. Our attention was called to the spot and the very rock where one man was caught by the papists and roasted alive. We obtained the particulars of this from one of his descendants. The pass to this spot was most difficult. It was on the side of a mountain where hundreds of feet below and a long way above there was nothing but perpendicular rocks so that no animal, save those that have wings, to say nothing of man, could enter. But there was one secret passage, and to enter this we were obliged to remove our coats, and pass under a rock on our hands and knees. Having gone this far it was necessary to remove our shoes and stockings that our feet might cleave to the bulges of the rocks as we entered downward into the cave. Passing out some fifteen feet on a rock that was sharp on the upper edge, we were then obliged to descend fifteen feet before reaching a place where we could stand. The safety, if the word safety can be used, of the descent, consisted of the strength of the fingers to hold to a perpendicular rock while the feet would be against bulges of the same, thus working our way down. Then fifteen feet more in about the same manner and we reach the bottom of the cave. The women and children were let into this cave from above, or drawn up from beneath, by ropes. Their persecutors were never known to enter this cave, and only the strongest men would attempt it. They knew where it was but dared not venture in. Bro. Jemet who was with us, entered the cave in advance, Bro. Gardner followed, and I commenced the descent, but soon found my fingers were not of sufficient strength to cling to the rocks, so I returned. This clearly illustrates what dangers these persecuted people undergo, rather than yield their faith and their lives to their persecutors. It is nearly as difficult to ascend as to descend. We also entered another cave some distance from this. It is about eight feet down into a seam in a rock, which appeared to be a rent caused by some terrible convulsion of nature. It might have been at the time of the crucifixion of Christ when the rocks were rent and the graves were opened. Whatever may have been the cause, or at whatever time it may have taken place it was an asylum for the poor and oppressed people of God. We could enter but a short distance, as search had been made for gold, and not far from the entrance it was filled with dirt; but our guide said that formerly it was half an hour's walk right into the mountain, rock above, beneath, and on every side. This was not a permanent retreat, but it was often frequented by many of the Waldenses in the times of persecution. These caves and these rocks will tell their story in the day of Judgment. God heard the cries of that people which ascended from these caves and dens of the earth, during the terrible persecution. At the foot of these mountains was an inquisition where many a Christian was tried, condemned, and yielded their lives because they would not renounce the faith of their fathers. Many places of interest, in connection with this building, were pointed out to us. Here we found two skeletons which had been recently found in the cellar. They were buried head downward. Those who claimed that they could tell from the bones, said that they were youth. The Judgment alone will reveal all the secrets of that terrible system which compels men to believe contrary to their judgment and their Bible. S. N. HASKELL.