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.

Such is the interesting and providential beginning of our work in conjunction with these Waldenses in this field.  We have this new problem upon our hearts and treasury.  Who can say that God has not led us into this work, and opened this opportunity for helpful and sympathetic co-operation with these earnest Christian people who have settled in our southern mountains?