Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Sept. 28, 2005

Bach and Schweitzer share spotlight this weekend

Often we have heard the words, "We have one life to live." This Friday and Saturday, we have the rare opportunity to attend a performance of "Words of Albert Schweitzer and the music of Bach" at Pleasant Hill. Those attending will be awed by the many lives Schweitzer fit into his 90 years. He achieved greatness as a theologian, philosopher, author, musicologist, organist, organ-builder and physician. Once a friend, worried because he knew Schweitzer worked 16 hours a day, told him he couldn't burn the candle at both ends. Laughing, the great man said, "Oh yes I can, if the candle is long enough."

I knew of the work Dr. Schweitzer did in Africa, but it was not until 1982 I realized how little I knew about him. While attending a press women's conference in California, our group visited Chapman College. There we toured the Albert Schweitzer Collection in their library. This extensive collection of Schweitzer memorabilia had been presented to the college by Lee and Dorothy Ellerbrock who worked with the doctor for many years. Then after his death they spent ten more years helping his daughter, Rhena Schweitzer Miller, in the hospital at Lambarene.

Because of that visit, I started a file with materials I received at the library and over the years many newspaper clippings have been added. The centerpiece of my collection is his autobiography, Out of My Life and Thought. There is another tribute to Schweitzer on the East Coast at Great Barrington, MA. Founded by Erica Anderson as her mission to spread his philosophy of Reverence for Life, it was meant to be a center for many to learn that message. She was a photographer and filmmaker when she met Schweitzer in 1950. For the next 15 years, she had a close association with him, and in 1957, she received an Academy Award for the film she did on Schweitzer.

In 1875, Schweitzer was born in Alsace, the son of pastor, and at age five his father began to instruct him in piano. That began his lifelong love of music, especially J.S. Bach when he moved to the organ. As a young man, he began his studies in theology and philosophy.

He was 21 when as he explained in his autobiography, "At the university enjoying the good fortune of studying and even getting some good results in scholarship and arts, I could not help but think continually of others who were denied that good fortune by material circumstances or their health." He was home during the Whitsuntide holidays when he had a great awakening. He wrote, "One brilliant morning, - it was 1896 - as I awoke, the thought came to me that I must not accept this good fortune but must give something in return."

Before he arose from bed that morning he decided he would continue devoting himself to scholarship and the arts until he was 30 and then he would devote himself directly to serving humanity. In 1904, he found the answer as he was leafing through a magazine. A headline read "The Needs of the Congo Mission" and he knew that was where his future lay. The next year at age 30 he began his medical studies.

His story will be concluded next week. Remember the performance at Pleasant Hill this Friday and Saturday.

· · ·
Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday. She may be reached at ebrush@frontiernet.net