Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published Oct. 5, 2005

More on Schweitzer

Last week, this column sketched the first 30 years of Albert Schweitzer's life and the many accomplishments he had achieved in that short time. At age 21 he made the decision that at age 30, he would devote the rest of his life to directly serving humanity. A few years after that personal decision, he learned of the need for doctors in the Congo, and when he turned 30 in 1905 he began his medical studies.

It is not surprising that family and friends objected. He had already achieved greatness in many fields - theologian, philosopher, author, musicologist, organist and organ-builder. They appealed to him to give up the idea of becoming a jungle doctor. His answer to those pleas was, "Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll any stones out of the way, and must calmly accept his lot even if they roll a few more into it."

He explained he chose to be a doctor because he could work without having to talk. He could practice the religion of love rather than preaching it in words. From 1905 to 1912, he studied medicine. He admits he had a continuous battle with fatigue in those years. Studying medicine would have been enough, but he continued to preach, teach theology at the university and give organ concerts. He also worked on the last chapters of The Quest of the Historical Jesus.

In June of 1912, he married Helene, his faithful partner until her death in 1957. The newlyweds arrived in Lambarene in the spring of 1913 and established the small hospital on the river Ogowe near a mission station which had been there since 1876. From the first days of his arrival, the sick came from as far as 200 miles.

As World War I began in August 1914, the Schweitzers were treated as prisoners of war and forbidden to work in the hospital. Being confined Schweitzer began work on a new book exploring the philosophy of civilization. By the end of November, the internment was lifted and his medical practice resumed.

During this period he was summoned to care for the wife of a missionary stationed about 160 miles away by river. It was during this journey he struggled to find answers as he reflected on the book he was writing. On the third day just at sunset he wrote, "We were making our way through a herd of hippopotamuses, there flashed through my mind, unforeseen and unsought, the phrase 'reverence for life.' The iron door had yielded."

He explained, "The ethic of reverence for life, therefore, comprehends within itself everything that can be described as love, devotion, and compassion in suffering, the sharing of joy and common endeavors."

In 1917, as war continued, the couple was shipped back to Europe and held in POW camps until the armistice. Their only child, daughter Rhena, was born on Albert's birthday, January 14, 1919.

The couple returned to Lambarene for periods of two to three years from 1913-1965. After each stay they returned to Europe where he lectured and gave organ concerts. In all the spent 14 sojourns there. In 1952 Schweitzer was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize.

When Schweitzer became a jungle doctor, he thought he would never preach again or play the organ, but he was wrong. The Paris Bach Society presented him a magnificent piano with pedal attachments built especially for the tropics in recognition of his many years of service as their organist. Both he and his staff found joy in the music at day's end.

In September 1965, Albert Schweitzer died at Lambarene. In his 90 years he wrote at least 33 books and answered thousands of letters from supporters of his work. He left a legacy of service. His autobiography, Out of My Life and Thought, would be a fine addition to any home library. One reviewer said of it, "Few books in our time have had a greater impact on the life and values of untold numbers of people."

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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