Charles Wagner

For the American electrical engineer, see Charles F. Wagner.
Charles Wagner, founder of the Foyer de l'Âme
Charles Wagner at work

Charles Wagner (3 January 1852 Wibersville, Alsace – 12 May 1918)[1] was a French reformed pastor whose inspirational writings were influential in shaping the reformed theology of his time.[2]

Biography

Wagner was born in Vibersviller, Moselle, where his father was the pastor of the Lutheran Church.[1] At the age of 14, he was sent to study in Paris and graduated from the Sorbonne in 1869 with a B.A. degree.[1] He then went to Strassburg for a theological degree but continued his studies in Göttingen.[1]

Up to this time his associations had been with the Lutheran Church but in 1878, he left Germany and began ministerial service in connection with the liberal wing of the French Protestant Church.[1] He was the pastor of a small parish in Remiremont, Vosges until 1882, when he went to Paris.

Temple protestant du Foyer de l'Âme

With his young wife, he began Paris life in a very modest way, living in a three-room apartment in a poor street near the Batille, working hard at the University throughout the week, and occasionally preaching on Sundays as a guest preacher. He soon found all orthodox pulpits closed to him, however.[3] In response, under the auspices of the French Protestant Church, he opened a Sunday school in his Bastille neighborhood.[2] This was the germ of his first church and later of his new church Temple protestant du Foyer de l'Âme ("Protestant Temple of the Portal of the Soul"). The church cost the equivalent of ca. $60, 000 of which a little less than one quarter was contributed by Americans.[3]

His philosophy was one of Christian love without dogma, espousing a simple life and love of nature.[4]

The publication of his book Jeunesse (“Youth”) in 1891 marked him as a leader in the ethical movement in France and his influence continually increased. Besides serving as pastor to a large congregation, he took an active part in many philanthropic and charitable undertakings, and in this work came into cordial relations with men of all shades of religious belief. Of his publications, The Simple Life attracted particular interest in the United States and was widely commended by religious and ethical leaders.[2]

In 1895, Wagner and Paul Desjardins founded L'Union par l'action morale ("Union for moral action"), an organization in which he sought to bring together in practical work devoted men among Agnostics, Roman Catholics, Protestants and Jews.[3]

He was on the committee of the first Université populaire, known as Coopération des Idées, founded by Georges Deherme the purpose of which was to provide evening classes to educate the working man.[3]

In the fall of 1904, Wagner visited the United States. He was invited to preach at the White House by Theodore Roosevelt on whom The Simple Life had made a lasting impression.[5] Wagner made numerous addresses and gained material for his book My Impressions of America (1906).[2]

Bibliography

English

Many of his books have been translated into English.

French

Most of his works are now out of print but Éditions Ampelos began to publish the principal works in 2006.

There is also Manuel de bonne vie (1905) by Mme Brandon-Salvador which is compiled from his works.[6] The biography Un Homme by his nephew Alfred Wautier d'Aygalliers often refers to his own diary which is now lost which contained information on Wagner's life and thought.[7] A recent biography, Charles Wagner et le Foyer de l’Âme by Pierre-Jean Ruff, tells the story of Charles Wagner and the Foyer de l’Âme.[8] L’Homme est une espérance de Dieu is an anthology of Wagner's writings selected by Anne Penesco and Geoffroy de Turckheim has been published by Van Dieren Éditeur.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Author of Popular Book, 'The Simple Life,' Dead" (May 14, 1918) Indianapolis Star
  2. 1 2 3 4  Rines, George Edwin, ed. (1920). "Wagner, Charles". Encyclopedia Americana.
  3. 1 2 3 4 The Twentieth Century Magazine Vol. 2 (1910) Twentieth Century Company, Boston
  4. ↑ Grace King of New Orleans: A Selection of Her Writings (1999) Louisiana State University Press ISBN 0807100552
  5. ↑ Anonymous. "ADMIRES THE PRESIDENT.; Rev. Mr. Wagner Tells of His Visit to the White House." Special to The New York Times, 28 September 1904, page 9.
  6. ↑ Manuel de bonne vie (1905) OCLC 493851652
  7. ↑ Alfred Wautier d'Aygalliers (1927) Un Homme (OCLC 249964370)
  8. ↑ Pierre-Jean Ruff (1999) Charles Wagner et le Foyer de l'âme : histoire et combats ISBN 978-2-9110-8718-9
  9. ↑ Anne Penesco; Geoffroy de Turckheim (2007) L’Homme est une espérance de Dieu ISBN 978-2-9110-8760-8

External links

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