Fulness of Life
THEERE are certain lives which stand out in the history of humanity not merely on account of their visible and positive achievements, but because they vindicate that belief in the greatness, the spiritual energy of man's nature which is some- times hard to maintain in the muddy currents of the common life. They show us the spectacle of a quite selfless self-deter- mination, which leaves out no great aspect of existence, but develops all man's rich capacities for perception and for creation and brings them under the rule of one compelling ideal. Albert Schweitzer, the" fourfold doctor," has proved to our generation the possibilities of such a life : and in his new book he allows us to stand by his side and see it in its wholeness as we have not been able to do before. No short review can do justice to this rich and intimate record ; for he is one of those rare souls in whom action is the fruit of con- templation, and here he permits us to share his life of thought as well as his life of deed. Philosophers and musicians, students of religion and students of life, will all find pasture in these worn erid pages. .
Schweitzer was born in 1875, the son of an Alsatian pastor.
Music was the first of his powers to awaken ; and at nine years old he was already able to take the organist's place in his father's church. At the university his powerful intellect developed rapidly. Theology and philosophy took their places alongside music ; and in all three he soon began to show his capacity for enthusiastic and original work. But within and behind all this deep spiritual factors were already active, especially a profound sense of responsibility towards human suffering and peed ; and . by the time that he was twenty-one this had determined the future direction of his life :
"While at the University and enjoying the happiness of being able to study and even to produce some results in science and art, I could not help thinking continually of others who were denied that happiness by their material circumstances or their health. Then one brilliant summer morning at Giinsbach, during the Whitsuntide holidays—it was in 18.96—there came to me, as I awoke, the thought that I- must not accept this happiness as a matter of course, but must give something in return for it. Pro- ceeding to think the matter out at once with calm deliberation, while the birds were singing outside, I settled with myself before I got up, that I would consider myself justified 'in living till I was thirty for science and art, in order to devote myself from that time forward to the direct service of humanity,"
Nine years later, to the consternation of his admiring friends, the brilliant young theologian and doctor of philo- sophy, having spent his thirtieth birthday "like the man in the parable, who, desiring to build a tower .flrst, counts the .
cost," resigned his university post at Strassburg and entered as a medical student, in order to .qualify for mission work in Central Africa. We notice, as characteristic of-true greatness, the long and careful preparation, • the steady unemotional movement towards the chosen end, the continued feeding and exercise of his artistic and intellectual powers. In 1904
his-great book on the music of Bach was published ; and the next year his courageous and revolutionary essay in New
Testament criticism, The Quest of the Historical Jesus. In 1912 he finished his medical studies, during the -enurr of which he had worked out the plan of his large work on the mysticism of St. Paul, and - also thrown himself into that campaign for the saving of old organs and the reform of organ
design which is one of the enduring passions of his life. After some difficulties caused by his unorthodox religious views, he sailed for Africa in 191a. "In Africa he smies niggers, in Europe old organs' is what my friends say of me."
The story of Schweitzer's hospital at Lambarene has already been told by him. Here, however, we see that heroic adven- ture in its context, with the determined intellectual activities that accompanied it (since "renunciation of thinking is a declaration of spiritual bankruptcy "), the "quiet hours with Bach " which sweetened and steadied it, and the anxiety and suffering caused by the War. Successively interned in Africa and in France, -during which time he worked at his Philosophy. of Civilization, Dr.. Schweitzer wan at last exchanged and returned to Alsace ; and after many hard- ships and difficulties took up his work in Africa again in 1924. Now a new hospital, equipped with doctors and nurses, wit- nesses to the triumph of that faith and courage which set out single-handed to fulfil a vocation of mercy by means of an old fowl-house and a few bamboo huts.
EVELYN UNDERHILL.
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