Life Fear of Albert Schweitzer

In the year 1913, Albert Schweitzer, a man destined for greatness, and his wife, Helen Breslau, embarked on a journey that would change the course of history. They arrived at the missionary station of Lambaréné, situated near the Ogooué River in Gabon.

Born on January 14, 1875, in Kaiserberg, Alsace, Schweitzer had initially planned to go to Africa as a missionary. However, his theological views were deemed unconventional, leading him to study medicine instead. This decision would prove to be pivotal.

Schweitzer and his wife, who was training to be a nurse, found themselves working in a former chicken coop, setting up their first medical practice. As word spread, more people, women, men, and children, began to seek their help, necessitating a move to a larger building.

Their African adventure seemed to be over with the birth of their daughter. Yet, the Schweitzers' dedication to their work was unwavering. Despite the criticism that would follow, they persevered, founding a hospital in Lambaréné.

The onset of World War I led to the Schweitzers being taken prisoner as enemy aliens in the French colony and sent back to France, where they were interned in camps. However, towards the end of the war, they were allowed to return to their homeland in Alsace.

Schweitzer's work in Africa was not without controversy. British journalists James Cameron and Gerald McKnight labeled him a "racist" and "the last representative of colonialism." However, Schweitzer defended his relationship with the residents of Equatorial Africa, stating that combining respect for human dignity with "natural authority" was crucial. He expressed his relationship with them with the phrase: "I am your brother, but your elder brother."

Despite the criticism, many schools and social institutions were named after Schweitzer, and his work was recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952. In 1999, Time Magazine named him "Man of the Millennium."

Schweitzer was not only a pioneering medical missionary but also an excellent organist and an expert in organ construction. His dedication to his work, his unwavering commitment to human dignity, and his groundbreaking work in Africa continue to inspire generations.