Dr. Albert Schweitzer was not only famous with grown-ups. Several books about him were written for young people, to serve as an example. Look at this great man! What can you do to be of service to other people. Last week I made a note on a Dutch book for young people. This time it is an English book.

A few short notes on what struck me in this book:

* also in this book little attention to his theological achievements. He did not travel to Lambarene to be a teacher of theology, because he wanted to work without talking.

* we read a bit more about other workers. The Paris Missionary Society had four missionstations  along the river, with French missionaries who have become nameless. The main core of workers came from Europe. Local workers often drifted twoards the logging industry, for they got a better pay with commercial companies.

* Schweitzer considered ‘Africans rather like little children’, it seems to me to be a common view in those days.

* Schweitzer had more contacts with Europa than with other people and organizations in Africa, or to be more specific French Equatorial Africa.

* the Europeans (white) staff formed a special group at Lambarene, a kind of inner circle, a community in a community. They ate their meals together under the leadership of Albert.  He was the chair at the meal. He read a short verse from Scripture and accompanied the group in singing a hymn.

Nina Langley – Dr. Schweitzer O.M. The story of his life and work for the new generation – London 1956