The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Wagner, Charles

WAGNER, Charles, French Protestant leader: b. Wibersville, Alsace, 3 Jan. 1852; d. 12 May 1918. At the age of 14 he was sent to Paris to school; was graduated at the Sorbonne in 1869; and studied theology at Strassburg and Göttingen. He was the pastor of a small parish in the French province of Vosges until 1882, when he went to Paris, and there opened a Sunday-school and later began preaching. The publication of his book &lsquo;Jeunesse&rsquo; (&ldquo;Youth&rdquo;) 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. His other publications translated into English include &lsquo;The Soul of Things&rsquo;; &lsquo;By the Fireside&rsquo;; &lsquo;The Better Way&rsquo;; &lsquo;The Simple Life&rsquo;; &lsquo;On Life's Threshold&rsquo; (1905). Of these &lsquo;The Simple Life&rsquo; attracted particular interest in the United States and was widely commended by religious and ethical leaders. In the fall of 1904 Pastor Wagner visited the United States, where he

made numerous addresses and gained material for &lsquo;My Impressions of America&rsquo; (1906).