Jean-Philippe Bru, Professor and Occupant of the James M. Boice Chair of Practical Theology at Faculté Jean Calvin, graciously provided a copy of a truly historical document in the life of the Seminary.
It’s the first journal published by the Seminary (1941), which is dedicated to its opening in October of the prior year. Amazingly, this was during the Occupation of France during World War II. What a marvelous reminder that God brings light into darkness, which is no less needed in our day!
The first article is translated below. Tragically, a pastor from Marseille and lecturer at the Seminary was killed “on the field of honor”. Indeed, this was a very challenging time to launch a seminary!
Here’s a link to the entire document for those of you who read French.
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Days of Opening and Retreat
of the Free Protestant Theological Seminary
of Aix-en-Provence
October 7-9, 1940
The Seminary of Aix is open! This significant and promising event took place in privacy and contemplation. It was preferable that a solemnity, worthy of our Churches, as well as of the university traditions of the National Union of Reformed Evangelical Churches of France, mark this memorable date with more extensive publicity. However, the present times and trials of our country have not made that possible. So, it is only in the presence of representatives of the Permanent Commission, of the Academic Commission, of the Executive Commission, of some pastors, of the professors, of the students, and the faithful of the Church of Aix that these three days of retreat and prayer took place. The opening session and the retreat were extremely moving and blessed; the past, the dear and great past, was in the spotlight, and the position of the Seminary, ecclesiastically and doctrinally, was excellently presented.
First of all, let's talk about the setting. Just minutes from the center of the artistic and studious city, where one can tirelessly admire the old hotels with weathered stones and the beautiful fountains, near the magnificent public garden, there is the entrance gate with its inscription: Free Seminary of Protestant Theology of Aix-en-Provence. We enter the large park with golden foliage which the Provençal sun gently caresses on these autumn days. In the background, the house is bright, welcoming, and already so well furnished. Of course, the installation is not yet complete, but what touching gifts are already present, such pieces of furniture, such paintings, such books!
The reception of the Church of Aix was perfect. In Aix one realizes very quickly that the Seminary is a Seminary of the Church, received with joy and eagerness by the local Church. A large number of its members attended the various events of these three days, and the speakers truly felt uplifted by the prayers and the attention of all, both in the theological nave where we met in the morning and in the afternoon, as well as in the attractive sanctuary which overflowed with a considerable crowd in the evening.
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The actual opening session was scheduled for Monday evening, October 7, at the Church. One heard there first with interest and emotion the messages of Mr. Pastor Teulon, President of the Permanent Commission, of Dr. Castan, President of the Academic Commission, after which Mr. Dean Lamorte recalled in broad outline the past, from the Alma Mater of Montauban to the new house of Aix, telling us how many obstacles were overcome, how the authorities of the city and the University of Aix facilitated everything, then presenting the program and spirit of the Seminary.
While in September there was only one student counted on, there were five enrolled at the time of the opening (and this number rose to ten in January 1941). We know that the Church of Aix will embrace the students and that this welcoming Church will offer a fertile field in which to work with its multiple branches and broad activities.
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The next day, October 8, the two-day spiritual retreat began, which the Seminary Council had rightly placed before the start of work; this Retreat allowed close contact between professors and students in an atmosphere of meditation and prayer, and was an opportunity for the students to connect with the Church.
On the morning of October 8, there was a prayer meeting led by Professor Guelfucci; in the afternoon, a lesson by Professor Serr: "The Theological Student in the XVIth Century", and a lesson by Professor Bruston: “The Student before the Word of God ". In the evening, a service at the church, led by Professors Bruston, Guelfucci, Lamorte and Serr.
On the morning of October 9, a prayer meeting led by Pastor Teulon; in the afternoon, a lesson from Prof. Guelfucci: “The interior life of the student”.
The text of most of the various speeches and lessons given during these three days will be found herein.
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A veil of mourning nevertheless hovered over these days, caused by the news, now confirmed, of the glorious death in the field of honor of Pastor André Albert, from Marseille, recently appointed Lecturer at the Seminary upon whom much hope was placed; captain of the Zouaves, M. Albert valiantly gave his life for the country, but his absence leaves a painful void in our Churches which will be difficult to fill.
The Seminary is now at work (its library already has 300 volumes). Christian friends, think of her, pray for her students, pray for those who have such a heavy responsibility to train them. That in the Seminary, in the Church, in every ministry, in our whole life the whole motto of the Reformation blazes:
To God Alone Be The Glory!
