Description
HE WAS A CHURCH HISTORIAN AND A LEADING FIGURE IN THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY ROMAN CATHOLIC REVIVAL OF LEARNING BUT HIS EARLY HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH WAS CONSIDERED TOO MODERNIST BY THE CHURCH DURING THE “MODERNIST CRISIS” AND WAS PLACED ON THE INDEX OF FORBIDDEN BOOKS IN 1912. HERE HE SENDS A LETTER OF THANKS TO AMERICANS AND PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON FOR THE AID OF AMERICAN TROOPS DURING WW1.
LOUIS DUCHESNE (1843-1922) SIGNED NOTE, “L. Duchesne, Saint-Servan, August 20, 1917”, on a card 4.5 x 3.5, by the French priest, philologist, teacher and a critical historian of Christianity and Roman Catholic liturgy and institutions. He was made an apostolic prothonotory by the Pope in 1900. He gained fame as a demythologizing critical historian of the popular, pious lives of saints in his book Liber Pontificalis. He also wrote Christian Worship: Its Origin and Evolution. His handwritten note in French, translated in full: “America answered the call from President Wilson by declaring for the right cause and bringing its strength to support that cause: The White House ‘rose eminent o’er every mortal thing’”. This historic letter is in reference to WW1 when the first 14,000 American infantry troop landed in France at the port of Saint –Nazaire and an enthusiastic crowd gathered to greet them. The United States had declared war on Germany in April 1917 and the U.S. troops landed in France a few months later. American troops would eventually play a key role in preventing the Germans from advancing toward Paris. This historic content letter is in fine condition, with minor age toning.
$250 #12716
