Charles Wagner

Charles Wagner (4 January 1852 – 12 May 1918) was a French Reformed pastor whose inspirational writings were influential in shaping the Reformed theology of his time.

Biography Wagner was born in Vibersviller, Moselle, where his father was the pastor of the Lutheran Church. In response, under the auspices of the French Protestant Church, he opened a Sunday school in his Bastille neighborhood.

The publication of his book Jeunesse ('Youth') 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. Of his publications, The Simple Life attracted particular interest in the United States and was widely commended by religious and ethical leaders. Wagner made numerous addresses and gained material for his book My Impressions of America (1906). The biography Un Homme by his nephew Alfred Wautier d'Aygalliers often refers to his own diary which is now lost which contained information on Wagner's life and thought. A recent biography, Charles Wagner et le Foyer de l’Âme by Pierre-Jean Ruff, tells the story of Charles Wagner and the Foyer de l’Âme. L’Homme est une espérance de Dieu is an anthology of Wagner's writings selected by Anne Penesco and Geoffroy de Turckheim has been published by Van Dieren Éditeur.