Description:

Albert Einstein
Princeton, NJ, February 15, 1935
Albert Einstein "working for peace and humanity is particularly important at this time" As World Heads Towards War: 1935 TLS To Preacher
TLS
A 1p typed letter in German signed by Albert Einstein (1879-1955), then a resident scholar the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton University, as "A. Einstein" at the conclusion. February 15, 1935. Princeton, New Jersey. Typed on watermarked paper. Expected wear including flattened transmittal folds. There is a small area of loss affecting the left margin, and a tiny closed tear along a vertical paper fold at the bottom margin. A small pencil inscription from a former collector is found near the right margin, but is reversible. Else near fine. 8.375" x 11."

Einstein wrote this letter to the Rev. Dr. Cornelius Greenway (1896-1968), the longtime pastor of All Souls Church, a Universalist congregation located in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Einstein regretfully declines an invitation to attend a dinner celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of All Souls Church the following day. Yet Einstein makes sure to praise the peace-loving mission of both Dr. Greenway and his congregation, noting that such a philanthropic world view serves as a potent antidote to "narrow-minded political bias."

Einstein wrote, translated in part:

"Dear Sir,

Despite being overloaded with work and duties, I was hoping to be able to attend your celebration, because working for peace and humanity is particularly important at this time, and I know that you have always used your best efforts to achieve this. Unfortunately, my obligations are holding me back here.

May your celebration tomorrow help revive the spirit of true humanity, freed from the narrow-minded political bias of our time. Only with such a spirit can people overcome the serious economic and political dangers that not only affect their well-being, but also the very existence of nations.

With my very best,
A. Einstein."

The All Souls Church was founded 90 years earlier, in 1845, in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, before relocating in 1906 to a site along Ocean and Ditmas Avenues. Dr. Greenwood welcomed about 350 dinner guests to the church basement - charitably called a "social hall" by one contemporary newspaper - for the 90th anniversary celebration of All Souls Church on Saturday night, February 16, 1935. Speaker Gerald P. Nye, the Republican U.S. Senator from North Dakota, took the opportunity to vocally criticize the Roosevelt administration's response to the growth of Fascism in Europe, claiming that the United States's participation in the international arms race made a world war increasingly unavoidable. The general tenor of the event was anti-war - railing against munitions manufacturers and arsenal-building - which would have perfectly aligned with Einstein's personal belief in pacificism. Telegrams from various politicians were read before the dinner guests, and more than one newspaper noted that "a letter from Prof. Albert Einstein" was also read. Could this very letter have been the one read aloud?

Einstein's February 15th letter is certainly very commendatory. Einstein lauded the pastor's sustained efforts "working for peace and humanity," and the scientist hoped that fostering such a "spirit of true humanity" would liberate people from the bigotry and repression currently crushing Europe, and threatening "the very existence of nations." Einstein had observed firsthand the current political situation in Europe, having fled Nazi Germany a few years earlier.

Dr. Greenway was born in the Netherlands and became a naturalized citizen after completing military service during World War I. He received undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tufts University, and became ordained in the Universalist ministry in 1926. In addition to serving as the pastor of All Souls Church for over three decades, from 1929 to his retirement in the early 1960s, Dr. Greenway was also a fanatical collector of autographs, photographs, and rare books. In 1964, Dr. Greenway's autograph collection purportedly contained examples of over 6,000 signatures, mostly of U.S. presidents and world leaders.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 8.375" x 11"
  • Medium: TLS

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