Notre Dame Historians and the VKs

In the last few weeks we have attended two events hosted by historians at Notre Dame.  The first one was a workshop funded by an NEH grant in which Abram Van Engen, a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, presented a chapter of his forthcoming book The City on a Hill.  Abram invited us to attend and we were honored to accept.

 The room in the new Duncan Student Center was full of faculty and graduate students.  Abram presented briefly followed by two assigned respondents.  I enjoyed the time for questions and comments from the group.  There were many affirmations for Abram's work along with specific suggestions of things he could pursue.   The entire session was an example of academic cooperation.  Plus it was so much fun to see a handsome and appreciative Professor Van Engen in his grown up role--the fellow we have known since he was a pre-teen at our church.

Yesterday was our second event for historians--a conference in honor of Mark Noll hosted by two of his graduate students at Notre Dame.  One of the conveners, Jonathan Riddle, is a good friend of ours and welcomed our participation at the lunch and dinner events when Mark was speaking.  It was an occasion for us to greet not only Mark and Maggie, but also other friends who have left the area--George and Lucie Marsden and Julie and Nathan Hatch.

The Morris Inn put on two wonderful buffets with attractive and delicious entrees of a more unusual sort--polenta with vegetables,  orzo with mushrooms, a lasagna with a pesto sauce, and salmon and chicken dishes.  It was fun to try a little of each!   We were able to eat with friends (Judy and David Hatch--also non-historians but friends of M and M)  and enjoy good conversations and many laughs.

After lunch, John Wilson, former editor of the now defunct Books and Culture, interviewed Mark about various books he had reviewed or blurbed and others he had written over the years.  At one point Mark asked the audience how many had ever written for the journal--and I would guess 50 hands were raised.  I need to follow up on authors that were mentioned--especially those who wrote on world Christianity, a particular interest of Mark's.

A very touching moment at the evening banquet was when Dean John McGreevy remembered that the conference was postponed last March because of Maggie's stroke.  A year later Maggie was there looking lovely and well and able to greet many old friends.  The group began applauding and there was a standing ovation for Maggie.  It was a beautiful moment to have a tribute for her as well as Mark.

Mark spoke of the importance of Maggie's support at home and her work as a research assistant for him.  The theme for his remarks was being disqualified for military duty in the 1970s as a 1Y but not being designated as a 4F.  He went on to give his own 4F list of appreciation for family, friends, faculty, and formation,  a chance to tell stories and mention lots of people who had been important to him. He also incorporated counsel for young scholars stressing humility and cooperation.  "The mark of a true scholar is magnanimity as well as expertise" is one example he used after telling an incident of George Marsden's graciousness.

Jim and I are not historians. In some sense, Jim with his work on the Scrolls and now R.H. Charles is a historian  and I guess I have a historian's curiosity which Mark said was basic.  We were honored to be included in these occasions and are thankful for our own friends, young and old,  in these areas.