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Professor of History Robert Entenmann to present Ly's lessons in Mellby Lecture

By Trent Chaffee '09
November 8, 2007

Robert Entenmann, professor of history, Asian studies and East Asian history, will give this fall's Mellby Lecture on Andreas Ly, an 18th century Chinese Catholic priest whom Entenmann has researched for more than 20 years. The event, which is free and open to the public, is Tuesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in Buntrock Commons Viking Theater.

As a Ph.D. candidate at Harvard University, Entenmann stumbled upon Ly while studying migration to Southwest China during the 18th Century. Entenmann decided that he wanted his research on Chinese Catholics to be more "China centered" than "mission centered," and began focusing on Ly, a man who juggled the tensions of being Chinese and a Catholic priest. "He did a good job of recognizing both," Entenmann says.

Ly was in charge of teaching Christianity to a Chinese province the size of France when European missionaries fled during an anti-Christian persecution. He faced chronic infections, travel hardships, imprisonment and torture in order to continue teaching and administering the sacraments. At the age of 71 he ran the first seminary in China. "He was dedicated, devout and a little cranky, but someone with a lot of resilience," says Entenmann. "Not everyone got along with him. I can see why."

In his lecture, Entenmann plans to address the issues of Ly's life, including his pastoral work among Chinese Catholics, his attempts to enforce church regulations regarding marriage and his relations with European missionaries. He says that Ly's legacy presents a number of important questions: To what extent is Christianity a western religion imposed on non-western societies and cultures? To what extent is Christianity a world religion with local variance? How do religions claim to be universal but come with so much baggage?

Digging Deeper
Research on 18th century Chinese Catholics has lead Entenmann to archives in China, France and the Vatican, as well as travel to Sichuan, the province Ly presided over. Since Ly kept a diary in Latin, Entenmann has attended Latin courses taught by St. Olaf faculty members Jim May, Anne Groton and Steve Reece.

Currently, Entenmann is working on a book on Ly and Chinese Catholics and would one day like to translate Ly's entire diaries from Latin to English. Almost fluent in Chinese, Entenmann says his biggest challenge is dealing with languages he is uncomfortable with.

Entenmann says he looks forward to continuing his studies of Ly and other Chinese Catholic priests. "I feel there's more out there that presents a prism for society, politics and international relations."

The Mellby Lectures
The annual Mellby Memorial Lectures are given in remembrance of late St. Olaf faculty member Carl A. Mellby and were established to let St. Olaf faculty share their research with others. Mellby, known as "the father of social sciences" at St. Olaf, started the first courses in economics, sociology, political science and art history at the college. He was professor and administrator from 1901 to 1949, taught Greek, German, French, religion and philosophy, and is credited with creating the college's honor system.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.