Contents
The Programme of the Christmas Foundation
Conference
Introduction by Virginia Sease
Preface to the 1985 German Edition
PART ONE
INTRODUCTORY
The Close of the Year and the Turn of the Year 1923/24
Foreword by Marie Steiner to the first German edition
in 1944
The year 1922: The culmination of
Rudolf Steiner's work in public and the commencement of
acts of sabotage. The burning of the Goetheanum. Dr
Steiner forcefully stresses the tasks of the
Anthroposophical Society. The establishment of the
General Anthroposophical Society. The Christmas
Foundation Conference bound up with infinite tragedy.
What it meant for Rudolf Steiner to take karma upon
himself. The grave illness of Rudolf Steiner at the
beginning of 1924 and his lectures until 28 September
1924.
Introduction to the Eurythmy Performance by Rudolf Steiner
23 DECEMBER 1923
Eurythmy as an original art stemming from
Anthroposophy. Art only flows into human evolution when
it can make use of super-sensible forces; it cannot
flourish on a basis of materialistic thinking. The
relationship of Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition to
eurythmy and to recitation and declamation.
PART TWO
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE
The Opening of the Christmas Foundation Conference
by Rudolf Steiner
24 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
The significance of the fact that
the Goetheanum and the Anthroposophical Society have
their centre on Swiss soil. Thanks to Albert Steffen for
his lecture.
Rudolf Steiner's Opening Lecture and Reading of the Statutes
24 DECEMBER, 11.15 IN THE MORNING
The ruins of the Goetheanum are a
symptom of conditions in the world. The Anthroposophical
Movement as a link with the primeval sources of human
evolution in the spiritual world, and the
Anthroposophical Society as a dwelling for the
Anthroposophical Movement. Lessons learnt from experience
over ten years. Reasons for the decision to take on the
Presidency. The General Anthroposophical Society; its
Statutes; complete openness to the public; release of the
manuscripts for publication and their protection by moral
means. Undisguised public work on behalf of the
Anthroposophical Movement using the examples of eurythmy,
recitation and declamation, and medical therapy. Reading
of the Statutes with explanations. Rudolf Steiner
suggests the members of the Vorstand.
The Laying of the Foundation Stone of the General
Anthroposophical Society through Rudolf Steiner
25 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
The spiritual laying of the Foundation
Stone with verses that sum up the essence of the most
important spiritual findings of recent years and renew
the ancient word of the Mysteries: ‘Know thyself’. The
Christmas Verse and its harmonizing knowledge of man.
Call to found a true community of human beings for
Anthroposophia for the progress of the world.
The Foundation Meeting of the General Anthroposophical Society
25 DECEMBER, 11.15 IN THE MORNING
Reports from representatives of the national Societies.
Meeting of the Vorstand and the General Secretaries of
the National Societies and their Secretaries
25 DECEMBER, 2.30 IN THE AFTERNOON IN THE GLASS HOUSE
Answers to questions concerning the
admission of members, the Classes, election of General
Secretaries, dissemination of anthroposophical knowledge
amongst the general public.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
26 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
The Anthroposophical Society, fully
open and yet deeply esoteric. The Foundation Stone Verses
with explanations by Rudolf Steiner. Reports of the
General Secretaries. Reading of the Statutes. Practical
arrangements.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
27 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
The Foundation Stone Verses with
explanations by Rudolf Steiner. General debate:
Contributions on the journal Das Goetheanum. Tasks of the
central Vorstand. The relationship of the
Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland to the branch at
the Goetheanum. The Classes and the Sections. Detailed
debate on Paragraphs 1 to 3.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
28 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
The Foundation Stone Verses with
explanations by Rudolf Steiner. Detailed debate on
Paragraphs 4 and 5 (Rudolf Steiner's suggestions as to
the leaders of the Sections), and Paragraphs 6 to 14.
Addition of Paragraph 15 naming the founding Vorstand.
Answers to questions. Note to Paragraph 2. Adoption of
the Statutes at the third reading.
Rudolf Steiner's Contribution during the Meeting of the
Swiss School Association
28 DECEMBER, IN THE AFTERNOON IN THE GLASS HOUSE
Present social circumstances make it
impossible to finance a large number of Waldorf Schools.
The importance, particularly in Switzerland, of founding
a truly independent school as a model. The financial
basis for an independent school in Switzerland.
Meeting of the Vorstand of the General Anthroposophical
Society and of the General Secretaries of the National
Societies together with their Secretaries and the Swiss
Branches
29 DECEMBER, 8.30 IN THE MORNING IN THE GLASS HOUSE
The Swiss Anthroposophical Society and
its relationship to the branch at the Goetheanum and to
the General Anthroposophical Society. The standard amount
per member to be paid to the General Anthroposophical
Society. Contributions by General Secretaries regarding
the membership fee. Rudolf Steiner and Marie Steiner
reflect on their work in Berlin.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
29 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Foundation Stone Verses with
explanations by Rudolf Steiner. Contributions from
delegates on the subjects of the opposition to
Anthroposophy and of the Free Anthroposophical
Society.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
30 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Foundation Stone Verses and Christmas
Verse. Contributions of delegates on the subjects of the
youth movement, the work in England, the independent
school in The Hague. Problems of the Society as regards
continuity and work in public. On the content of the
reports for the supplement to Das Goetheanum. The
opposition in Holland. The financial situation of the
Waldorf schools. Eurythmy in North America.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
31 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Foundation Stone Verses and Christmas
Verse. The resistance of some sciences to the views of
spiritual science. The need to unite all the sciences in
an overall view of the world. The Anthroposophical
Society must give the impulse for bridging the abyss
between art and science. The successes of
anthroposophical research. It is urgent for
anthroposophical research to link up with present-day
civilization.
The Idea of the Future Building in Dornach
Lecture by Rudolf Steiner
31 DECEMBER, IN THE MORNING
The rebuilding of the Goetheanum:
financial considerations; the form it will take. Concrete
as a new building material. The difficulty of achieving
an artistic style in concrete. The ground plan to combine
round and rectangular shapes. Arrangement of rooms and
halls in the new building. Roof constructed of flat
surfaces. Changes in the Anthroposophical Movement since
the building of the first Goetheanum mean new demands
will be made on the new Goetheanum. On Paragraphs 5 and 7
of the Statutes.
Open Discussion of Swiss Delegates under the Chairmanship
of Rudolf Steiner
31 DECEMBER, 2.30 IN THE AFTERNOON
Presidency and administration of the
Swiss national Society. The representatives of its
branches at delegates meetings. Explanations of the
Christmas Foundation Conference in public and within the
Society. Courtesy as an unwritten paragraph of the
Statutes.
The Envy of the Gods — the Envy of Human Beings
Looking back to the burning of the Goetheanum on New
Year's Eve 1922/23
Lecture by Rudolf Steiner
31 DECEMBER, 8.30 IN THE EVENING
The burning of the temple at Ephesus
and the saying from Antiquity about the envy of the gods.
The Mysteries as places where human beings and the ‘good
gods’ encounter and understand one another. The envy of
luciferic and ahrimanic gods. The deed of Golgotha by the
God capable of supreme love. What was once the affair of
gods and human beings becomes in the age of freedom the
affair of human beings in physical life. The modesty with
which divine wisdom presents itself on the earthly plane
in the Middle Ages. Instruction of a Rosicrucian master
to his pupil: the relationship of physical, etheric and
astral bodies to the earth; their membership of the
hierarchies; the special relationship of the human being
to warmth. The ‘language’ of new spiritual revelation in
the forms and picture content of the Goetheanum. The
statue of the goddess at Ephesus ? the statue of the
representative of mankind in the Goetheanum. The burning
of the Goetheanum and the envy of human beings. The
transformation of pain into faithfulness and activity
with regard to the spiritual impulse of the
Goetheanum.
Continuation of the Foundation Meeting
1 JANUARY 1924, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING
Foundation Stone Verses. Contributions of delegates on
the subjects of the opposition and of books.
The Rebuilding of the Goetheanum
Lecture by Rudolf Steiner
1 JANUARY, IN THE MORNING
On the shaping of the doorways,
windows, pillars, columns and the roof in the new
Goetheanum. Internal and external forms making up an
organic building. Contributions of delegates on the
financing of the new building. Answers to questions on
the membership contribution.
On the Right Entry into the Spiritual World. The
Responsibility Incumbent on Us
Lecture and words of farewell by Rudolf Steiner
1 JANUARY, IN THE EVENING
The future goal of anthroposophical
endeavour: to prevent mankind from failing to make the
historically imposed step over the threshold through
misuse of the capacity to form ideas by applying this
capacity exclusively to the material world. The task of
Dornach as the place where spiritual realities must be
openly spoken about. The need to be uncompromising and
truthful with regard to the impulse of Anthroposophy in
the various branches of practical life. The hope which is
united with the Christmas Foundation Conference. The
Foundation Stone Verses.
On Behalf of the Members
PART THREE
CONCLUSION & APPENDICES
Conclusion
by Marie Steiner to the first German edition of 1944
Rudolf Steiner's work following
the Conference. His lectures, books and essays in
continuation of what had been inaugurated by the
Christmas Foundation Conference.
Rudolf Steiner's Words of Welcome at the Social Gathering
1 January, 4.30 in the afternoon
Notes on the Verses
NOTE ON THE VERSES IN THE 1985 GERMAN EDITION
NOTE ON ELEMENTAL AND ELEMENTARY BEINGS
The Printed Version of the Verses in German
Three English Versions of the Verses
Notes
List of Names with Biographical Notes
|