| Cover Sheet |
|
| Contents |
|
| Manuscripts and Blackboard Sketches |
|
| 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.
|
|
Lecture 1: | Introduction to the Eurythmy Performance by Rudolf Steiner 23 DECEMBER 1923 |
December 23, 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 |
|
Lecture 2: | The Opening of the Christmas Foundation Conference by Rudolf Steiner 24 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 24, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 3: | Rudolf Steiner's Opening Lecture and Reading of the Statutes 24 DECEMBER, 11.15 IN THE MORNING |
December 24, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 4: | The Laying of the Foundation Stone of the General Anthroposophical Society through Rudolf Steiner 25 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 25, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 5: | The Foundation Meeting of the General Anthroposophical Society 25 DECEMBER, 11.15 IN THE MORNING |
December 25, 1923 |
|
Reports from representatives of the national Societies.
|
|
Lecture 6: | 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 |
December 25, 1923 |
|
Answers to questions concerning the
admission of members, the Classes, election of General
Secretaries, dissemination of anthroposophical knowledge
amongst the general public.
|
|
Lecture 7: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 26 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 26, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 8: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 27 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 27, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 9: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 28 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 28, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 10: | Rudolf Steiner's Contribution during the Meeting of the Swiss School Association 28 DECEMBER, IN THE AFTERNOON IN THE GLASS HOUSE |
December 28, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 11: | 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 |
December 29, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 12: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 29 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 29, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 13: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 30 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 30, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 14: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 31 DECEMBER, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
December 31, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 15: | The Idea of the Future Building in Dornach Lecture by Rudolf Steiner 31 DECEMBER, IN THE MORNING |
December 31, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 16: | Open Discussion of Swiss Delegates under the Chairmanship of Rudolf Steiner 31 DECEMBER, 2.30 IN THE AFTERNOON |
December 31, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 17: | 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 |
December 31, 1923 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 18: | Continuation of the Foundation Meeting 1 JANUARY 1924, 10 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING |
January 01, 1924 |
|
Foundation Stone Verses. Contributions of delegates on
the subjects of the opposition and of books.
|
|
Lecture 19: | The Rebuilding of the Goetheanum Lecture by Rudolf Steiner 1 JANUARY, IN THE MORNING |
January 01, 1924 |
|
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.
|
|
Lecture 20: | 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 |
January 01, 1924 |
|
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 |
|
|
| Facsimile 1 |
|
|
Handwritten copy of the ‘Statutes of the
Anthroposophical Society’ ready for printing.
|
|
| Facsimile 2 |
|
|
The printed Statutes, with handwritten alterations and
additions arising during the debate on the Statutes.
|
|
| Facsimile 3 |
|
|
The version of the meditation for the laying of the
Foundation Stone used during the Christmas
Conference.
|
|
| Facsimile 4 |
|
|
The ‘Rhythms’ as Rudolf Steiner wrote them on the
blackboard.
|
|
| Facsimile 5 |
|
|
Sketches referring to the constitution of the School
of Spiritual Science and to the rebuilding of the
Goetheanum.
|
|
| Facsimile 6 |
|
|
The version of the meditation for the
laying of the Foundation Stone prepared for the
Supplement to Das Goetheanum, Vol. 1, No. 1, 13 January
1924.
|
|
| Three English Versions of the Verses |
|
|
|
|
| Notes |
|
|
| List of Names |
|
|
| Inside Dust Jacket |
|