Introduction
Events which occur in human history are
always marked by their own peculiar destiny. Some acquire
instantaneous recognition, others remain unnoticed for
decades, for centuries and sometimes forever. They are all
inscribed, however, in the super-sensible sphere in a form
often designated as the Akasha Chronicle.
The record of
the event of the Christmas Conference for the Foundation of
the General Anthroposophical Society which is contained in
this publication became accessible in printed form in the
original German version prepared by Marie Steiner in 1944,
some twenty years after Christmas 1923. The Foundation Stone
verse, however, which resounded each day during this
Christmas Conference was printed by Rudolf Steiner almost
immediately. In the many lectures, letters to the members,
and articles which occupied Rudolf Steiner in the months
after January 1, 1924 until his death on March 30, 1925, he
also made frequent and penetrating reference to the event of
the Christmas Conference and the Laying of the Foundation
Stone.
The effect of
this twenty year span of time between the Christmas
Conference itself and the printed proceedings was that those
eight-hundred people from many different countries who
attended the Conference shared their impressions, memories,
inspirations and resolutions with the members at home. Thus
an oral tradition arose around the event itself, whereas the
Foundation Stone verse, which was immediately accessible,
became an inner meditative reality for countless people and
was soon translated into various languages, including
English. Over the decades which followed, numerous
translations of this verse arose out of the anthroposophical
work in various English-speaking countries. Besides the
translation used in the following text, three other
translations have been included at the end.
During the more
than forty years between the original publication in German
and this first publication in English two basic translations
in typescript form served as a working basis for the people
to whom they were accessible. Frances Dawson of California
made a translation which served some members' groups of the
Anthroposophical Society. John Jeffree of England translated
the German version soon after it appeared for the English
Section meetings led by Harry Collison. Harry Collison was
the representative from England at the Christmas
Conference.
Perhaps it is
just this unavailability of the printed text for so many
years which is the greatest indication that the Christmas
Conference for the Foundation of the General Anthroposophical
Society and the Laying of the Foundation Stone can never be
restricted merely to a printed document; rather here is a
living testimony to a spiritual reality. This spiritual
reality comes towards us from the future as it continues to
work on in humanity's life on earth. This event was actually
inaugurated rather than concluded on January 1, 1924. It is
therefore vitally important that these proceedings are now
available for the English-speaking world through a
translation which captures in an accurate and a sensitive
manner the directness, the depth and the subtleties of this
most significant event.
August 1989
VIRGINIA SEASE
Goetheanum, Dornach
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