The Rudolf Steiner Archive

77. The Dornach Building as a Symbol of Goetheanism

Closing Remarks by Rudolf Steiner Following a Speech by Mathilde Scholl on the Dornach Building

[ 1 ] Isn’t it true, my dear friends, that since these very passages are being cited here, I would like to say a few more words about them: It is indeed a time now when such things as I have spoken of today must come to pass. And these things are also connected to the fact that one must recognize in a more meaningful way how, out of German spiritual life—but in the noblest, most exalted sense—something must develop that truly must grasp the world. But it was not without reason that I titled a chapter of my book The Riddle of Man “A Forgotten Current.” I have described how such a forgotten current must be revived and must permeate humanity in a higher sense. It requires profound seriousness to introduce into the culture of the present and the near future that which is necessary for humanity in the most eminent sense.

[ 2 ] You see, I have once again drawn on Goethe, about whom I have researched, spoken, and written in various ways throughout my entire life. When I was in Prague recently and gave a lecture there on Goethe’s personal relationship to his Faust, there was also a gentleman present whom I hadn’t seen since my time in Weimar, where he had worked with me. I spoke with him at length after the lecture—he’s become an elderly gentleman now—including about the leadership of the current Goethe Society, and the man said, speaking from his gut feeling: “That’s pure mockery now.”

[ 3 ] There is, of course, a Goethe Society; but these matters must also be viewed from a broader perspective. We must acknowledge today that we are caught between the dominant Western powers—the Anglo-American sphere—which is spreading as a purely material culture and has, unfortunately, taken hold in so many circles in Central Europe, and, on the other hand, toward the East, in what is spreading from there. You need only read Rabindranath Tagore’s essay on the spirit of Japan to see how someone who is truly steeped in the spirit of Orientalism speaks so dismissively about the culture of Central Europe. But what does such a person actually see of Central European culture? He simply does not see what must come to be when the forgotten current—which is also present in Goetheanism—is taken up again. Goetheanism must be revived; it has been largely forgotten. From the outside, one sees only what asserts itself outwardly. From the outside, one still sees little of these peculiar circles—regarded as somewhat crazy and twisted—in which we also cultivate something like spiritual Goetheanism. We must develop the courage to let this assert itself.

[ 4 ] To the outside world, people see the official Goethe Society as embodying Goetheanism. After having been led for some time by more or less scholarly figures, the Goethe Society had the opportunity a few years ago to elect a new president—this Goethe Society, which represents Goetheanism to the world. For the fact that Goetheanism is represented through us by the Dornach Building is regarded by people as mere fantasy. A new president was therefore to be elected. Yet this official Goethe Society did not feel the need to present to the world a person imbued with Goethe’s spirit as its president; instead, a former finance minister was elected. Through the Goethe Society, a former finance minister appears before the world as the embodiment of Goetheanism. This is also one of the factors that shape the world’s judgments about German intellectual life and the German spirit. They felt compelled to present to the world not just anyone who represents the spirit of Goethe, but a former finance minister. People who feel even a little bit like this elderly gentleman naturally call it a mockery. But it need not merely come to the point where people clench their fists in their pockets and speak of mockery; rather, something must be done so that this truly German culture—which is, in truth, thoroughly spiritual in its foundations—is truly recognized. We don’t need American or Oriental influences; we need only to embrace what lies within Central European culture—albeit as a forgotten current. If the first name of that finance minister is meant to be a kind of symptom of a certain reversal—it may still take a long time. The gentleman who is president of the Goethe Society—they elected him because they consider a former finance minister to be the right person for the job—the others are “clumsy,” “fantastical”—but this is a man who has a rather good first name: “Kreuzwendedich.” I would like this first name to also be symbolic of what needs to happen in this area.