The Rudolf Steiner Archive

2. On the Twelfth Meeting of the European Section of the Theosophical Society, July 1902 (Editor's Notes)

[ 1 ] From July 5 to 7, 1902, the twelfth annual meeting of the European Section of the Adyar Theosophical Society took place in London. Marie von Sivers had already traveled to London in mid-June. Rudolf Steiner followed on July 1 as the designated Secretary-General of the German Section of the Theosophical Society and remained there until July 11. By Bertram Keightley,^{1Bertram Keightley: 1860–1944, a colleague of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky and later of Annie Besant; he served as General Secretary of the Indian Section of the Theosophical Society in Benarcs from 1891 to 1893; and from 1901 to 1905 he served as General Secretary of the British Section of the Theosophical Society in Adyar. In his autobiography, Rudolf Steiner writes: “I became close friends with him” (GA 28, Dornach 2000, 5. 397). Rudolf Steiner stayed with Bertram Keightley in Bayswater, London, from July 1 to 11, 1902. In a letter dated July 1, 1902, Rudolf Steiner wrote to his first wife, Anna Eunike (1853–1911): “Miss von Sivers is taking me to Mr. Keightley’s. A pure blessing: In England, you have to take a bath every morning in such houses. So my first London experience: a bath. Then breakfast at Mr. Keightley’s. He is a very pleasant, thoroughly amiable person. I didn’t want to have lunch there today. For it seems best to me not to tie myself down to set times. So here I am at 2:00 p.m.—though in Berlin it’s already 3:00 p.m.—and I’ve just finished eating: Stewed kidney Lyonais. You’d call it roasted kidney. Tonight at 7:00 p.m., I have a meeting with Keightley, where he’ll get to hear about the situation with the German Theosophists.” Quoted from: Letters, Vol. II, GA 39, Dornach 1989, 8. 412.} Rudolf Steiner, then head of the European Section, was appointed to serve on the commission tasked with addressing the question of future cooperation among the European sections. Once the various national sections could be considered established (taking into account the founding of the German Section, which was still pending at that time), the former European Section was dissolved. It was decided to hold an annual congress of the European Federation of National Sections to facilitate future cooperation among the European national sections.

[ 2 ] Looking back on his life, Rudolf Steiner writes: “When I spoke for the first time at the Theosophical Society’s congress in London in 1902, I said: The union formed by the individual sections should consist in each one bringing to the center what it holds within itself; and I strongly emphasized that this was my primary intention for the German Section. I made it clear that this Section would never act as a bearer of fixed dogmas, but rather as a place of independent spiritual research, seeking to reach an understanding regarding the cultivation of genuine spiritual life at the joint meetings of the entire Society” (GA 28, Dornach 2000, p. 415).

[ 3 ] In October 1918, Rudolf Steiner commented as follows on this first address at an international meeting of the Theosophical Society: “For example, I tried,^{2For example, I tried ... not on my side: From the lecture of October 27, 1918, in: Historical Symptomatology, Dornach 1982, GA 185, p. 145. No transcript of the speech itself, delivered in London on July 5, 1902, has survived.} when I first attended a congress of the “Theosophical Society” in London, to introduce a certain point of view. I gave a very brief speech. It was at a time when the Entente cordiale had just been concluded, and when everything was under the influence of the recently concluded Entente cordiale.^{3NoteNumNoteText} I had attempted to explain that the movement which the “Theosophical Society” seeks to represent cannot be about disseminating anything as “theosophical wisdom” from any single center, but rather that it can only be about providing, as it were, a common meeting point where the developments emerging from all corners of the world in modern times can converge. And I had concluded at the time with the words: If we build upon the Spirit, if we seek spiritual community in a truly concrete, positive way, so that the Spirit generated here and there is carried toward a common center—the Theosophical Society—then we are building a different entente cordiale.

[ 4 ] I spoke about this other “Entente cordiale” back then in London. It was the first speech I gave at the , and I spoke quite deliberately about this other “Entente cordiale.” [...] But the audience was by no means on my side.

[ 5 ] The gathering took place in an annex of the renowned St. James Hall. A report on the meeting—which was printed but never published—also briefly summarizes Rudolf Steiner’s lecture. Steiner spoke in German, and Marie von Sivers translated into English. The report reads as follows: “He said that he had been sent by the Berlin Lodge to learn about the Theosophical Movement at its source. In Germany, they were about to establish a new Section, and he would endeavor to give an idea of the state of affairs there. At present, there were only a few people who had the slightest understanding of theosophical teachings, but there were some diligent workers in several large cities, and there was much latent potential in Germany, along with a strong desire to seek further spiritual understanding. Rationalistic philosophy wielded great influence among the classes it was most desirable to reach, and this philosophy might become the greatest enemy if not properly addressed; on the other hand, it could be of the greatest assistance if the foundation of Theosophy in Germany were laid upon the writings of the great German philosophers. Men such as Leibniz, Schelling, Fichte, and Hegel were true theosophists, and they should align themselves with the teachings these men had left behind” (Quoted from Crispian Villeneuve: Rudolf Steiner in Britain, A Documentation of his Ten Visits, Vol. I, 1902–1921, Forest Row 2004, pp. 29–30. According to Crispian Villeneuve, what may even be “the” only copy of the printed but unpublished “Report of Proceedings” is located at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in England at Gloucester Place in London).

[ 6 ] Translated into German by the editor: “He said he had been sent over by the Berlin Lodge to learn about the Theosophical Movement at its source. They were to establish a new section in Germany, and he would endeavor to provide a mental image of the current state of affairs there. At present, they had only a few people who had any real understanding of theosophical teachings, but there were some diligent workers in several major cities, and there was sufficient latent potential and a strong desire for further spiritual understanding in Germany. Rationalist philosophy had exerted a great influence on those classes that would be most desirable to reach, and this philosophy could become the greatest enemy if it were not properly addressed; or, on the other hand, it could be of the greatest help if the foundation of Theosophy in Germany were based on the writings of the great German philosophers. Men such as Leibniz,^{4Leibniz: Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646–1716), German philosopher, mathematician, and polymath of the Enlightenment.} Schelling,^{5Schelling: Friedrich Wilhelm Joseph Schelling (1775–1854), German philosopher and anthropologist, successor to Hegel’s chair in Berlin.} Fichte, ^{6Fichte: Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1762–1814), German philosopher of idealism.} and Hegel ^{7Hegel: Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831), German philosopher, representative of German idealism. — On Fichte, Schelling, and Flegel: See, among others, Rudolf Steiner: The Riddles of Philosophy, GA 18. The first edition of this work was published under the title Worldviews and Views of Life in the Nineteenth Century, Volume 1 in 1900 and Volume II in 1902, both in Berlin. — See also, in particular: Images of Occult Seals and Columns. The Munich Congress at Pentecost 1907 and Its Repercussions, GA 284. At the 1907 congress of the Federation of European Sections of the Theosophical Society in Munich, Rudolf Steiner had busts of Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel placed in front of the stage.} were “true theosophists” and that one should adhere to the teachings these men had left behind.”

[ 7 ] There are no other documents available regarding Rudolf Steiner's presentations at this twelfth congress of the European Section of the Theosophical Society (Adyar).

[ 8 ] In addition to Rudolf Steiner and Marie von Sivers, the following individuals from Germany participated: Henriette von Holten,^{8Henriette von Holten: 1845–2, née Borchert; no further details are known.} Adolf Kolbe,^{9Adolf Kolbe: ?–1934, member of the Theosophical Society since 1897; in 1898, together with Bernhard Hubo, he founded the Hamburg Pythagorean Branch, which was one of the branches that formed the German Section in 1902. Member of the German Section’s executive committee from 1905 to 1913; esoteric disciple of Rudolf Steiner.} Ludwig Deinhard.^{10Ludwig Deinhard: 1847–1917, engineer and industrialist; from 1894 to 1896, head of one of the first Theosophical branches in Munich. He worked toward the establishment of a German Section beginning in 1900 and served on its executive committee from 1902 to 1908. His book *The Mystery of Man in the Light of Psychic Research: An Introduction to Occultism* (Berlin, 1910) was highly regarded by Rudolf Steiner. See also the lecture of May 19, 1917, “Central Europe Between East and West,” GA 1744, 2nd ed., Dornach 1982, p. 155–175, and “On the History and Content of the First Section of the Esoteric School, 1904–1914,” GA 264. - Initially belonged to the circle around Karl du Prel, later to the circle around Hübbe-Schleiden, but then joined Rudolf Steiner entirely.} It is also noteworthy that this is likely where her first encounters with Elisabeth Vreede took place ^{11Elisabeth Vreede: 1879–1943, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher. Since 1914, a staff member at the Goetheanum, where she established the Rudolf Steiner Lecture Archive in 1919. In 1920, a founding member and subsequently secretary of the branch at the Goetheanum. From 1923 to 1935, she was a member of the founding executive committee of the General Anthroposophical Society and head of the Mathematical-Astronomical Section of the School of Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum.} and Daniel Nicole Dunlop ^{12Daniel Nicole Dunlop: 1868–1935, Secretary General of the Anthroposophical Society in England from 1930 to 1935; organizer of the International Summer Schools in 1923 (in Penmaenmawr) and 1924 (in Torquay). Founder of the British Weleda Company.} came.