The Rudolf Steiner Archive

48. Founding of the Federal Republic

Report by Carl Unger in the “Bulletin for Members of the German Section of the Theosophical Society (Headquarters: Adyar), published by Mathilde Scholl,” No. 13/1912

[ 1 ] The speech that Baron von Walleen delivered on December 14, following the General Assembly of the German Section and concerning his “Experiences on Lecture Tours in Scandinavia and England,” was met by the assembled friends with a mood that, under the influence of the events at this General Assembly, was eager to find expression. While the General Assembly itself was marked by the fact that the spiritual movement inaugurated ten years ago by Dr. Steiner is struggling with difficulties within the Theosophical Society—the only framework available at the time—Baron von Walleen pointed out the obstacles faced by friends abroad who wish to unite to work in the spirit of this spiritual movement.

[ 2 ] Following this speech, Dr. Steiner presented a number of facts from the history of the German Section, which helped explain the difficulties that this spiritual movement was bound to encounter both within and outside Germany.

[ 3 ] During the discussion on these matters scheduled for the following day (December 15), Baron von Walleen was able to convey the desire of our foreign friends to find a way to pursue spiritual work in the spirit of Rosicrucian Spiritual Science, unhindered by any opposing influences. This was to be achieved through the founding of an independent federation encompassing all true friends of this work both within and outside Germany. At the same time, he asked Dr. Steiner whether he would be willing to assume the teaching role in such a federation, and whether members could be granted access to events within the German movement—to which, until then, only members of the Theosophical Society had been admitted. Both questions could be answered in the affirmative, provided the federation were established in a positive manner, and the ensuing discussion resulted in the unanimous resolution to appoint a provisional working committee for the founding of the federation, in which all foreign friends present as well as the executive committee members of the German Section were to participate. The undersigned was elected chairman of this provisional committee.

[ 4 ] The committee meeting scheduled for the following day (December 16) proceeded as follows: the chair presented the points outlined below, which were to be regarded as reflecting the mood of the preceding negotiations, and requested that each participant at the meeting comment individually on these points. If a majority of the participants could agree on these points, the Federation was to be considered established by them, naturally by unanimous consent. All participants gave their approval by name, with the exception of one participant who wished to adopt a wait-and-see attitude.^{1He has since given his approval.}

[ 5 ] Thus, at that hour, the Federation was founded on the following principles: The Federation, which is to receive its name in due time, has set itself the task of uniting all those who wish to cultivate Rosicrucian Spiritual Science. This is to be achieved through an organization founded on trust and responsibility, initially without written bylaws, but as closely as possible to what is called a hierarchical order in the spiritual sense. The distribution of responsibility is conceived such that the founding committee feels accountable to the spiritual current that the Federation seeks to serve. Those committee members who have agreed to assume responsibility for a larger area of work bear this responsibility toward the committee. It is incumbent upon these “guarantors” to form working groups for which they bear responsibility; on the other hand, they possess complete freedom within the circles they have taken on. Individual guarantors may, of course, delegate or distribute their responsibilities to others, or bring in representatives, collaborators, and so on, entirely at their own discretion, in order to facilitate the work in accordance with the Federation’s spiritual current.

[ 6 ] The founders of the Federation are confident that the spiritual movement they seek to serve has taken such deep root in many hearts that the Federation may prove to be a suitable framework for this spiritual movement. All who wish to join them in their work in the spirit of this movement are welcome; to complete their membership, they may contact one of the guarantors listed below.

[ 7 ] This description of the Federation’s origins is provided in order to avoid misunderstandings from the outset as much as possible. The Federation has absolutely nothing to do with the Theosophical Society, neither in form nor in content; its members may or may not belong to the Theosophical Society; it does not intend to jeopardize the existence of the German Section in any way; it was not founded in opposition to anything at all, but rather in a thoroughly positive manner to foster a very specific spiritual current—Rosicrucian Spiritual Science—and it seeks a form that corresponds to the content of this spiritual current.

[ 8 ] The entire initiative, in its preliminary form, should be understood as an attempt to bring together those who agree with the principles of the federation. To this end, a central office was established to collect the results of this effort. It was agreed that, at the events in Munich next summer—where a large number of friends will gather—we would examine the extent to which a permanent organization can be established.

Guarantors within the German-speaking region:
Basel, Dr. Grosheintz.
Berlin, Miss von Sivers, Mrs. von Bredow, Mr. Kiem, Miss Mücke, Mr. Tessmar, Mr. Seiler.
Kassel, Dr. Noll.
Cologne, Miss Scholl, Mrs. Noss.
Düsseldorf (Haus Meer), Mrs. Smits.
Elberfeld, Mr. von Damnitz.
Hamburg, Mrs. Wandrey, Mr. Kolbe, Mr. Hubo.
Klagenfurt, Mr. Ritter von Rainer.
Leipzig, Mrs. Wolfram. Munich, Miss Stinde, Countess Kalckreuth, Count Lerchenfeld, Dr. Peipers.
Nuremberg, Mr. Bauer.
Stuttgart, Miss Völker, Mr. Arenson, Mr. del Monte, Dr. Unger.
Zurich, Professor Gysi.

Central Office:
For countries outside Germany:
Mr. Baron von Walleen, Stuttgart, Landhausstraße 63 II. For German-speaking regions:
Miss M. von Sivers, Berlin, Motzstraße 17.
Dr. Carl Unger, Stuttgart, Landhausstraße 63 III.

[ 9 ] The guarantors and the members of the Central Office are prepared to provide any information regarding the Federation.

[ 10 ] Stuttgart, December 31, 1911, Dr. Carl Unger