The History of the German Section of the Theosophical Society 1902-1913

GA 250 — 18 October 1903, Berlin

6. First General Assembly of the German Section of The Theosophical Society

Report by Richard Bresch, “Der Vâhan”, Volume V, No. 5, November 1903

Berlin, Motzstr. 17, Sunday, October 18, 11 a.m. preliminary discussion. Eight lodges are represented: Berlin, Charlottenburg, Hamburg, Hannover, Leipzig, Lugano, Stuttgart and Weimar. After Dr. Steiner had read out some letters of congratulations and welcome, he proceeded to discuss the events of the past year. The behavior of the lodges in Düsseldorf and Kassel is distressing. Due to various unfortunate circumstances, they have ceased their meetings and become dormant branches. However, all activity has by no means ceased there, and there is justified hope that a revival or awakening will succeed. What is missing in Düsseldorf and Kassel is a suitable personality who, as a spiritual pacemaker, has enough intelligence and willingness to make sacrifices to lead the whole, to impress upon the members the duties that arise from the new knowledge, and to encourage them to further progress with ever new material. The founding of the Weimar Lodge, in the city of muses so significant for Germany's intellectual life, and the almost perfect Nuremberg Lodge, in the emporium that was no less important in Germany's early history, is gratifying. Dr. Steiner recommends that where the formation of lodges is not possible, at least “centres” should be formed. In all sections of the population, the reluctance and prejudice against Theosophy are very strong and its disdain is encountered at every turn; nevertheless, Dr. Steiner cannot adopt the policy advocated by some of spreading Theosophy without using its name, could not be adopted by him. He considered it more appropriate to proclaim it loudly and to blaze a trail for it with perseverance, strength and dignity. He then spoke about his trip to London for the annual meeting of European general Secretaries, where he made a point of learning about the experiences of the other sections so that he could apply them in Germany as far as possible. Mrs. Besant takes a lively interest in our section and fully approves of what has happened so far; in England, great expectations are being placed on our movement in Germany. He has even found so much material support from the English side that next year he will be able to attach himself an assistant in the person of Miss von Rosen, who, under his (Dr. Steiner's) direction and responsibility, would take care of the correspondence, which he has been forced to neglect so far, and thus remedy a situation that is so painfully felt in all lodges. Otherwise, matters of an internal nature were discussed that do not belong in public.

At half past five, Dr. Steiner gave the announced lecture on occult historical research, which was attended by an audience of 40 to 50 people. The speaker said the following: After the Theosophical Society was founded in 1875, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, with the help of her teachers, began to work on the mighty work that we know as “The Secret Doctrine” and in which a treasure of the deepest knowledge has been left to us. This work consists of two parts, the cosmological and the anthropological, the first of which deals with the development of the universe and the second with that of man. In the course of time, this work will be supplemented by a third part, which will deal with what profane science calls “history”. Historical research must, for better or for worse, be content with the facts that take place on the physical plane; on the other hand, theosophy, which goes directly back to the causes, finds the answer to all those questions that secular science has so often and so in vain tried to solve.

If we follow the historical facts, we encounter three things: just as the acting human being is enveloped in a three-part system - the physical, the mental and the spiritual being - so too are historical facts subject to such a tripartite division. The external actions that take place before our senses are in the physical; in the soul lies the center where pleasure and displeasure, sympathy and antipathy prevail, and in the spiritual we find the realm where the events of history arise. Here we have to look for the true causes of everything that happens on earth, here the leading figures of history consult each other face to face with the great and invisible leaders of humanity. Only when we explore the intention that drove them to act do we understand the often inexplicable facts of history.

For example, in the fifteenth century there lived a Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa (Cusanus), who had deep scientific insights. Long before Copernicus, he had recognized and taught the double movement of the earth, without being understood by his contemporaries. It was a kind of preparation for what Copernicus (born 1473) was able to communicate to a more insightful generation (sixteenth century). Occult researchers now unanimously teach (and Helena Petrovna Blavatsky also openly stated and hinted at it in the third volume of the “Secret Doctrine”) that Copernicus was none other than the reincarnated Cardinal Cusa, who in this way brought his work to completion. Thus tasks are set and solved; the soul that prepares something great comes back later to fulfill and complete its mission.

The speaker gave two more examples to illustrate the way in which occult historical research works in its difficult field, how it connects seemingly unrelated facts in an explanatory way; and with these examples he at the same time gave a picture of the supplement to the “Secret Doctrine” that was once to be expected: rounds and races were the subjects of the parts published so far; the third part, the occult research of history, will deal with reincarnation.

Finally, Dr. Steiner spoke at length about the Theosophical movement. This, he emphasized, is also an enormous necessity in the occult sense; there are many reasons for this, one of the most important of which is as follows:

A secret is handed down to each human race; we are in the fifth race and with the fifth secret, and the latter cannot be pronounced today, but we are gradually living into it. Paul, who was an initiate, already hints at what it is, but it will only be revealed in the course of our race's development. Premature divination of this secret by purely intellectual abilities would mean an indescribable danger for humanity. Since such divination has almost occurred twice already and will happen again in the foreseeable future, the great teachers of humanity have brought about the theosophical movement. Humanity is to be prepared for the great truth. Theosophy is working towards a certain point in time; a core is to be formed that understands this truth when it emerges undisguised one day - a core that grasps it correctly and uses it not as a curse but as a blessing for humanity. The earlier races were formed from an already existing one, by the selection of suitable individuals or families and the continuation of these by the Manu in suitable deserted landscapes.¹

This process is no longer feasible in today's globalized world, but it is no longer necessary either; it has been replaced by education through the cosmopolitan International Theosophical Society, which forms this core.

So much for Dr. Steiner.

Only a few points from the discussion that followed his lecture can be highlighted here. It was emphasized how few people have real experience regarding the decisive facts of the world view, e.g. regarding the biogenetic law in Germany only about 20; witnesses of the occult facts are even fewer by nature. Incidentally, it is hardly a mere coincidence that in 1875, the year in which the nature of the fertilization process, and thus the origin of the personality, was revealed to us by science, the Theosophical Society was founded, which teaches us about our individuality. The monistic or materialistic view of Ernst Haeckel was discussed in detail, the importance of his scientific research was emphasized and appreciated, but the low value and superficiality of his speculative philosophical and especially religious remarks were also emphasized. The monistic way of thinking is very close to Theosophy and much of what Haeckel writes reads like the basics of Theosophy. Only the thinking habits of our time, mass suggestion, prevent the breakthrough of the theosophical worldview.

In order to easily, smoothly and effectively refute all objections of natural scientists to the existence of the soul (independent of the physical body), Mr. Hubo recommended two of du Prel's works that had also appeared in Reclam's Universal Library: “The Riddle of Man” and “The Monistic Doctrine of the Soul”; these writings are in that respect a veritable arsenal full of weapons that every theosophist should always have at hand. Finally, attention was drawn to the highly questionable nature of those writings on the effects of personal magnetism (Törnbock) that have recently come to us from America (New York Institute of Science) with the usual publicity. These writings should only be given to those who are absolutely morally stable and are therefore quite capable of causing untold harm under the guise of science.

Monday, October 19, at ten o'clock in the morning: business general assembly. In order to establish a connection and communication between the branches, it was decided to publish a monthly hectographed correspondence sheet, to be produced at headquarters and sent free of charge. Furthermore, when notifying the names of all members to headquarters, the date of admission and the names of the two sponsors or guarantors should be added if possible. It was recalled that when each member joins the Society, in addition to the annual subscription of three marks, they must pay five marks admission fee in accordance with the Constitution. The income of the Section in the past year amounted to 332.70 Marks, of which one-fourth is to be remitted to Adyar in November, as per the Constitution. Expenditure amounted to 34.40 Marks. Miss Motzkus and Mr. Seiler were appointed as auditors. Privy Councillor Lübke and Miss Mathilde Scholl were elected to replace the outgoing board members Bruno Berg and Dr. Hübbe-Schleiden. The members of the board can express their will or vote in writing, but cannot be represented in person. Miss von Sivers is given the title “secretary”. Furthermore, the statutes of our German section were definitively established; however, since they will soon appear in print, there is no need to go into them further here. The first general assembly concluded with a vote of thanks to Dr. Steiner, Ms. von Sivers and Ms. von Holten for their knowledgeable and dedicated work. I am convinced that we can be thoroughly satisfied with the way the assembly went and with the results. In any case, the foundation for a prosperous future has now been laid.