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

GA 250 — 19 October 1903, Berlin

8. Protocol of the General Assembly of the German Section of the Theosophical Society

The Secretary General, Dr. Steiner, is presiding. He welcomes the representatives of the various branches in Germany.

The following are present:

Mr. Hubo from Hamburg
Mr. Günther Wagner from Lugano
Mr. Richard Bresch from Leipzig
Mrs. Geheimrat Lübke from Weimar
Mr. Julius Engel from Charlottenburg
Mr. Fischer from Hannover
Mr. Arenson from Stuttgart

From the Berlin branch:

General Secretary Dr. Steiner
The Treasurer Mrs. von Holten
The Secretary Miss von Sivers

The following German cities are not represented:

Düsseldorf, Kassel, Munich.

The following members of the Theosophical Society are also present:

Miss Motzkus
Mrs. Blieffert
Miss von Rosen
Mr. Kolbe from Hamburg
Mr. Fränkel
Mr. Georgi

Dr. Steiner reads out the telegrams of greeting from:

Count and Countess Brockdorff
Mr. Haase in Leipzig
Mr. Fischer in Schneidlingen.

Dr. Steiner announces that Mr. Bruno Berg has resigned from the Theosophical Society. Since he was a member of the executive council and Mr. Huebbe-Schleiden had also resigned from the council, two new members of the council had to be elected; then the statutes of the Theosophical Society had to be reviewed. But first he wanted to raise the question of whether it would not be advisable to include the godparents in the membership lists as well, as far as possible.

Hubo thinks it would serve little purpose and would present many difficulties.

Bresch asks whether it has proved to be practically desirable.

Steiner reports on a case where knowledge of the sponsors would have been of practical importance. In the past, only one sponsor would have been put on the form, and the other would have been taken very lightly. It was only much later that it became necessary to check the individual case.

Wagner suggests writing out the sponsors on the forms when the latter are in Berlin.

Hubo admits that it is necessary not to accept members so informally and without knowing their personality. However, it is difficult because after public meetings, people can come forward who nobody knows. They would then have to be asked to come to the public meetings for a while until they have got to know the Theosophical world view.

Bresch believes that caution is advised when entering the Esoteric Section, but otherwise he accepts as members those who have heard three lectures by him.

Arenson says that one cannot go further than demanding an interest in the matter and observing that no moral qualities stand in the way of entry.

Engel says that if these people were interested in getting to know us, we would get to know them in the process. He agrees with Dr. Steiner's view that the names of the sponsors should also be included.

Hubo expresses the wish that in the future the costs of propaganda lectures in Berlin will be borne by the German Section. Election of the executive council: Dr. Steiner proposes Mrs. Geheimrat Lübke from Weimar as a member of the executive council to replace the resigned Hübbe-Schleiden.

He justifies this choice by mentioning Mrs. Lübke's merits in spreading Theosophy in Weimar, which is particularly important as the spiritual center of Germany. Mrs. Lübke also got to know the Theosophical movement thoroughly during an extended stay in England.

The election is unanimously accepted.

Wagner proposes that Mr. Eggers, the chairman of the Hanoverian branch, be elected to the board instead of Bruno Bergs.

Bresch: Without wanting to vote against Eggers, he thinks that the main emphasis should be on the quality of the personality.

Steiner, having met him in person, has the impression that Eggers has a skillful hand and is energetic and active.

Fischer says that he has been serving as chairman for a good two years.

Bresch proposes Miss Mathilde Scholl in Cologne.

Hubo votes in favor and adds that they had already been considered the previous time.

Arenson abstains from voting.

Wagner says he doesn't know her either, but is of the opinion that personal qualities should be the deciding factor, and Hanover will not be offended if it is not considered this time.

Steiner notes that Mr. Noll will soon no longer be able to work, and then Eggers could be elected in his place. Thereupon the election of Mathilde Scholl is unanimously accepted.

Steiner asks whether the election of Mr. Eggers is agreed to in advance in the event of Mr. Noll's resignation.

Hubo notes that according to the statutes, the opinion of the members of the board would have to be obtained in this case.

Election of two auditors to audit the penalty fund at the Annual General Meeting each year. Miss Motzkus and Mr. Seiler in Berlin are unanimously elected after Mr. Fischer from Hanover declines the election. Correction of the statutes

These are discussed point by point and amended. There is a lengthy discussion about whether Germans in other countries should be included in the German section.

Hubo says that as far as Switzerland is concerned, it does not yet have its own section, and therefore the German-speaking Theosophists there could be counted as part of the German Section, just as the Theosophists in Geneva have joined the French Section. But as soon as Switzerland has its own section, this question will be settled by itself.

Steiner notes that according to Austrian state laws, the merger of individual lodges into one section is not possible at all. However, we have members from Austria.

Arenson proposes to set the date of the General Assembly and to include it in the statutes.

Hubo proposes to set “in October”, and this version is adopted.

After further discussion of the statutes, Hubo proposes increasing the membership fees within the branches and the section fees.

The date for the section's annual accounts is also discussed and set for August 31.

Mr. Arenson, who is representing the Chairman in Stuttgart, Mr. Oppel, raises the question of whether Section board members may be represented at board meetings at the General Assemblies of the German Section.

Dr. Steiner says that this will not be allowed in the future.

Hubo proposes to change the title of the statutes as follows: “Statutes of the Theosophical Society and the German Section”.

Steiner suggests: “The Theosophical Society, Adyar Headquarters, Madras, German Section. Statutes”.

This version is adopted.

The wording surrounding the Theosophical emblem is still being negotiated. Steiner says that the translation “No religion is higher than the truth” is not entirely accurate, but that it was once accepted by Olcott. It should rather read “No fixed opinion is higher than the truth”; however, this matter cannot be dealt with so quickly.

Hubo proposes to leave the motto out altogether, Bresch to give it in the original language.

It remains the same and the statutes are adopted without a third reading.

Closing remarks

Hubo suggests sending a welcome to the new branch in Weimar and says thank you on behalf of all for their stewardship during the past year to Steiner, Fräulein von Sivers and Mrs. von Holten.

Steiner urges the meeting not to be dissatisfied with the progress of the German Section, which has only existed for a year. There are many difficulties and prejudices to be overcome, but the word “Theosophy” should still be retained, as it is still causing so much offence, and should be brought into honor in all quarters.

The meeting is adjourned at around two o'clock.