The Fateful Year of 1923

GA 259 — 9 June 1923, Dornach

Assembly of the Delegates of the Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland

[There are no minutes of this meeting, but there is the following report from a personal letter dated June 11 from Ernest Etienne of Chancy/Geneva; cf. also the report by Dr. Ernst Blümel at the Annual General Meeting on June 10, page 522.]

I was in Dornach for the group leaders' meeting and the meeting of the Anthroposophical Society in Switzerland. We had a meeting from three to five in the afternoon last Saturday, then eurythmy and a lecture, followed by a meeting from ten o'clock until one o'clock at night with the delegates, at which Dr. Steiner was present. A declaration was read in which Dr. Steiner was asked to take charge of the reconstruction of the Goetheanum and granted full freedom in the choice of those who should help him and also with regard to the finances necessary for the reconstruction. On condition that no one interferes with his arrangements, Dr. Steiner accepted, naturally also taking full responsibility for the construction and the finances. He has now requested a further three million to get started, in addition to the three million promised by the insurance company. He has stated that the insurance company has paid up and that the Canton of Solothurn wants the reconstruction and will provide the necessary funds. It would be made of concrete and would retain the character of the new organic forms typical of anthroposophy. The construction would be completed quickly, taking about 12 to 15 months. In view of the exchange rate fluctuations and the difficulties they cause, Dr. Steiner is opposed to taking out a loan and would prefer donations à fonds perdus.¹

Long discussions arose among the delegates to create an organization in Dornach to better inform the branches. This was a rather unpleasant matter that took up a lot of time. First, they demanded a great deal, and then they refused to give the necessary credit. The Bernese were quite bureaucratic and demanded a set of rules of procedure and an employment contract for the person who was to be entrusted with this matter. Another difficulty was the location, the furniture and finally the person himself. They were not satisfied with Storrer, who has taken everything upon himself. He was only provisionally confirmed, and Mr. Stokar was added to him, who is to receive 300 francs a month and can share the existing facilities.

I emphasized the necessity of guidance for the branches and for members who do not belong to any group. My proposal was accepted:

1. Minutes of the Dornach meetings should be taken.
2. More frequent meetings of the delegates.
3. Written communication of the issues discussed and those that need to be discussed.

It was decided that the branches in Bern, Zurich, Olten, St. Gallen and Basel should each have a delegate on the committee to oversee relations between the branches and the center and the use of funds. Mr. Steffen should have nothing to do with these financial matters. Stokar will take care of the communications and the minutes. The contributions of the branches were increased in that they will pay ten francs for each member for this organization instead of five as before, and the members who do not belong to a branch (and therefore have no expenses arising from branch membership) will pay 25 francs.²