The Fateful Year of 1923

GA 259 — 11 July 1923, Stuttgart

Meeting of the Circle of Thirty

In the presence of¹ Dr. Steiner's first point of discussion was the plan of the building on the Waldorf School grounds. He declared that the “Free Anthroposophical Society” could not under any circumstances build accommodation there. Its members were already spending far too much time in the Waldorf School, where their influence on the pupils had already led to the introduction of manners more in keeping with those of a grammar school, which he would not tolerate under any circumstances.

Afterwards, the Völker-Unger affair was discussed. Miss Völker was besieged from all sides to put an end to the matter, including by Dr. Steiner, who attacked her with fierce words. But she remained obstinate, so much so that I doubted her goodwill and insight. She believes that it is not in her power to bring the matter to a conclusion, which Dr. Steiner seemed to confirm afterwards. Rittelmeyer suggested that she declare in her branch that she would leave it if the matter was not settled.

There was more back and forth talk until Dr. Steiner declared that he could no longer attend these meetings if only non-substantive matters were discussed.