The Fateful Year of 1923

GA 259 — 20 July 1923, Dornach

The International Delegates' Assembly

[Except for the abbreviated general report by Albert Steffen and Guenther Wachsmuth, there are no complete minutes of all the discussions that took place. The two general meetings with all the delegates and members of the Anthroposophical Society on July 21 and 22 were recorded in shorthand. However, the two stenographers, Helene Finckh and Walter Vegelahn, only transcribed Rudolf Steiner's comments from their shorthand into longhand. The special discussions that took place alongside these two general meetings were not recorded, or only partially in note form, again with the exception of Rudolf Steiner's comments during the discussion with the German friends in the early morning of July 22. Otherwise, there are a few private reports. The complete report by Steffen and Wachsmuth is followed by a chronological overview of the days of the meeting with the verbatim reproduction of Rudolf Steiner's votes as recorded by the stenographers.

Abbreviated report of the International Assembly of Delegates of the Anthroposophical Society in Dornach from July 20-23, 1923, as well as some preliminary remarks for the founding of the International Anthroposophical Society at Christmas 1923 in Dornach.

The loss of the Goetheanum through the fire on New Year's Eve 1923 was the most devastating event in the history of the anthroposophical movement and had to awaken the activity of the members more than ever. The year 1923 should show to what extent a new building can become reality from the united will of the society. During the months since the fire at the Goetheanum, the firm wish of so many people in all countries of the world to rebuild the Goetheanum had been conveyed in telegrams, letters and other messages. An international committee had therefore convened the present assembly of delegates in the shortest possible time in order to give representatives from the various countries the opportunity to consult with each other regarding the action needed to realize the construction.

At the preliminary meeting of the national delegates on Friday, July 20, the Congress Committee was elected: Mr. Albert Steffen as Chairman, Mr. George Kaufmann as Vice-Chairman, Dr. Guenther Wachsmuth and Mr. Heywood-Smith as Secretaries. This working committee was complemented by Dr. Ita Wegman, Mr. Scott Pyle, Mr. Leinhas, Mr. van Leer, Mr. de Haan.