Leadership Challenges and Organizational Renewal in 1923

GA 259 — 6 December 1923, Dornach

To Marie Steiner in Berlin
Thursday, December 6, 1923

Dornach, December 6, 1923 My dear Mouse!

With regard to Meyer, I agree with everything you have done and continue to do in this matter. Even if he resigns immediately, I believe that after everything that has happened, we have to accept this and continue to tell him what is necessary. So you are completely free to do as you see fit.

The things you write are all terrible. And I regret that you have to go through all this. Most of all, that you are being held in Berlin for so long. But Meyer didn't have an easy time in Berlin either. Because basically, as big as the branch is, he is faced with nothing but zeros. Or, as for Büttner, people who, because of their rashness, are the same as zeros. Of course, you still have to form a new board with these zeros. There is no other way. But it cannot be assumed that these people, such as Münch, will achieve anything. Meyer is an unconscious schemer, a bottomless babbler, and — whatever his first lecture may have been like — he doesn't really understand the true basis of any of the things under consideration. He has not been scientifically educated in the real sense either. But he prattles with superficial knowledge; and he has acquired airs in speaking that the “scientists” believe are similar to theirs. That is why people listen to him. Basically, he is even more harmful as a lecturer than as a chairman. Of course, that doesn't mean that he is still useful as a chairman. He should leave as soon as possible after the way he has behaved now. But the others are not useful either. But where can we work with useful people at all? I am certainly pleased that you are writing good things about Dr. Unger. He is now making every effort. And I want to be the first to recognize this. But he is not suited to lead the Anthroposophical Society in the sense that it has now become through the anthroposophical movement, even though he, when he does get somewhere, says the things that had to be drummed into him in countless sessions. That is enough for a few lectures, but no more. It would only go further if it were backed by real independent thinking. But that is not the case either. Yet I regard all this as my official secret.

Only things backed by strength have a real effect. This is the case where, as in speech courses, eurythmy and other things, real things are given. That is why I am very happy that you have had such great success with the speech course and that you have been able to put together a eurythmy performance so quickly. Of course, the Anthroposophical Society is necessary for all of this. But it will decay if new blood does not flow into it. It will not flow in as long as those who are in have a deterrent effect. People will not come from outside. Nevertheless, there is nothing else to be done but to work with the people who are there and, when people become as dubious as Meyer, to simply get rid of them.

Regarding the matter of the book warehouse in Berlin. I agree with this; I only ask you to consider whether the Rath'sche Buchhandlung is not a continuation of the Judge-Theosophers Rath¹. I cannot know that. If that were the case, it would seem to me to be quite questionable. But a book warehouse should be in Germany. And the question would have to be considered, if Rath-Schmidt is not suitable, whether one would not want to give the warehouse to the Kommenden Tag-Verlag in Stuttgart only on commission. But if it were possible, Rath would be better.

We will do the Christmas play rehearsals. The performance in Schaffhausen is scheduled. If it is possible to still perform here during Advent, then it shall be done.

I will refrain from using the eurythmy room as a mass accommodation, according to what you write. I am also thinking that the hall, which is just becoming usable, will be very necessary for eurythmy rehearsals. But I foresee that the Brodbeck House will not be completed in time, no matter what Aisenpreis² promises. I can only count on what I see myself. But now, because of the books, I have been nurturing a plan, which I am also submitting to you by telegraph. If it should be necessary to have a permanent book storage facility, I could have a shed built right away at the Goetheanum. It could be built next to the greenhouse, facing up towards the path to the carpentry workshop. It could be ready by the time the books arrive here, even if that is not until the beginning of January. You will think the plan is fantastic. Otherwise, it could indeed happen that it would be difficult to find space for the books when they arrive while we have to be in Hansi's house. I am thinking that the shed will be the permanent storage place and that Hansi's house will later be the office and shipping rooms. But of course I will only do so if you agree and if the book storage can be insured. But you can be sure that I will find space for the time when the books cannot yet be in Hansi's house, whatever happens. I just dread the fact that then everything has to be moved from the storage place to Hansi's house.

Once again: I am saddened that you were held up in Berlin for so long and had so many unpleasant experiences; but I am pleased that the speech therapy course went so well.

I only suggested the matter of the eurythmy room to you because, as I said, I am not dealing with it now, because for the time being no one here really knows how to accommodate the fantastically large number of participants. From Germany alone, 200 people are registered, and there is no accommodation for any of them yet, not to mention the fact that we don't have any money to pay for the accommodation of those who do not pay. And yet, everything now depends on the Christmas event on the anniversary of the fire being a worthy one, also in terms of the number of participants. If that is not the case, I think it would be best not to build at all anymore. After the bitter meetings in London and The Hague³ It can still go well here; but we must do everything we can.

Warmest regards, Rudolf Steiner