Our Dead

GA 261 — 1 September 1914, Berlin

Address for Those in the Field of War

My dear friends!

It is with a deeply moved heart that I am allowed to be among you for a while and to speak to you in these solemn hours. But our first thought is for those dear friends who were so often united with us here and who are now called to the field where the fates of individuals and nations are so powerfully at stake in the fighting. And so we remember our friends in loyal love in this hour and send our thoughts to them, our thoughts, which may have power inherent in them, so that they can strengthen themselves on the field where they now stand – as a sign of this, we rise from our seats for a moment!

Spirits of your souls, watchers in action,
May your wings bring
Our souls' imploring love
To earth-dwellers trusting in your keeping,
That, united with your power,
Our plea may help to radiate
the souls it seeks in love!

And we want to call out to our friends, that the Christ, of whom so much has been said here, may be with them, strengthening them, reigning over them in the field where the destinies of individuals and nations are now being decided.