Esoteric Lessons 1913–1923

GA 266III

History of the Youth Circle II

Undated, March/April 1920:

No. II Circular letter on the form of the anthroposophical youth branch

The youth branch is a working community. Its headquarters are in Stuttgart. It has no chairpersons, but rather a managing director in Stuttgart and working leaders in the individual locations, all of whom can be reappointed annually.

The Youth Branch elects its patrons from among the older anthroposophists, who have the full trust of the young people. All of the Youth Branch's undertakings are submitted to them for review. The patronage is for one year. There should be no more than one patron for every 12 young people.

The members of the Youth Branch are registered as such with the office of the Anthroposophical Society in Berlin, Motzstrasse. Membership cards for the Youth Branch are issued from Stuttgart. Anyone who is prepared to take the following pledge can become a member of the Youth Branch: To devote themselves with all their strength and dedication to the service of the anthroposophical movement. There is no age limit, but only those who are prepared to give the youngest members their full rights in terms of learning and living should become members. The pledge should be taken after a trial period of six weeks, unless the applicant is already a member of the Anthroposophical Society. Upon admission and during cooperation, all sympathies and antipathies toward the cause itself must be set aside. The exclusion of a member, unless they withdraw their pledge themselves, can only take place after a request by the entire group and after approval by all patrons by the administrative office.

In the local group meetings, which should take place once a month and must take place even if only one group member requests it, members under the age of 30 have double votes.

The members of the Youth Branch have equal rights to those of the Society with regard to the personality of Rudolf Steiner as a teacher.

The initiative for the work should come primarily from those who wish to learn, through applications to the work leader. He mediates the cooperation, i.e., he seeks suitable teachers. Older anthroposophists should be called upon as teachers whenever possible. However, younger members should also be given the opportunity to train as teachers. The work, in which ultimate truthfulness – genuine expertise on the part of the teachers and receptiveness on the part of the learners – should be the guiding principle, takes place in free working groups by mutual agreement. In detail, the work should be adapted to local conditions.

Outwardly, it is important to reach out to all circles of young people. Efforts must be made to gain access to Free German associations, universities, and youth clubs, to give lectures and introductory courses, and to try to attract individuals through personal contact. Exchange of writings. Essays in young German magazines. Display of our magazines in reading rooms.

The local groups should be connected [by] circular letters to be published as needed, in which insights and experiences are to be recorded. In addition, meetings of the entire branch should be organized whenever possible.

The local groups will have to levy a membership fee, to be determined by themselves, of which we request that a portion be transferred to the office to cover its costs.

We ask that you discuss this circular in your local groups and send any requests for changes to its text or your agreement with it to the head office at Dobelstrasse 4 II, Stuttgart, so that we can print a larger number for distribution.

The office of the Anthroposophical Youth Branch,
p.p. Otto Benn