1903 Annual Report for the German Section of the Theosophical Society

Translated by Marie Steiner for the twenty-eighth Anniversary and Convention of the Theosophical Society

To the President-Founder, TS: - With my fraternal and most cordial greetings I have pleasure in submitting to you the Annual Report of the German Section of the Theosophical Society.

A new branch has been formed at Weimar, under the title of the Weimar Branch of the TS.

The total number of branches in Germany and German-Switzerland is now 11; 47 new members have joined during the year and two resigned. Miss Marie [v.] Sivers (Motzstrasse, 17, Berlin Wilmersdorf) has been elected Assistant to the General Secretary.

In the month of June last there appeared the first number of anew monthly magazine, Luzifer, under my editorship. It is published at Motzstrasse 17, and is dedicated to theosophical propaganda in German-speaking countries. Our old organ, The Vâhan, edited by Herr Richard Bresch, at Leipzig, has continued to appear as usual.

A new work entitled «Christendom as a Mystical Fact», by myself, has been published, and another, «Theosophy, a Picture of the World and the Destiny of Man,» is in preparation by me and will shortly appear. The following translations have been published: Mrs. Besant’s «Esoteric Christianity,» Mr. Leadbeater’s «Astral Plane» and «Outline of Theosophy.»

On the whole I venture to say that we are authorized to entertain the best hopes for the future. I myself am doing my best to aid in propagating Theosophy in Germany, lecturing in Berlin and in other towns. We hope to form within the next few weeks branches at Köln and Nürnberg.

Our work is difficult as so many of our old members are reluctant to enter upon the work of propaganda in the present state of German thought, but I am fully persuaded, after considering all sides of the question, that positive work must overcome all obstacles: at the beginning success will be slow, but the movement will become stronger as it acquires momentum. With my whole soul I promise to do everything in my power to forward it.

Rudolf Steiner,
General Secretary.