1909 Annual Report for the German Section of the Theosophical Society

Translated by Marie Steiner for the thirty-fourth Anniversary and Convention of the T.S., 1909

To the President, TS: - With the expression of heartiest respect and with fraternal greetings, I have the honour to submit to you the Annual Report of the Theosophical Society in Germany.

The Theosophical movement in Germany has made very satisfactory progress this year also. Seven new Branches have been founded, and in the old Branches the work has been continued, so that there is a progressive development and intensity in the domain of knowledge and Theosophical life, as well as an increase in the number of members and working capacities. Feeling the dignity of the Theosophical spirit in public work, we have laid stress principally upon quiet persistence, and this has succeeded in attracting an ever increasing number of hearers to our public lectures, although we severely refrain from anything which could have a likeness to objectionable advertisement. New Branches have been founded in Breslau, Mühlhausen, Essen, Koblenz, Dresden, Strassburg and Munich. The total number of Branches is now 44, and two Centres. 415 members have joined the Section during the year, 6 have died, 35 resigned or dropped and 29 passed over to other Sections. The net increase amounts to 350. The effective number of members at the last Convention of the Section was 1500. The lecture work of Dr. Rudolf Steiner has continued in the same intensive way as before, and particular stress has been laid on lifting Theosophical philosophy and questions of Occultism into the higher regions, in building up the fundamental principles of knowledge, which had been given out during the past years in the most various directions, and in infusing this knowledge into the manifold departments of practical life. Having organised, besides single lectures, an always growing number of lecture-series, it has been the more possible to deepen and widen the subjects. These lecture-series gain always much sympathy; in the course of this year we had five of them in Germany and Switzerland: in Düsseldorf, Kassel, Munich, Bâle and Berlin. The presence of many members from other countries gave us warm pleasure. In Munich the number of attendants was about 600. The value of these lecture-series is corroborated by the fact that Theosophical friends from abroad invited Dr. Rudolf Steiner to give them in their countries; they were held in Rome, Christiania and Budapest.

The representation of Edouard Schur@’s drama, The Children of Lucifer, which was given in connexion with the lecture-series of Munich, and only for the 600 friends of the Theosophical Society, was of particular importance. This performance may perhaps be considered as something deserving attention, because Dr. Rudolf Steiner wished to give in the scenical management an example of artistic performance according to the severest Theosophical principles. Only members of the Theosophical Society worked at the painting of decorations and scenic pictures. The actors too were all members of our Society. The principal parts were entrusted to Herr Doser, Frl. von Sivers and Dr. Peipers. Mr. Schuré gave us the great pleasure of his presence at the performance and also at the following lecture-series. The members of Munich, especially Countess Kalckreuth and Frl. Stinde, deserve our warmest thanks for the great amount of work which they have done in order to make possible this difficult representation.

We are also progressing in the popularisation of the Theosophical Spiritual movement through the so called «Rooms for Art and Music.» The room in Munich, mentioned in our last report, has continued its work under the guidance of Countess Kalckreuth and Frl. Stinde; a new one has been founded in Berlin under the care of Mr. Günther Wagner, and with the help of Frl. von Sivers, Frau von Sonklar, Baroness Lichtenberg, Frl. von Eckardstein, and many other Berlin members. Artistic and musical productions are offered to all classes of the population; myths and fairy-tales are treated from the Theosophical point of view, and popular Theosophy is explained.

It may be particularly noticed that the fruits of our Theosophical labor show themselves more and more in the special departments of science and life. Thus, Dr. C. Unger not only develops an intensive activity in the lecture-field, but builds up philosophy in a Theosophical spirit. Dr. Peipers displays a rich activity in making use of our Theosophical knowledge in the department of theoretical and practical medicine. The progress of our activity shows itself also in the increasing number of lecturers. Active in this respect have been Mrs. Wolfram, Mr. Michael Bauer, Mrs. Wandrey, Mrs. Reif-Busse, Mr. Walther, Mr. Schwab, Mr. Adolf Arenson, Miss Völker, and others who lectured in more intimate circles.

The magazine, Luzifer - Gnosis, continues and gains in expansion, although through the unceasing lecture-activity of Dr. Rudolf Steiner a great pause had unfortunately to be made in its appearance; but a second edition of the former numbers has been rapidly exhausted. The sectional-organ Mitteilungen appears in the same way as before.

The Seventh Annual Convention, hold in Berlin on October 23rd, 24th, and 25th, was numerously attended. Dr. Rudolf Steiner delivered on this occasion a series of lectures on «Anthroposophie.»

We look forward with the best hopes to the New Year. We send our warmest greetings to the revered President and to all brothers in India.

Dr. Rudolf Steiner,
General Secretary.