Rudolf Steiner: From Theosophy to Anthroposophy (1902-1913)

The Theosophical Society, founded in New York 1875, was, at the turn of Twentieth Century, a global phenomenon with 100,000 members. Age philosopher Dr Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was appointed as first Secretary General German Section Society on 19 October 1902. offered platform, ready-made audience, infrastructure, and insider experience world’s leading spiritual society. success demonstrated that there public appetite to hear about reincarnation, karma, maya, kamaloca, other Eastern alternative ideas. provided capable, multilingual, determined personal assistant, Marie von Sivers (1867-1948). For perfect training ground for what would be, decade later, his life’s work, Anthroposophical Society. grew membership from 377 1905 3,702 1913. He earned cash ticketing lectures Mystery plays, book sales publishing house, ‘Philosophisch-Theosophischer Verlag’. Another enterprise, ‘Johannes-Bau-Verein’ (Johannes Building Association) 1911, independent build theatre Munich present Steiner's plays. building application rejected by municipal authorities 1912. resistance Munich, impetus move Dornach, Switzerland. 28 December 1912 Cologne, Germany. Most members followed into expelled 7 March foundation stone Goetheanum (then still called ‘Johannesbau’) laid 20 September had served ideal prototype springboard founding growing