Eberhard Arnold

Correspondence, June 1925

[Arnold, Eberhard and Emmy papers - L]

[Draft Translations by Bruderhof Historical Archive]

METHODIST CHILD WELFARE

CENTRAL EUROPEAN AREA

Freudenstadt, June 3

75 [years] before 2000

Dear Eberhard and all you others with sun-hearts,

We have experienced a lot since we left you. In Munich we could not get married, so “ Go further south!” said the doctor. We went on to Switzerland and on the way experienced much that was good and nice. But, as always happens, there were also nasty things.

Our goal was Locarno, and that’s where we stayed from November 4 to March 21. To be more precise, I, Hans, actually traveled to Munich two months earlier so as to get our marriage affair in order. A lady (a wonderful woman!) had invited us to stay from Christmas on with her in the Palace Hotel. Unfortunately this was of little use to us because Hans and I were taken seriously ill—a last aftereffect of Ilsenburg. We recovered pretty well, though. When both of us were back [in Munich], there was still a lot of running about in connection with our papers.. We registered in Munich but were granted permission to travel. We followed the route Ulm-Geislingen-Stuttgart-Freudenstadt.

On May 28 (75 before 2000) we could here at long last hop into the matrimonial yoke, so we can now present ourselves as a respectable married couple. We have of course not had any fixed abode—just stayed with single friends-what else were we to do? But when we come to you, we still want to have a little supplementary [wedding] celebration!

We would like to stay with you until June 20 or 21 and at the same time again stage a little summer solstice celebration with the children. To allow us to be more flexible in the next days we are already sending you two pieces of luggage in advance. We plan to come to you via Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, and Frankfurt

Hans still wants to give a number of lectures. We have been quite busy infecting the whole of mankind with festive ideas related to the year 2000. From your place we want to go on to America or to the East—depending on what may open up.

There are lots of new problems; we hope we can interest ever better circles and have already scored a few nice successes. What do you think about a summer solstice celebration geared to “75 before 2000”, featuring flowers in the hair, Chinese lanterns, little carts, etc. Could you get in touch about it with the school teachers? And as regards the two of us this would at the same time celebrate laying the corner stone for our future “artists’ home” with you, so that when we return we know we shall find a home.

On our journeys we would like to make Sannerz so world-famous that everybody will want to make a pilgrimage to you and that a new and sparkling buoyancy will be imparted to you, not forgetting, of course, the financial help everyone will want to render. So now you know what the two runaways have been up to. If Eberhard still wants to send us a message, for the next six days our address will be: H. Fiehler, Baden-Baden, poste restante.

Now cordial greetings to the whole house from your

Helli and Hans

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Lauenstein Castle, June 5, 1925

Dear Else,

It’s lovely up here and a very fine conference. It is a pity that Eberhard is not here. I would like to still be here on Sunday; I will see if I can travel Sunday night.

There is a lot of work going on here, and it leaves not much room for thinking. There are ever so many people here but by now I can find my way through a bit and discover that here or there somebody has already been to Sannerz.

Heartfelt greetings to all of you!

Ilse (von Seckendorf).

Please do not expect me back at a definite time unless I let you know .

I first have to re-emerge from all the ideas (here received) before I can give voice to something sensible.

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Hamburg, June 1, 1925

Dear Eberhard Arnold,

Sorry to say, I could not come to your community’s gathering, and I also failed to let you this because due to a change in my lodgings etc. It was only on Saturday, May 31 and in Dresden that I received ail the mail..

I am here in Hamburg for a whole week to attend the Political Week of the Hofgeismer circle of young socialists. I wish you could participate in this conference. As regards your reply to my letter, I presently respond only with this quotation from Max Weber: ‘Political activity means concluding a pact with diabolic powers which lurk behind each use of force—and that’ s what politics is. Politics resembles a forceful, slow drilling through hard boards carried out simultaneously with passion and a sense of proportion. Today I fully subscribe to, and affirm, this statement. I will later let you folks have a further answer.

A hearty greeting to you and yours, Eberhard!.

Franz Grosse

Leipzig-Neustadt, 11 Railway St., Courtyard IV I, with Schmidt.

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June 4, 1925

Dear Eberhard Arnold,

in honor of the summer solstice (June 20/21) there will be a meeting of the “younger” Free-Germans of northern Germany at Stendal (Elbe). This gathering is intended to try and put a clear stamp on what the new Free-German youth wants and is aiming at in the sense of [H. Buddensieg’s] “Challenger to an About-Face” (Rufer zum Wende magazine) the basic thoughts and views of w which are also yours. Similar to [the Easter meeting in] Eisenach it’s going to be a struggle for the recognition of Christ and for its application in practical life. Whether it’s going to be a successful struggle, that, of course, I don’t know.

I would be incredibly happy if by a lucky coincidence you happened to be in that area at just that time and were able to participate. I scarcely believe that will be possible; however, should you have addresses of “younger” Free-Germans in northern Germany, especially in Berlin, Hamburg, Magdeburg, Halle, Hannover etc., I would be very grateful if you could let me have them soon.

A hearty “ Hail” to you and all the others at Sannerz!

Your Hans-Joachim Schoeps

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Wittgenstein Food Wholesalers

Owner: L. Treutler, Merchant,

Erndtebrück, June 5, 1925

Mr. Eberhard Arnold

Sannerz

Dear Ebbo,

In a Protestant weekly I read about your Neuwerk work in Sannerz and among other things of how jointly with your wife you have to provide food for ever so many children’s mouths . That’s why at the first of this month I sent 1 sack with 100 pounds of rice to Schlüchtern station for you.

I wish the Lord’s blessing for your work, and together with Maria I send you greetings and heartfelt wishes for your and your family’s wellbeing.

Faithfully yours,

Ludwig

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Binau, June 6, 1925.

My dear Eberhard!

I am now once more sitting here in my Binau kingdom, waiting for you to come! For we are all very much looking forward to your visiting us and sharing our life for a few days. Lene Schulz, who has also been here in Binau was quite entranced by the magic of the Binau landscape. And I trust you will not delay your journey enough to give nature time to flag under the heat of summer.

I still have to say cordial thanks to all of you for all the kindness I was shown among you. I really must come to you again at a more tranquil time when there is no conference. Then we can all have also more time for each other.

I wonder how things may now be in Sannerz. I prayerfully think of you all whenever the evening bell sounds and many times otherwise, too.. How is your agriculture doing and the horse and Adolf Braun? I wonder if he enjoyed the abstinent grapes—the good fellow! [TN: As regards the horse mentioned here, half paid for by Ilse von Seckendorf, see May They All Be One, pp. 26-27.]

(What is occupying me at present, by the way, is the idea of a book: “The Real World--letters to seeking friends”--a book in which the burning questions of life are dealt with on the basis of total reality and of historical experience: power, narcissism, abstinence, man and woman, grace and nature, compassion, proletariat, militarism and similar problems. At the moment I lack the time for it, but I want to keep it in mind. By the way, in the next months I still want to really push ahead with my book about the philosophers of history. I am so happy to be at long last able to get to this.

As regards the “Challenger”, we shall most likely give it a rest in the next months and in the meantime make propaganda for it so that we can then make a new beginning with new vigor. As regards the Christian life witness, we must still talk about that; at any rate you can rely on me for that. [TN: Reference to the Library of Christian Witness Eberhard wants to publish.]

I had a very good journey back home from Sannerz. We had a look at glorious Würzburg;--the castle, the Neumünster, the wonderful Riemenschneider carvings, not forgetting the “wine room” (Weinstube) in the Julius Hospital. (By the way yet another example of how life’s reality actually presents itself: a wine room in a hospital for sick people! Here we can see the will of God and its being opposed by a human will to practice abstinence (putting it ambiguously). And still another glorious work by Riemenschneider! His “Madonna with the Jesus child” ought to have a candle by it. As a large picture it is now standing on my desk. And you will also get her in Sannerz as soon as I am back with you. Such wonderful works was “decrepit” Catholicism able to produce around the turn of the 15th century, just a short time before Luther took the stage! These hours in Würzburg formed a wonderful conclusion to the days in Sannerz. The following day I gave Lene Schulz a tour of Binau. So now she has the two centers side by side. In the afternoon we read Hölderlin on the heights above the Neckar River. I have a distinct feeling that the number of the faithful ones keeps growing.

And now best wishes to you all! Eberhard, give my greetings to your dear wife Emmy, to Emi-Margret and the Hollander sisters, to Trudi Dalgas and all the others dear to you. And tell my “friend” he should not be so cross with me! [TN: Probably a humorous reference to “abstinent” Adolf Braun.’] Please also remember me to all your farmyard birds and beasts as well as to Mr. Lotzenius.

May God protect you all

Your ever devoted

Hermann Buddensieg

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Sannerz, June 6, 1923

Dear Friedrich Kleemann,

It’s such a pity that you could not come to our Whitsun convention in Sannerz. I would have wished so much to have you among us! Through the witness of the early Christians and of the first Christian mission work and through the witness of Kierkegaard we have here been granted a great strengthening and deepening in Christ. What concerns us above all else is the more and more deeply penetrating question to what extent we live and to what extent we fail to live as Christ wants and in fact grants us to.

Since my publishing task obliges me to go to Frankfurt next week, I would herewith like to inquire if I might visit you on Monday or Tuesday and which day would suit you best. Please let me know by phone: Sterbfritz 38.

With faithful greetings to you and yours from myself and my dear wife

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Forsthövel, PO Herbern

Westfallia, June 9, 1925

Dear Eberhard Arnold,

Would you be good enough to let me know if you people are in a position to offer me a place among you for a time until I have found a job of some kind—that is unless you yourselves happen to have work for me.

My experiences and skills are in the area of domestic economy, which I received training in at a women’s trade school in Riga, and in office work, such as typing, bookkeeping, filing, and statistics. I have also done independent secretarial work, a position I have had several times in my life.

I can also do a bit of tailoring (making my own clothes) and have had some training in embroidery, fine-darning etc., but in the last years have done this work only for my own household requirements.

I am actually a teacher by profession, but have a great dislike for that occupation. What I would like best is to be in charge of a country convalescent home or other rural economic enterprise or to assist with that. I am not at all out for a leading position and would be very ready to accept some modest working job. It’s just heavy physical work I am not able to do, and would risk an early collapse by accepting such work.

Eberhard, you may have heard about us through Minchen Schrader. We are having to give up our small settlement, because the owner of the land and little house no longer wants to hold on to the promise he had given us and because we at the time unfortunately neglected to have the agreements we had made put into written form.

For educational purposes we have placed our child with a family of our acquaintance. My husband has a job in Hamm but does not earn enough for us to exist on; that’s why I am very keen to quickly get into a position where I can look after myself. I enclose a stamp to save you the expense incurred by writing back to me, and I hope you will answer soon.

Until then warm greetings!

Maria Lampe

PS. I am 36 years old, hence well beyond the years of youthful enthusiastic revelry; therefore potential employers would not experience with me the disappointing quality of unwillingness to also bear possible consequences of the accepted obligations.

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Sannerz, June 10, 1925

To the International Exchange Office (Internationale Austauschstelle d.W.)

Local group Chemnitz

Att. Gustav Böhm

Dear Gustav Böhm,

It suits us very well if you want to visit us with your American guests in Sannerz on July 20/21. We would try to find lodging for all of you here in the village. Please let us definitely know in writing if you want to hold on to the days indicated, for we would like to invite for this also some other German war resisters.

Sannerz is situated along the line from Schlüchtern to Gemünden and can be reached within half an hour from either Vollmerz or Sterbfritz. Since you will approach us from the north, either Vollmerz or Schlüchtern will be the station to aim for.

Schlüchtern, not far from Bebra, is a stopping point for express trains on the Frankfurt-Bebra line. If you manage to get a connection in Schlüchtern, board a Gemünden train to arrive two stations further on at Vollmerz. Should you miss your connection at Schlüchtern, you can reach Sannerz from there on foot within one-and-a-half or two hours..

We joyfully look forward to being together with your group. We would just like to ask you, Gustav Böhm, for a definite early notification.

With hearty greetings

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Sannerz, June 10, 192

To brother Fraatz

Presently at Bad Kudova (Kudova Spa) in Silesia

Rosenheim Boarding House

Dear brother Fraatz,

It has really touched my heart to hear that you have not been doing well at all. We do take a deep interest in how you folks are getting on, and we feel certain that you will be set free from any feeling of god forsakenness and that you will experience the nearness and strength of God also In a quite practical way for your life’s work.

Here with us all rooms are fully occupied right up to the roof; otherwise we would say, “Come to us and work with us, given that several times I had the feeling it was also quite personally to you, brother Fraatz, that there came the call to a communal life as corresponds to the great future of God.

At Whitsun we here received very strong impressions which I would like to tell you about as soon as I see you. Hopefully you have meanwhile made a good recovery there in Kudova, a place that I, too, know well and did often visit when I was a boy.

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Hamburg, July 10, 1925

Our dear Arnold brothers and sisters,

We send you many hearty greetings with Phil.4:4 and cordial thanks for your letter, the writings, and the kind invitation to come and see you. We don’t yet see the way open for that but hope in the Lord that He will grant us a being together at his own time.

We would so gladly once have a personal talk with you folks; from your letters a somewhat different direction is to be recognized. You dear ones know that we have joined the brothers and sisters of the “gathering” (Versammlung), and we found there a deep scriptural knowledge. We consider many Bible words and have been so happy to find the interpretations to be just as Brother Arnold had shown us the way and as we could ourselves recognize through the Spirit. According to that insight we are now in the time of the gospel of grace, in which in general the conditions of the Kingdom of God cannot be brought about and only individual souls are to be gathered so as to form a bridal community. Aren’t you dear ones also of the opinion that it is left to Israel to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom? Do you now think differently?

We have been very happy to also get to know your children’s names, to learn where they come from and what their gifts are, and together with you we bear them on praying hearts. Now and then we also want to support you by sending money.

Under the same cover we are sending you Manchester patterns, which please be kind enough to examine. My husband has made an effort to find what is most advantageous and hopes to thus be of service to you. Hopefully we shall soon hear what your choice and wishes are.

You should also know that for more than three years my mother has left Leipzig behind to be with us here; she will be 81 years in August and is comparatively still quite vigorous. There is also in the house a 16 year-old niece whose education we have taken over. God protect us all! Please greet your dear children and coworkers; we remember you a lot in our prayers, feel always close-bound to you as men waiting for their Lord.

Your brother and sister

Paul and Anna

P,S. The prices for Manchester are marked at lowest rate for each quality. Colors available as per sample card in any lengths desired. Value already indicated. The qualities marked “x” are best Linden products.

Looking forward to a speedy decision,

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Würzburg, Tröltschstr. 1/11

June 11, 1925

Highly esteemed Doctor Arnold,

A friend in Bayreuth passed on to me information about the Whitsun gathering in Sannerz. I had long had the intention of making a visit there, but was prevented. I see it as a duty for people closely related inwardly to feel the urge to get into mutual contact also outwardly if possible. For our struggle against the hostile powers a great strength does lie In such a community.

The enclosed newspaper announcement (which I would be glad to have returned to me whenever convenient) will help to give you a clearer view of what we are striving for in Busbach. Some of our friends in Bayreuth have also connections with the house community at the Habertshof. If you think that I had better turn to them, please be kind enough to simply forward this letter to the Habertshof.

Seeing that I find myself so close to Schlüchtern, I intend to make my way there on one of the next weekends and ask you to kindly let me know when a visit would be most convenient for you. Please let me know, too, if and when there would be a possibility for friends to take part in a work fellowship (Arbeitsgemeinschaft) in your house during holiday time.

With cordial greetings

F.M. Knote, minister in retirement

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ENCLOSED NEWSPAPER CLIPPING

The following letter has been received:

In the Whitsun week (May 31-June 7, 1925) an ”off-time” (Freizeit) will take place for workers, tradesmen etc. at the Bergheim (“Mountain Home) Busbach, railway station Obernsees near Bayreuth. Its purpose is meditation on Christ’s pure words in the Sermon on the Mount.

This “off-time” will begin on Sunday, May 31, 1925. There will be biblical lectures at 9 AM and 4 PM on each workday and opportunity for free discussion also during the common meals. There will also be opportunity for each participant to do quiet work in woods and fields. Participation in the whole event is free of charge (including meals). Expenses will be met by charitable donations of both money and gifts in kind. Registrations are to be sent to retired Pastor F. M. Knote, Bayreulth, Kirchgasse 32, first floor. As accommodation possibilities are very limited it is requested that registrations be confirmed at the latest by Ascension Day, May 21, 1925, whereupon each participant will receive timely notice of acceptance..

Such an “off-time” for God-seekers of all social classes is being envisaged also for coming August, with registrations being accepted already. now

Because in many factories it is only in this week that workers are granted leave of absence, factory workers will be given priority.

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Sannerz, June 11, 1925

To Maria Lampe

Forsthövel, PO Herbern In Westphalia

Dear Maria Lampe,

We received your letter today and would like to let you know right away that we would be happy if you came to us—to begin with for a shortish period-- as our guest and to help us at a post that would suit you. Through getting mutually acquainted such an undertaking might well result in a lasting integration into our community, but you will surely understand that regardless whether we happen to look for somebody for a specified job or not, we cannot tie anybody to us for long unless he also decides for it of his own accord and unless we have given him a chance to get acquainted with us. Let us soon know in writing whether you are in agreement with our proposal and what would be the earliest date for you to come. We are actually pretty full up and scarcely able to accommodate a greater number of people than we are at present; that’s why we would like to have a little advance information enabling us to fit you in. So we already look forward to your next letter! With cordial greetings from our whole house community

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TELEGRAPHY OF THE GERMAN REICH

Sterbfritz Office

Telegram from Hamburg-Fuhlsbüttel:

to Dr. Arnold, Sannerz

PO Sterbfritz, June 12, 1925

Arriving Friday afternoon

Alfred Schär

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Hotel Atlantic

Baden-Baden

June 14, 75 before 2000

Dear children and people,

The traditional fairy tale beginning “once there will be” has mushroomed into (a medley of) problems of national and world economy, of artistic and other high-faluting problems, which an individual, however highly married, can no longer cope with by himself. You folk, precisely you, big and small, have to help me! Or aren’t you in the mood for earning a few million dollars ln fair competition with world-record thinkers like Edward Bellamy, and Henry Ford--really to “earn” them for the carrying out of your world reform plans, which up to 99.9/10 % are in fact also ours? And if in the end it would only come down to a thorough reform of your small-scale world, of your world of the little ones, nevertheless such a bold rush upon goals like joy on earth, peace on earth, order on earth, truth on earth, quiet on earth, beauty on earth, devotion on earth would be well worthwhile! The propertylessness I preached as “Hans in luck” and also lived more or less unadulterated represents in and by itself something very. very beautiful, and I surely don’t want to miss that section of my life.

And yet, and yet! He who has nothing himself, is also not in a position to give something “tangible” to others. And to constantly be only the economically “taking’” or “receiving” one becomes boring, monotonous, to say the least. Allah knows that I am not a chaser after mammon by nature; nevertheless, being a so-called “2000 artist”, I shall at some point have to undertake experiments also in that area until I am able to say to myself, “You could do it, if you wanted!” Only then am I, and are we, inwardly ready for our publicity journey to the most wretched and heavily burdened ones of this earth, to God-ordained “pack camels” such as our friends Carnegie, Ford, Edison, etc. etc.,”Each should carry the other’s burden!” This is the watchword with which we still this summer or autumn hope to urge America’s hardest workers to consider the new : “MONEYLESS STATE”.

For the time being please digest the following neat suggestions: a League of Nations Theater (for “one-day-it-will-be” poetry)--“no more-war” detective bureaus (with 2000 branch offices conducted in a grim yet humorous style)--worldwide exhibitions (e.g. “Mother and Child”) staged simultaneously in all continents, nations, cities, families, and hearts (1925, 1950, 1975, 2000)—slogans such as “Style 2000” (in each area); “fellow feasters” (instead of fellow fighters,- sufferers, -travelers etc.-etc.--staging world exhibitions, national and international festival performances—social activity—a world youth parliament (a kind of Lower House (House of Commons) in all countries—75 before 2000 an election of world conductors in line with the memento that life is no longer a struggle but a concert:-a working together! --“United States of Europe” (through a League of Nations consisting of former war combatants.

Hans in luck [Hans Fiehler]

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Sannerz, June 16, 1925

Mr. Heinrich Dreher’, shoe factory

Butzach in Hesse

My dear Heinrich Dreher,

In spite of all midday heat and fatigue It’s been a great joy for me that I could see you while passing through there. We are thinking of your house especially in connection with your children’s’ wedding. Our little band of children wants to send you a few small things representing no other value but the one the little souls have put into them.

We hope very much you can visit our house and get to know our whole work and all the great and small people you have in such a friendly way provided with footwear. In a few days we want to send you our summer report , somewhat revised in line with present circumstances.

With all good wishes for the wedding and the future of the young couple and for your whole house

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June 16, 1925

Friedrich Wilhelm Cordes

Fleestedt near Hittfeld

Dear father Cordes,

Hearty thanks for your kind words, for the mounted verse which we specially love, and for your kind help of ten marks to which Fräulein Ramm added fifteen marks.

Our meeting at Whitsun was really powerful and deep going. We were together in a small circle of thirty people. Dr. Ulrich presented us with radicalism by means of Kierkegaard: that actually we are still not Christians, and what discipleship of Jesus really means. Dr. Buddensieg showed us that the comprehensive will for civilization which, coming from Christendom, led to the great struggle between the will for power and the will for redemption, must be applied in all circumstances. I spoke about the first and second centuries particularly, with which I am now intensively occupied. In this intervening time between Early Christianity and the world church, these tensions to which Ulrich and Buddensieg testify are clarified.

We are sending you a newly prepared summer report of our work, and ask that you read it carefully with your dear wife, Annie and with Lyddy. We tried to express as briefly and concentratedly as possible on four pages what has happened and will happen here.

The money situation is still very difficult. We would be so very thankful if it could be given to you to help us forward a little with any sum. You could also do us a great service if from your business you could send us some garden spades for heavy soil, hatchets, axes, hammers, and iron hoes for big and small people.

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Sannerz

June 16, 1925

Commercial Counsellor Kleeman

Rex Company

Homburg v.d.Höh

My dear brother Kleeman,

Many greetings from all of us to you, your dear wife, your children, and your lovely youngest one about whom I must often tell here. It was a great joy to me to be again among you, and we are all waiting in longing for you to come to us quite soon. The trip over Büdingen and Gelnhausen will give you great joy. You must also visit the Ronneburg where Count Zinzendorf, with the Spirit filled Wetterauer Brothers carried out a work with the children of gypsies among the gypsies themselves, and Herrnhaag where the young Renatus Zinzendorf experienced a remarkable awakening among the young people. The community life of the Brüdergemeinde and also the community life of the fifteenth and sixteenth century Anabaptists present for us a powerful example of genuine community.

With us at home the strains and worries which I told you about are not yet over. I enclose a summer report of our work fitting to the state of things, which I ask you to read carefully. If it is somehow given to you, think of sending us whatever sum you find possible for our children's work and our most urgent responsibilities.

In the fields and the garden everything is excellent. We can harvest plenty of lettuce, and soon also turnips, kohlrabi, cabbage and peas. Also the cherries are ripening, and we would be very thankful to you if you could help us, also this year, with a Rex apparatus and 50 to 100 glass jars. We now have almost 300 glass jars. However, because our garden work brings more produce each year, and is especially promising this year, and here in the winter we do not want to buy from food shops, we would be very happy if you could help us forward, also this time, by means of your wonderful invention.

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Delitsch, June 16, 1925

Dear Eberhard,

A while ago I sent you a manuscript for you to give an opinion on, in the sense that you can put in marginal notes the way I did at that time with your letter. I do not want to drag you into a public discussion with that essay of mine--there you can be reassured.

As you see I am still unemployed, and it’s now already past the middle of June. And you poor chap will surely be hard put to raise the money I requested. I feel awfully sorry I have to ask for it. However, here am I sitting in my sisters’ house--without the means for the badly needed tailor-made suit (though I do have the material for it).

In addition I have to watch my sisters support not only me but also that other particularly needy sister. Hence, however much I hate to do it, I am now compelled to pronounce the long delayed notice of withdrawal (from your association). I am not demanding any interest and want to regard any of your monetary contributions as a part payment and do not claim any salary for my employment time with you.

Now, to get back to my essay, I did not want to hurt you, but the truth must come to light. That’s why I also enclose for you the last letter from my brother, the pastor. You will see from it that my criticism is not malevolent.

And there is one more thing I would like to add: I think you have an unfounded high regard for the effect of music on man’s inner being. When I would play the zither in your house, you regarded it as an inner “renewal”. May be but not always. On the contrary, even when playing the most tender religious song, I may yet be a scoundrel. Rosa Luxemburg would play “Take Thou my hand and lead me”. And my former brother-in-law, a doctor, who turned out to be a real villain, loved that song! He could also produce sentimental poetry, thus all the more deceiving my poor, unhappy sister about his true nature.

I have now also found time to familiarize myself with your book of legends and have read it out to my sister. She regarded “Brother Konrad” as a defense of unwed mothers. ”’Butcher“ Müller would say, “You provide shelter for vice! Hardness towards others is justified if one also applies it to oneself. It does not mean being judgmental nor unmerciful towards others but simply being prudent in the Holy Spirit.” As to the legend” The Redemption of Judas Iscariot”, she considered it a downright revolting blasphemy. I too, have no understanding for the legend’s second part. And as regards “The Nun Hortula”, I didn’t even dare to read it out to my sister.

The songs, as I heard them in the circle of the Sannerz youth, waken in my soul a longing for a better world. As regards your Emi-Ma’s children’s song, my sister played it very nicely on the harmonium.

The other day your fellow student Pastor Henneberg happened to be our guest. He spoke in a tremendously high-spirited way in the fellowship. He thought that you had at an early age got lost in your own ideas, with no regard to the judgment of a more experienced age. He said that with you one did not find the submission of your goals under a unified point of view, as with the Apostle Paul (hence contradictions and compromises).

In the near future (Mrs.) Dr. Schulze from Halle, who once took part in your wedding, will come here again. My sister sends very cordial greetings. Please be so good to return the manuscript to me before long. While with you, I did find much that was stimulating.

Hoping to hear from you folks soon

Your Ferdinand Scholl

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Sannerz, June 17, 1925

Ludwig Treutler

Wittgenstein Provisions

Erndtebrück

Dear Ludwig,

We thank you very warmly for thinking of us. Could you possibly send us the number of the weekly in which you read about the work we are doing?

As regards our work, we are sending you a report we just recently brought into accordance with present circumstances, and we hope it will stimulate you to visit us before long and share our communal life.

We have been tremendously thankful to you for the rice consignment; it came at the very moment when our supply of potatoes had come to an end and we really had no idea from where to get the material for our main meals. You will be a great help to us and we shall always be very grateful to you for letting us from time to time have such a consignment of sugar or rice or something like that.

Through Aunt Marianne I heard more about you and your Maria; I am glad that you are both doing well and am sending warmest greetings to you as well as to Maria and Emmy. In the meantime you will also have received our children’s expression of gratitude.

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Berlin 017, Fruchtstr. 63 II

June 18, 1925

Miss Susanne Hungar

Sannerz

In response to your earlier expressed wish we consider you as belonging to the circle of Friends of the Social Work Fellowship and will also send you the News from the Social Work Fellowship” intended for its circle of friends. As you will know from the “News”, we have not been able to decide on a definite membership contribution or subscription fee, given that in general our former coworkers and friends are making sacrifices for our cause much superior to the membership or subscription fees usually charged. However, since producing and mailing

the “News’ does involve burdens in the way of labor and expenditure such as we cannot simply take responsibility for, we herewith like to inquire whether we may reckon with your active assistance in our work. This, of course, does not represent a condition for membership in our circle of friends. We have often sensed what a big help is represented by our friends’ inward concern and participation. However, in view of the great tasks presently facing the Social Work Fellowship we must be in a position to properly estimate the forces at our disposal.

With cordial greetings

Social Work Fellowship East Berlin, reg. soc., signed Gramm

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Sannerz, June 18, 1925

Dear Brother Hanke,

We warmly thank you for sending us the ten marks--a special joy for us in our present difficult situation such as the summer months by the nature of things always present us with. We plead with you, “Do find the time to come to us in Sannerz and share our life for a while!” Today we are sending you our Sannerz report such as we recently reworked it to bring it into correspondence with the situation in the summer of 1925. We would like to ask you to read it carefully. It will show you that our work is making progress but will also let you feel how heavily the shortage of money and the general difficult situation in Germany are burdening our young social work. You might perhaps be able to help us again with either a smaller or larger sum of money.

At any rate we hope to hear from you again and send you the faithful greetings of the whole house community.

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Berlin-Steglitz, June 16, 1925

Dear Trudi,

While today traveling through the dust and dirt of the city, I was far away in my thoughts: I happened to hum one of your songs.

And now I am finding your letter which at long last tells me something about Whitsun. To judge by what you report, it seems to have been very fruitful. I hope to some day bump into Lotte H. and hear more precise details.

It’s perfectly clear that you will get still more pictures; that’s what I wrote even at that time. But now just before the exam my time is short--very short, so that you will definitely have to wait. Besides, my cashbox is presently in no better condition than the one in Sannerz. So please be patient—you will surely get them.

What picture do you mean when you speak of the one B. signed: “When we’re striding…”? Tami [Oehlfken] and Erich [Mohr], who—praise to God!—still keep on striding and are also making progress—something B[uddensieg] will surely not be imagining. We are now with Tami once a week and greatly benefit from it..

Tell Emmy [Arnold] that when it’s so dry as it is at present she should keep hoeing, hoeing, hoeing in the garden. It’s worth as much as half a watering! She ought to take good care of the tomatoes., as well as of the cucumbers, which have hopefully been planted. Both to be given liquid manure regularly. Fruit in beds to be manured after harvest so that the next year is being prepared.

That you now even have a horse Is really amazing; at any rate it helps to explain where that hole did come from!. A specially hearty greeting to the one guiding the horse Adolf! And joyful summer days to you all

Mö ought to come to me quite often and, following the famous model, swipe my penholder and ink! Then I wouldn’t have to do anything for my exam

A loving greeting to you!

Your Ulrich Wolf.

A very cordial greeting from your Ortrud!

Dear Trudi, I have just learned that our little Anneliese has traveled to you. Greet her warmly from us and stake her under your wing! She is in great need of rest.

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Sannerz, June 18, 1925

Dear Mr. Wendriner,

Today we are sending you the report about our work as a whole, which, bringing it in line with present circumstances, we put together these last days; hence it accurately reflects the present situation in our various work departments. I would like to ask you to please study it carefully. About three weeks ago you held out to Else von Hollander a prospect of once more being of assistance to us in our social work. That is what we would now ask you to really do, seeing that we are facing a number of big tasks, which have to be carried out if our social work and especially our work with children is to be continued and developed. We would also be specially grateful to you if you could make if again possible for the monthly contribution for Hans Grimm to be paid.

With cordial greetings to you and your dear wife

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Sannerz, June 18, 1925

Dear Oskar Jeske,

We have read your report with sympathetic interest. You are heartily welcome here, but there are two things we have to make clear first. Our house is fully occupied, and we can only accommodate you in our youth hostel in the barn, with a straw mattress and blankets. Second: there are always people waiting to find accommodation with us, and in view of our restricted space and of our presently still quite small agricultural enterprise we have to see to it that even in summer our household is not overly enlarged by guests. That’s why for all who want to get to know us we first stipulate a certain time period—from a fortnight to four weeks—during which they have a chance to from here also look for something else. If during that time they find their way into our life so well that on either side there is a great desire for a longer working together, then such a possibility does of course remain open. In that case we look for ways and means to keep such a helper and coworker in our house for a longer time even if at that time no specific job suiting that person is available. There is of course always plenty of work in agriculture, in the garden and the woods. Seeing that you have grown up on the land or at any rate have spent much time there, you will most likely be somewhat familiar with land work.

Sannerz is situated on the Schlüchtern-Gemünden railway line. Coming from Bebra you change trains at Schlüchtern and go two more stations to Vollmerz, and from there it will take you about 25 minutes to reach Sannerz on foot. It is a help for us if you let us have previous notice of your arrival--at least of the day. As regards the money for your journey, we assume it will be supplied by the court assistance (Gerichtshilfe) you are presently working for.

So we expect as soon as possible a definite reply from you and greet you looking forward to a joyful striding out together.

The Sannerz house community

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Dresden A, June 18, 1925

Dear Eberhard Arnold,

This letter of mine may seem unfamiliar to you, but you will remember me as being the one at the Proschs, who submitted to you a request with respect to the holidays; so now you will remember me. The holiday time is no longer far away, so I would really like to know if things have changed or if I may still cherish the divine hope of spending my holidays in community with you. I am ever so much looking forward to coming to you, Eberhard, to being able to help with the work you people are doing and at long last to live fully as a free human being. The months coming into question can only be these two: August and September, and by granting an art disciple leave to stay with you, you folks will surely not do a bad work.

Eberhard, I am to convey greetings to you from my friend Georg Junghaus. He is in Dalmatia and doing very well so that he naturally does not feel homesick for our miserable big-city life.

Please be good enough to let me sometime have an answer, and may everything good come to you!

Your Alfred Hesse

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Lenz, June 20, 1925

Dear Trudi,

Enclosed a letter from an agriculturist who might possibly fit in with you folks. If he does not himself get in touch with you before long, please write to him yourselves. All I have told him about Sannerz are a few brief notes.

I am in quite a hurry today; tidying up my mail, which has once again piled up. Tomorrow is an important F.W. B. meeting as well as other things.

I am sending you folks a few things which you can hopefully alter for use by the children—if no good for overcoats that big thing could perhaps be used for blankets, mats or the like.

We haven’t heard anything yet about your Whitsun gathering; can’t get anything out of Lotte at present. Six of us Berlin girls were with Fritz Klatt, where we were given a great deal especially by Lothar Schreyer, the editor of the “Tempest” (Sturm) and of the book “German Mysticism”(in the publishing house of the German Book Community). For me Sannerz no longer came into question for Whitsun as I had already given my word to be in Prerniv--something I had long had in mind. And it was actually very nice for some of us to go here and others to go there. What is not so good is that presently a contrariety is being constructed in the group’s direction: Buddensieg/Arnold versus Tami/Dr. Werner. There is still a lot of unclarity.

Very cordial greetings to you, Eberhard, and to the whole house community!

Your Kläre Kuhn

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Sannerz, June 22, 1925

Dear Mrs. Wolf, dear Mr. Wolf,

We still wanted to phone you on Saturday, but were so pressed by our farm work and by preparations for expected visits that we did not manage it. We had wanted to thank you from our hearts for those wonderful substantial parcels you had unloaded at our house on Friday evening. You ought to have seen the joy among us all—children as well as grownups, their delight at the sausage sandwiches on Saturday morning, the joy at having bread with real butter, at the eggs and all the good things by which our meals could be improved or supplemented! And you had very specially thought of Else (Tata)!

Yesterday we wanted to celebrate summer solstice, and the children were to make a torchlight procession through our whole Sannerz area in memory of the fact that yesterday five years ago the first ones of us—my husband and I and Mö—made our entrance in Sannerz. Rain prevented the procession and we all, grownups and children, went marching through the house and sang all our children’s songs. To end with, one or other of the lanterns would tell its own story, and my husband told of our first beginning in Sannerz and how very slowly one thing would lead to the other. And when then the children, big ones as well as small ones, were sent to bed, they would all find a piece of chocolate on their pillow—from the Wolf’s parcel!

We feel urged to also thank you personally for your goodness and intend to pay you a visit in the course of this week. So as not to miss you at home we shall phone you beforehand.

With very cordial greetings’

Your Emmy Arnold

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June 22, 1925

Dear Eberhard,

The different occurrences in Berlin cause me to send you this letter. I really plead with you to let me know your opinion as regards my relationship to you and to your cause, and what you think of my absenting myself at Whitsun.

Kind regards to the [Sannerz] house!

Your Ulrich Wolf

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Sannerz

June 23, 1925

Dear Friedrich Wilhelm Foerster,

We have been intending for a long time to give you once more an insight into the progress of our small undertaking at Sannerz, and to express our thanks again for the great help you gave us last year in giving assistance towards the recovery of Kurt Breitfeld, our young co worker. Kurt Breitfeld is now, since the beginning of May, once more with us at Sannerz. He is certainly not yet completely healthy, so we let him help quite a lot in the garden and pasture; but we do hope he will not need to ask again for the kind of help which, unfortunately, was necessary last winter. Nevertheless we will have him examined regularly till autumn, so as to make up our minds in good time, whether he will be able to stand the winter with us, or whether he should rather apply for a publishing house post in a more healthy climate.

You were so kind in expressing your friendly interest in the progress of our publishing, that in the enclosure we are giving you insight into the present situation of our detailed work and are going into some particulars in this personal letter.

It is a great joy that Alfred Dedo Müller, on the basis of the little book which in due course we published, will begin a larger compilation of your life work. I am expected to write an article on "sexual education", in which I will bring to expression the initiation and leading in erotic life questions for which I am indebted to you. As the Junge Saat [Young Seed] cannot be published again in the same form, I will repeat some thoughts I expressed there about the difference between agape and the sexual passion of Eros, and now I will emphasize self control more strongly and the overcoming of the flesh through the Spirit. I had experience of long standing in youth work from my own boyhood on, when I belonged to the White Cross, the Young Men's Christian Association, the German Christian Association, and the Salvation Army work. My almost unlimited insight into the practices of the Youth Movement in this area, have led me to emphasize ever more strongly the resolute will, the practical surrender of will to the purity of Christ and at the same time made it impossible for me to sit in judgement over the weaknesses and the guilt in this area. I would be deeply thankful to you, if you could refer me to books, or certain passages in your own familiar books, for keeping the right direction for myself and the Youth Movement circles with which I work. The kind fulfillment of this request is urgent as Alfred Dedo Müller wants to complete the book as soon as possible.

Through the connection with the Hochweg Publishing House, and with Pastor Paul Le Seur, our small publishing house (in spite of its lack of capital), has come into the position that I can publish, for both the publishing houses, a Lebensbücherei [Source collection] covering all the centuries. I have set my heart on making the source books more available to evangelical circles than has been the case up till now, by publishing eight to ten volumes of 150 pages each. The main thing for me is to let these sources speak more strongly than they have in previous collections, to the ecumenical unity of the church of Christ and the comprehensive significance of her witness for the whole of mankind.

We begin with the Apostolic fathers and with the other witnesses of the first and second centuries, as far as they no longer belong to the New Testament and not beyond the time of Marcus Aurelius, that is, not as far as the ultimate establishment of ecclesiasticism. Two volumes from Tertullian will also be prepared. Following the beginnings of monasticism and Augustine we progress through the course of the centuries and let not only those from the central churches speak, but the witnesses for truth outside the churches, in both cases, as far as they truly represent Christ and the ultimate unity. It would lead us too far to name the hundred volumes we are planning, but I would be very thankful if I could one day give you a report of this work by word of mouth. I would be more than thankful if I were able to win you for a co worker, so that you could choose a much loved writer among Christian witnesses, and provide a short introduction for this particular volume. Working on this project is a row of professors, university lecturers and private scholars who have proved themselves as experts and thorough workers in this area, and have also shown inner understanding for the spirit and character of the witnesses concerned.

At Whitsun we had the great joy that some of those working on this collection could give to a circle of young people a review of the life witness to the eternal truth through the centuries of Christian culture. Also Hermann Buddensieg was among us, whose forward drive in the Free German circles in his Rufer zur Wende [Herald to Change] which you are certainly familiar with. Hermann Buddensieg and I find ourselves closely bound together in the special task. Also again out of our circle at Sannerz a small periodical called Die Wegwarte, is being published, while, because of a too strong emphasis of Karl Barth's interpretation of life and his way of looking at evangelical churchdom, there will hardly be a possibility of working together in the Neuwerk periodical. The Wegwarte exists already for quite a long time for a certain circle of present day Christian youth, and is edited by our Sannerz co worker Adolf Braun who instigated this paper one and a half years ago. Adolf Braun, a reliable and technically gifted farmer, joined our work with his family six months ago.

Our Sonnenlieder book, also with its collection of genuine Catholic and genuine evangelical songs of faith and songs in the ecumenical sense, wishes to witness to the Church. At the same time it supports the peace witness and the social brotherhood of the witnesses to Christ, and is difficult to introduce, from the business point of view.

This inner unity, seemingly for many opposing elements, is only understood in some circles. The difficulty arises from the very purpose of the Sonnenlieder, also from the imperfection of the circle whose daily singing brought the book into existence. It derives also from the unfinished development and unresolved struggles of an immature movement. We would be especially thankful if you and other trusted friends could support the witness of this songbook. We sent it to you in May of last year, and today we are taking the liberty of putting it again at your disposal. There is a similar difficulty of a different kind for the sale of Deutchen Bauhütte [The German Masonic Guild] by Florence Christian Rang, which you reviewed with such understanding and impressiveness. For the sake of the cause we are very thankful for this review. In the present day inner situation, such books can only be sold through personal recommendation, for example through my lectures and through peace minded circles which have not become discouraged. Out of this state of things a depressing economic difficulty for our publishing house results. This is not a personal need. Through my editing royalties I receive 350 marks monthly from the Hochweg publishing House. Also through the garden and agricultural work of my wife and our other co workers, and by means of the small monthly income from the publishing work, the business side of which is managed by my sister in law and another woman helper, we are personally provided for, and are still able to give a home and education to some homeless orphans. But we are convinced that the progress of our publishing task should not be limited to the "Source books from all centuries" which the Printing Press of the Fatherland Publishing House and Art Institute makes possible. We must, much more, propagate further our books Sonnenlieder and Deutsche Bauhütte and must publish more books in the sense of your life work and ours.

So now, we have as manuscripts here, records of the degeneration of Christendom under special consideration of the question of war, which very actively confront the old pretenses and the new national errors of the churches with the words of Jesus and the genuine Christian witness. The author is Pastor Alexander Beyer, who published the books Religion and Suggestion in the Marhold Publishing House; Geschlecht und Religion [Race and Religion], Braumüller Publishing House, Vienna; Der Menschensohn [The Son of Man], Weisser Ritter Publishing House; and Franziskus von Assisi [Francis of Assisi], Reissner Publishing House in Dresden. From various sides, also from Rudolf Paulson and Graf [Count] Keyserling, he is honored for these achievements.

In the conviction that we must go forward with our work as up to the present with such new publications, and for this reason we venture to ask you to contribute again to our publishing projects with a clearly defined appropriation in this direction. The earlier amount of 700 francs (521 marks) we have assigned to the propaganda of the Sonnenlieder and the Rang books.

In warm gratitude and genuine respect,

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Sannerz, June 23, 1925

Dear Prince Schönburg,

Today we must dare to approach you with a great request as regards the poor children entrusted to us and the overall task involved. The enclosed report , which again shows various changes and small signs of progress compared with the situation in early spring, will give you a picture of the overall situation in our house community and will show that this is not a question of a personal or family emergency.

Seeing that my publisher’s honorarium of 350 marks per month, the small pensions and publishing revenues of my sisters in law plus the proceeds from the horticultural and agricultural work done by our very capable farm manager Adolf Braun and by my wife, who as a sideline also oversees our garden work, do suffice to provide us with a wholesome existence.; however, as we receive so little help from the authorities and from the relatives of the children entrusted to us that of our seven children only three are actually provided for in that way, and since it is only by January 1, 1926 that Adolf Braun will receive the last 3000 marks still due to him for the sale of his little house, and because nonetheless our 24 acres have to be cultivated and rent and tenancy must be paid, we have momentarily arrived at a critical point in our children’s work

That is why we heartily implore you to render us the brotherly service of sending us 1000 marks and to let us know in writing if we are to regard this your assistance as a donation or as a loan secured by those 3000 marks still due from the sale of Adolf Braun’s house. Only our conviction that we must stride forward on this way that our puny life’s work bids us go and that neither a positive nor a (possibly necessary)negative response to our request will be able to impair our friendship gives us the certainty that we may, and must, come to you with this plea.

Our entire house still feels drawn to you in grateful reverence and heartfelt love; we very much hope we can greet you once more here among us, and also that we may again come to see you in your beautiful homeland.

In reverence and respect,

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Sannerz, June 24, 1925

Dear Roland,

I have to thank you from my heart for your dear letter from which we strongly feel that God’s strength and his unmerited gift come to you ever again and strengthen and invigorate you for the way. Your essay in the Wegwarte has given me joy and even more today’s poem “Men”. With an essay such as this. the likes of which must definitely be written from time to time, there is again and again the difficulty that none of us has as yet an insight into the economic and political interrelationships sufficiently great to let him propose and push through practical solutions for the present moment. You feel this lack just as strongly as I do myself. But that is precisely what pushes us wholly into an active expectation of Christ and of his intervention. That is why all we can do is to voice our conviction clearly and decisively; that is what you have done, and that makes me glad.

As regards your and Imgard’s return, which I continue to foresee for the autumn, I advise you as your brother and friend, to start a quite intensive correspondence with Trudi Dalgas, who is proving herself a faithful fellow-fighter. And to Irmgard it may be given to talk with Trudi about the work possibilities in our house. As soon as the winter vegetables have been planted-- which makes a lot of work at the moment--Emmy is going to let Irmgard have a more detailed reply to her letter, for which she thanks Irmgard warmly already now. It is a practical necessity that Irmgard, in spite of the effort and self-denial this involves—which, however, ought to be required from all of us—devotes a large part of her working strength and time to the general needs of the communal life. Only then can we expect for all those involved in the work of the house the progress that, after the strong language God has been using, must be linked with your return.

Please do write quite often, (Roland and Irmgard)! Your faithful friend

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Sannerz, June 24, 1925

Dear Maria Lampe,

We are very grateful to you for your letter, in which you give such a detailed account of your own life and strivings, or rather, those of your family. We, of course, share completely your opinion that the family belongs together, and we wish from our hearts that you and your child may very soon find a suitable place where you can live and work in community. It is so that we at the moment we can in no way visualize taking in a whole family. Our little house is fully occupied from top to bottom and so are all work departments.

Please do not regard this short letter as unfriendly; however, our work is pressing, and we wanted to let you have a reply soon. We all greet you very warmly with best wishes for your new beginning.

- - - - -

June 24, 1925

Dear Lotte,

I am about to pack up your things. Monika is going to write to you the next days in connection with that. At the moment we have ever so many guests. Eberhard is in bed; it’s rainy and cold, and along with that the customary duties!

All of us greet you very warmly; I think of you quite often whenever I enter the stable, which at present is quite often the case, with our horse drawing me there at least once a day, seeing that, along with Alfred, I have very specially taken on its care. He is such a dear chap, our “Fox”—at least I think so, but Alfred [Gneiting] does too.

And how are you getting on, Lotte? Won’t you write to us once again? And what do you know about Jakob? We don’t hear from him at all--such a pity!

Well, Lotte, we all need courage and strength every day! Many faithful and loving wishes to you from us all, in particular also from Alfred [Gneiting] and Adolf [Braun]!

On behalf of the house community

Your Ilse von Seckendorf.

Enclosed: 1 blue-and-white bed cover—2 checkered sheets and pillow-cases—1 warm gray vest---1 bed wrap—2 sheets-2 towels.

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Sannerz, June 24, 1925

Baroness Stachelberg

Berlin-Wlmersdorf

Aschaffenburger Str. 24 Grt. Fl.

Highly respected baroness,

A few days ago we received a letter from your sister, Mrs. Von Maydell, with the request to address the reply to you. Mrs. von Maydell has the question whether it would be possible to receive into our community a certain person close to both you and her. We thank her very warmly for her letter and regret very much that we have to decline her request.

Our house is fully occupied right up to the roof, and all work branches are fully covered. It always pains us that until now we have not found it possible to unrestrictedly extend our small enterprise consisting of 15 grown-ups and 15 children. Otherwise it would have been a truly great joy for us to accede to your request.

With cordial greetings

Suggestion by Suse [Hungar], Dresden, July 12 [1925]:

Bethel colonies Rothenmoor or Wilhelmsdorf

Salvation Army Berlin, Dresdener Str. (information)

Deaconesses’ House Duisburg (cure center)

Guttempler (opponents of alcohol; information and advice directly through personal letter to the same address)

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Sannerz, June 25, 1925

Dear Hermanns—Paul and Anna,

Enclosed we are sending you our Sannerz report, which we recently put together in conformity with the present situation in all work departments. You will surely, together with us, find joy in the progress of our work and in the way our little children’s community is prospering; it is our daily special joy and among all our tasks is the one closest to our hearts

We are coming to you with a special request. Could you supply us for the coming winter with a sizable amount of Manchester material at a very favorable wholesale price? It has so proved its quality among us that in winter we wear almost only clothes made of that material, and we would be so grateful to you for sending us in good time some samples and price suggestions so that we can supplement our children’s clothes for the various sizes.

We look forward to hearing from you and greet you most warmly.

The House Community

Enclosed: report.

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Jüterbog, June 27, 1925

Schillerstr. 4

Dear Toni (Schär)

I thank you very warmly for what you wrote. Now after all, though, my visit with you in Sannerz and Weiperz is not likely to materialize as I have decided to take a course of treatment with Dr. Buchinger in Witzenhausen. If I can’t get a bed in the hospital there, I shall most likely get accommodation in some citizen’s house. And if that does not come to anything, what I would like best is to first go to Alfred. I think there it would be easier to get the right nourishment. If I recover well and there is still time, I might still go to Sannerz for one or several days. At all events I do hope to see you soon!

Warm greetings, Erich [Mohr]

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Jüterbog, June 27, 1925

Dear Eberhard,

I thank you warmly for what you write; thanks, too, for how you folks feel concerned about me! However, what I want to take—seeing that that will be more radical—is a course of treatment with Dr. Buchinger in Witzenhausen; it’s not yet quite definite, though. Depending on how successful that’s going to be, I hope I might then hopefully still spend a few days with you people, maybe at the beginning o August.

One of these days the circular letter is due to come out. What I missed was a proper report about Eisenach. The situation being as it is right now, I could only write as I saw it. No other reports were handed in; I hope, though, that after this thrust of mine the others will make themselves heard. Something also needs to be said about the Whitsun gathering in Sannerz. We are not making sufficient use of our possibilities. I myself am too rundown.

The local group in Berlin is going through a deep crisis—doubtless one leading to life. Erika has left the work circle there. The last meeting of our workers’ circle in Berlin produced clarity as regards the supra-personal bond uniting us in the confederation. At the same time, though, the meeting showed that in order to ac Instead of the impersonal local group , which had left everybody dissatisfied, with its work circle (Arbeitskreis), which could not get to work because of personal contrarieties and hindrances we shall form at least two groups. In that way also those that until now could not find a close contact are faced with a new decision for this or that or even a quite different circle. In a new circular letter to the local group we shall soon express ourselves still more lucidly.

Warm greetings to you all!

Erich (Mohr)

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Nostitz, PO Weissenberg (Sxony)

June 28, 1925

Highly esteemed Dr. Arnold,

Through Kläre Kühn from the mediating office for job provision to teachers from the Youth Movement in Berlin I recently received your address and information about your need for an agriculturist. Kläre Kühn has forwarded to you the letter I addressed to her, hence you will already know somewhat why it is I am turning to you today. I am looking for a sphere of activity where I (being a trained agriculturist with more than six years of practical experience) I can as an independent farmer live as a human being among other human beings.

In particular it is the child that my heart is open for in fullest joy of life. Already seen from this point of view your house community seems to offer me what I am longing for in my inmost heart. True, Kläre Kühn has only given me very brief information about the conditions over there, but I can nonetheless draw from it many a conclusion.

To start with I want to say that being together and working with children is not at all strange to me, for following two years of training on two farm estates in Saxony I went to Professor Dr. von Düring in his Colony for Work Education and Observation Institute (Arbeitslehrkolonie & Beobachtungsanstalt) called “Steinmühle”, Obererlenbach, District of Friedburg in Hesse. In the first year I was there active as an educator, and in the second year I was put in charge of the agricultural sector. The Steinmühle was composed of about 60 psychopathic welfare pupils. The principles guiding Prof. Düring (and before him Dr. Hanselmann) in their direction of the Steinmühle will surely not be unknown to you: Education through love and kindness and through treating every individual child as befitted his particular illness..

Our educational staff at that time came nearly all from the ranks of the pre-war Wandervogel; thus it was a matter of course for us to live in fullest, freest comradeship with the the boys there from morning till evening, whether playing, having fun, working, or going on hikes.

Putting the institution under state control meant a quick ending for the Steinmühle with its fresh and lively spirit. All of us got the sack lest even a tiny spark of our spirit sneak into the state-run institution; even the boys were removed. Today the Steinmühle is no more than an institution for the safekeeping of neglected youths; there is no longer any sign of education. At the beginning of this year I had a chance to get to know the Steinmühle in its present state, Bu all this just by the way; now back to the matter at point!

After my time at the Steinmühle I attended from October 1922 until Easter 1923 the agricultural school in Meissen as an auditor (guest listener). After that I accepted an administrative post at a 200 acre farm near Dresden. I did not find it possible, though, to live any longer in conditions so marked by exploitation., especially since I also did not find the vocational satisfaction I was looking for. Since September 1923 I have been at an estate of 875 acres in the Saxon Oberlausitz. While in all my previous positions I would from early till late take an active share in carrying out any jobs that came along, at my present place I am having a real chance to concern myself with the direction of the enterprise. And I think that through having worked for nearly two years as assistant manager I have by now acquired enough independence to allow me to direct a small or medium sized farm, and not only as a so-called manager but also as an active coworker.

As I have not yet given notice I do not yet have a testimonial from my present place of work; however, if desired I shall be able to obtain a preliminary testimonial.

I hope these brief data will give you sufficient information about the direction of my concept and aims of my life and of my vocational training (for which I enclose copies of testimonials). I shall be 23 years old in the coming August.

So if you do value my person I would like to ask you for further information about the kind and size of your undertaking, about salary, etc. To judge by Kläre Kühn’s brief indications I believe I have found what I have long been yearning for, and it would be a specially great joy for me to receive very soon a positive reply from you.

With best greetings

Erich Teichert

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June 14, 1925

To the agency for procuring and placing Youth Movement teachers

Att. Kläre Kühn

Berlin N.W:. 87, Jagowstr. 23

Is the above agency aware of any educational institutions, orphanages, schools, and the like looking for an independent farmer to take charge of the agricultural establishment attached to the institution. I am looking tor a sphere of activity in an outfit of this kind and see my task in placing my work into the service of a general cause, with a possibility of living as a human being among other human beings. My vocational knowledge and experience are founded on more than six years of activity in agricultural establishments. In case the agency is in some way able to help me—in the sense of taking an interest in me as a human person, I would like to be notified so that I can submit an application and also provide testimonials.

In the hope to hear from you soon, I remain, with best greetings and thanks

Erich Teichert, Administrator

Nostitz Estate, PO Weissenberg, Saxony

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Wohlau, June 28 1925

Dear Eberhard,

So you folks would like me to come to Sannerz! Well, what I am sure about is that together with you and others I keep wrestling for His Kingdom” to come to us. But whether I shall be better able to find my way into your community than was the case two years ago, that I don’t know. I think, at that time you took me to be stronger than I actually was. And I would often feel lonely and not at all fitting in with you folks. In large measure that was probably due to the many guests being there at that time and to various other small outward things but also to this: I saw a lot of work of all kinds and helped everywhere to the best of my ability. However, since because of having to help out here, there and everywhere I could nowhere get a proper grip on something, and as I noticed how again and again ever so many jobs remained undone, this would often scare me and represented an inward hindrance. Hence I did not feel at the right place. I lacked a task that I could give my whole strength to.

Now, though, you people are confronting me with a task: educational community with your children-- to live with them and lead them, especially the boys, to fully use their faculties, to serve mankind, to have joy in what is beautiful and strong: I would do it gladly!

would first have to work my way in. I have never yet done any classroom teaching. Among the theoretical subjects it’s the more technical ones that I feel closest to; in mathematics the computation of areas and the theory of projections, simple arithmetic and algebra up to first-grade equations with one unknown, as well as physics and chemistry. When it comes to free-hand drawing, I don’t have much to offer, but it’s a different story with any technical drawing, using compasses and rulers. I also love botanical work. As to handicrafts, I am familiar with wood and metal work. Even though, as you know, I have had four years of locksmith training, I prefer to work with wood. I have often enjoyed doing fretsaw and fine carpentry work as well as chip carving, and there I really think I can show the children something.

But with respect to all that and especially to the theoretical aspect it would be good for Trudi to give her opinion and to quite generally let me have closer details.

Whatever I might be able to do to help you with the repairs of your farm equipment is something that will no doubt become clear. Seeing that I have here been doing farm and garden work all through the year, I might here and there also be of some use in that area. I shall gladly attempt to go the way together with all of you.

I greet you all and in particular you, Eberhard.

Georg Barth

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Waldenburg Castle, June 28, 1925

Dear Dr. Arnold,,

I thank you warmly for your letter of June 23. I am gladly ready to contribute to your work 400 marks, which I will have the bank send to you right away. I would be grateful to you for your letting me know if it would help you if I were to send you successively further contributions until the 1000 marks you desire are supplied in full. Now in the summer receipts are pretty sparse, hence I have to restrict myself to part payments..

I hope very much that you will find an occasion to come again and will then once more be my guest. I have been extremely happy about the book and warmly thank you for it once again. With sincere greetings to you and yours I remain

yours faithfully,

Prince Schönburg

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Binau, on the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

June 29, 1925

Dear Eberhard,

Today on the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul you, dear Eberhard and you Sannerz folk, are to receive from me a warm greeting and should know that I rejoice in our friendship and that I am specially mindful of it because it is founded in God. How many people will today simply pass over this feast—both Protestants and Catholics, as though it had nothing to say to them. To me, though, it has infinitely much to say, because it’s the very idea of life that comes to expression there: Peter, the stone at rest within itself, the rock outlasting the ages, and Paul, representing that which springs into being, presses forward and sprouts. And Peter stands above Paul--that which is and exists and overtowers the ages stands above the ever moving change—the logos above the ethos. This is what the God-ordained order of things demands, even if our tempestuous soul makes us Germans inclined to glorify” coming into being” above “being”.

On this day I would have liked to let you have what I tried to put before you in that book at Whitsun. For Peter and Paul strike me as the very patron saints of the “original phenomenon” (Urphänomen) doctrine.. After what I have just been saying, you will understand that. Else von Hollander and Trudi Dalgas have made me very happy with the minutes of the Sannerz Whitsun conference] they sent me, and I heartily thank them for it. On the basis of those minutes I have now put it all into a completely new written form and hope that it will represent wholeness. Minutes of addresses that aren't lectures and do not merely deal with overly old stuff have something seedy to them. “The magic of the moment is missing”. And such an address (or presentation) f transformed into a “Schwüle”(?) does give a peculiar impression. That’s why in order to make you and the friends happy I have taken the trouble to revise the whole thing and to tightly reconstruct it. You will get it in just a short while, Eberhard. I will then also write to Trudi Dalgas.

And now I would like to ask you again to please come to Binau as soon as possible.

For one thing I have to discuss with you urgent matters I would not like to delay any longer; besides that and above all I will in the near future go back to my work about the philosophers of history and to bring it to a conclusion. I would be so glad, dear friend, if you could come before that, as I would so very much like to be in a position to devote myself to you unhindered. You see: when you are occupied with writing a book, it totally captivates you inwardly. So please do come soon The manuscript of my book is to be fully ready by November. By then our teaching activity will no longer be far away.

I am so glad to hear that Emi-Margret is right in the midst of it all and eagerly shares in singing lansquenet songs. Then her education towards becoming a heroic virgin will soon be complete. Please greet her warmly from me.

And now loving greetings to all of you—to you, Eberhard and your dear wife, to the men and youths, to the women and girls, to the cows and any other livestock –“and to all that is yours”, as good old Luther would have said after putting on a bit of weight.

God protect you all!

Your Hermann Buddensieg

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[note: this is a continuation of Hans Fiehler’s letter of 14.VI 75 vor 2000]

Hotel Atlantik

Baden-Baden

Dear Eberhard,

As soon as you folks receive any communication for me from the president of the International Work Office, Geneva,--from a Mr. Thomas, I request that you let me know telegraphically poste restante Heidelberg, and the same if something for me arrives there from the League of Nations. When we are with you we shall be pleased to pay you for any expenses incurred. And we shall of course reimburse you for the rail freight costs.

12000 hail

Your Hans [Fiehler]

Unchecked trans by Hugo Brinkmann, Feb 2010, SPV

Letter from Hans Fiehler to Eberhard (June 1925)

World Children’s Festivals; Summer 1925 (75 before 2000)

World Exposition of children’s playthings; Christmas 75 before 2000

Publicity group of players “New Time’” with Sannerz as home base,

composed internationally and setting forth initially with 5-10 colorful little handcarts. First tour, say: Thuringia, coastal resorts on the North and Baltic Seas, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England, North America, South America and back. This band of strolling players could very well form the core of the visualized League-of-Nations-theatre ensemble and similar to the Oberammergau actors could keep on practicing from generation to generation. As time goes on, a sufficient number of “once-it-will-be” people is sure to gather together. And while the strolling players’ band is on its grand tour, in its home port as well as en route an ongoing fairy-tale school could be kept going for young and old. It’s got to become a world-wide fashion to compete in writing Noble prize winning plays and books on the theme “One day ’twill be” and “2000 is coming”. Up to Meistersinger festivals 75 before 2000!

Looking forward as never before to a joyful working together!

Your Hans and your Helli.

(With a sketch of the rising sun around the number 2000)

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Hanau, June 30, 1925

Dear Miss Dalgas,

I herewith send you 12 marks for the month of June for our Helmut. How is he doing, and how is Sophie –still all-right, we hope?.

In the hope that everybody is still well and in good spirits, remain with many cordial greetings to the whole house community

Your Mrs. Anna Schwing Jean Breidenstein