Summer 2015 Karl König Archive Newsletter TheKarl König Archive Newsletter is published by the Karl König Archive www.karl-koenig-archive.net Karl König Archive, Camphill House, Milltimber, Aberdeen, AB13 OAN, Scotland [email protected] Editors: Richard Steel, Anne Weise and Christoph Hänni 50 years/75 years: We would like to encourage you to start planning On 1 June 2015 it will be 75 years since the pioneer group of women age you to start planning for events around those two dates? Two things moved into Camphill House and at Easter 2016 it will be 50 years since the Archive already has planned are: a volume about the History of the the death of Karl König: Two significant historical occasions we would Camphill Movement including many documents that are still unknown like to remind our readers of by printing a shortened version of a chapter to most—AND an exhibition of Karl König’s Soul Calendar Drawings which will be in a new book, Community Building and Social Renewal, at Easter 2016 in Schloss Wernstein, near Bayreuth, Germany with lec- being published by Jack Reed in Scotland. Perhaps this can also encour- tures about Karl König and “Celebrating a Michaelic Easter”! 50 und 57 Jahre! Eine Anregung für Ihre Veranstaltungs-Planung Am 1. Juni 2015 sind es 75 Jahre seit dem Einzug der Frauen in das dies als Anregung dient, Veranstaltungen zu diesen Gedenktagen Camphill House, und zu Ostern 2016 jährt sich der Todestag Karl zu organisieren—im Archiv haben wir einen neuen Band über die Königs zum 50. Mal: An diese beiden wichtigen Ereignisse möchten Geschichte Camphills geplant: Camphill—Das Werden einer Be- wir unsere Leser mit diesem Aufsatz erinnern. Es handelt sich um wegung, wo Texte und Dokumente zu finden sein werden, die so gut eine gekürzte Version eines Kapitels, das Anne Weise für einen Band wie niemand kennt! Außerdem haben wir für Ostern 2016 eine Aus- schrieb, den Jack Reed in Edinburgh plant: Community Building stellung der Seelenkalender-Bilder Karl Königs in Schloss Wernstein and Social Renewal. Dieser Artikel enthält Bilder, aber auch Inhalte, bei Bayreuth geplant, die von Vorträgen über Karl König und „Das die neu durch unsere Forschung aufgetaucht sind. Wir hoffen, dass Michaelische Osterfest“ umrahmt sein wird. Richard Steel Fragments from Karl König’s Life-Journey Socialistic youth ideals—Anthroposophy—Building the Camphill Movement Now, one of the most beautiful ways in in 1902 to Jewish parents who were the contrast, the Bergel family, and especially which human beings can live together owners of a shoe store in Leopoldstadt, a the father Arnold Bergel, was culturally is when one person develops towards rather poor district of Vienna where Karl very involved, giving Karl König the soul the other, when in the realm of the grew up. His parents were loving and ac- nutrition he had longed for. Karl König, soul the one human being is becoming cepting but very often busy in their shoe already deepened in music and literature, through the other. This is precisely the store leaving young Karl under the guid- now started to write poems and theatre way in which human community can ance of others such as a Christian nanny. plays, having in Arnold Bergel an edu- be most wonderfully established. She took him to church on Easter Sun- cator to whom he always could turn for Rudolf Steiner day when he was five years old, and this advice and discussion, who listened to 29 September 1923 in Vienna made a lasting impression on him. When his questions of life, who recognized his he was around 11 years old, he not only honest and vehement striving and will- These words were spoken by Rudolf Stein- had a hidden picture of Christ in his cup- power and was able to give him the struc- er in Vienna a few days after Karl König’s board, but also read the New Testament 21st birthday. Karl König always regretted and celebrated Christmas in his room. not taking the chance to meet Steiner. He From an early age he seemed to be car- was not present at this lecture but these rying the hardships of the world on his words seem to be a guiding star for his en- shoulders, often giving away his own tire life—he was always striving for a real belongings, like a warm winter coat to community with a mutual appreciation freezing children in the streets. He was and a brotherly recognition of each other. just 12–16 years of age during the First Like many others of Jewish back- World War and many stories tell of a ground, Karl König’s parents moved to child who was deeply moved by the sor- Vienna at the end of the 19th century. The rows of his fellow humans. city was a unique melting pot of mani- When he became best friend with Al- fold cultures, where artists, musicians, fred Bergel, he was able to overcome the philosophers, scientists, poets, painters loneliness he felt at home.1 His parents and students met in the city’s many ca- had not been able to address his deep fes to discuss the coming of a new age. rooted questions about science, spiritu- Karl König was born on September 25 ality, philosophy and social injustice. In Karl König, 13 years of age; 1916 – 1 – the human being. It was one dents and later on of the Social Democratic of the biggest blows to all Party, which was directly dedicated to real theories. … We worked to- and immediate improvement of the living gether, some assistants and conditions of the poor. The main motif of the professor and some other König’s 21st year in particular seems to be men, and we were very inter- between his socialistic approach and an- ested in the few facts which throposophy—in the search for a remedy were discovered in all parts for social distress and disorder. of the world, and let me say, In 1923 König attended a meeting of by chance or destiny, I got a the Young Socialist Workers and also the lecture that Rudolf Steiner congress of the Socialist Young Student had given in 1906. International in Germany, who were (Lecture 4 March, 1941) demonstrating against the rising forces Visiting an art exhibition König of nationalism. He was actually think- had discovered a text by Ru- ing about switching to the Social Science dolf Steiner next to a picture of Department in university—but then he Karl König treating a child. National Gallery of a working man. These words encountered anthroposophy. He wrote Scotland, Edinburgh. Photo by Edith Tudor-Hart made a deep impression on the in his diary reflecting back: ture and direction he needed. Karl König young König: A much bigger experience, more impor- wrote in his diary: Around 1921 was my first encounter tant, deeper and determining for my Mister Bergel is a great teacher for all with the name of Rudolf Steiner. In entire life happened alongside: the first around him. I owe him a lot.” 2 an exhibition of modern art I found a und personal acquaintance with the Arnold Bergel took him along with his triptych of the painter Richard Teschner anthroposophical movement. I was pre- sons for many hiking trips in the Alps, who at that time was quite well known pared with my tools such as exact psy- and the boys spent most of their time to- in Vienna. On the left was Confucius, chology, natural science and foremost gether, being in the same class, but also on the right the meditating buddha and my social feeling and socialism. … There in their free time—in nature, visiting art in the middle the figure of a modern was the conflict with the socialism. To galleries, discussing literature, philoso- proletarian. …Who was Rudolf Steiner, comprehend anthroposophy and for its phy, religion and more worldly matters. that he could appear next to the Bud- continued work a whole life was nec- Karl König’s searching young soul was dha und Confucius? In the university essary, but at that time I destined my guided and supported by various friends library I got one of his books: ‹Goethe’s life to help others, right now! However, and mentors who inspired and contrib- world view›, reading it was deeply satis- there was an unbelievable power which uted to his path in life. In this way his life- fying. But I was looking for more. pulled me away from these things and changing meeting with anthroposophy (Autobiographic Fragment) drew me to this wisdom. … I had to de- was prepared, step by step, starting around All these early encounters seemed to be cide for anthroposophy. … But the con- 1921. Even though non of these first oc- in preparation for his actual life changing flicts were massive. At the same time I currences were reported in his diary, later encounter with anthroposophy in 1924, was a socialist and an anthroposophist he spoke about these first meetings. Af- when Karl König was 21 years old: and sought to unite the two. Both were ter finishing school König started study- After a lecture at the university given by ways out of the current chaos, but which ing medicine at the University of Vienna Eugen Koslisko—who later became my should be taken? I could not deny either where he encountered teachers like the friend—about the metamorphosis of the of them and had to take both. professor for speech therapy E. Froeschel bones I got the book The Philosophy of (Diary autumn 1923) who was not only open to anthroposophy’s Freedom by Rudolf Steiner.