Esoteric Lessons for the First Class of the Free School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum

During the re-founding of the Anthroposophical Society at Christmas1923, Rudolf Steiner also reconstituted the "Esoteric School" which had originally functioned in Germany from 1904 until 1914, when the outset of the First World War made it's continuance impossible.

However, the original school was only for a relatively few selected individuals, whereas the new school was incorporated into the Free School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.

Rudolf Steiner was only able to give nineteen lessons - plus seven "recapitulation" lessons - for the First Class before his illness and death. His intention had been to develop three classes. The lessons were recorded by a stenographer, then typed in clear text without having been reviewed by Rudolf Steiner. They had not been publicly accessible until recently. This is Volume Three.

During the last two decades of the nineteenth century the Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. After the turn of the century, he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to methodical research of psychological and spiritual phenomena.His multi-faceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, science, education (Waldorf schools), special education, philosophy, religion, economics, agriculture, (Bio-Dynamic method), architecture, drama, the new art of eurythmy, and other fields. In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.

Frank Thomas Smith is an American expatriot who has lived most of his life in Europe (Switzerland and Germany) and South America (Argentina). During his career in the airline industry, he moonlighted in education (Waldorf), translating and writing - including children's fiction. What was once moonlighting is now full-time. He lives on a mountain in Argentina.

James D. Stewart is the Emeritus e.Librarian of the Rudolf Steiner Archive & e.Lib: an electronic Library offering the collected works the the Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner. These include, 28 books, several hundred articles and essays, and over 6700 lectures. After attending Ohio University, Wayne State University, and the University of Michigan, Mr. Stewart has been principally involved with computers and information systems, Marine Tropical Fish husbandry, music, teaching and instruction, libraries, and Anthroposophy. Studies were in Music, Psychology, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biblical Studies.