Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Wind
Three days later, on November 12, 1935, Eberhard took leave of the community
without any secial ceremony. He was driven in the carriage to the railway station,
and from there he traveled to the Elisabeth Hospital in Darmstadt.
laSt JournEy
The hospital appointment had been scheduled a long time in advance. Dr. Paul
Zander, a friend of the Arnolds’ since their first years in Halle, wanted to give
thorough attention to Eberhard’s broken leg. In the two years since the accident
the bone had never healed properly. A growth had developed around the break
that prevented the leg from bearing weight and created a great deal of pain. At any 202
moment the bone could break again. After examining Eberhard’s leg, Dr. Zander
proposed removing the unhealthy piece of bone. Eberhard phoned the Rhön
Bruderhof to convey the news. In a letter to Emmy he wrote, “How very sorry I
am that where you once had a dark-haired husband you now have an old, grizzled
graybeard, and now even one with a shortened leg too! But I won’t behave in the
least like a grumpy, grizzly old man! Even if I am a cripple I shall dance in spirit
whenever you sing your happy songs.” 30
The following day, November 14, Eberhard sent a long letter to his son-in-law
Hans Zumpe in Liechtenstein. Sometimes sober, sometimes moving, the letter
read like a will – which is exactly what it was. Eberhard had no false hopes. He did
not count on the certainty of a successful operation, and he prepared himself for
death. He gave directions about what should be done with his writings. 31 His legacy
to the brotherhood was to be the strength of unity melded from authentic early
Hutterianism, the acive faith of both Blumhardts, and the attitude toward life of
the true youth movement. Eberhard warned against “mixing Hutterianism with
modern pietism.” By this he must have meant the pietism that is quietism, which
ignores “Jesus’ fundamental intention that inner composure be the source of strength
for acion. If we sink spinelessly into quiet and stillness, it means we are losing hold
of the life to which Jesus has called us.” 32 Eberhard exhorted the brotherhood to
become more missionary-minded: “We have not yet come to real mission. It is
getting more and more urgent for us to pray for this.” He mentioned the points in
the work that should be stressed during the coming years. In the event of his death,
Hans Zumpe was to take over the responsibility for both Bruderhofs, working in
close cooperation with Georg Barth, Hardy, Hans-Hermann, Heinrich, and other
brothers and sisters who were deeply grounded in faith. Eberhard ended his letter to