Founding of the First Waldorf School - Waldorf Research Institute

the cigarette came into vogue; formerly one did not smokecigarettes. He became acquainted with Rudolf Steiner, bythe way, because, when he was twenty-eight years old, and abusinessman, he did concentration exercises, for it was clearto him: “If I concentrate, I can write business letters morequickly. Then all will proceed more quickly; I will intensifymy forces and have greater economic success.” Because of suchconsiderations, he became acquainted with Rudolf Steiner,recognized his spiritual significance very soon and became hisintimate student in the esoteric work that Rudolf Steiner hadestablished prior to the war. He was a member of the EsotericSchool — as were a few of the teachers. So, Emil Molt hadbecome a wealthy businessman who applied anthroposophyin a very real sense. He changed his whole lifestyle; he gave upsmoking, stopped eating meat — this was his own decision— in order to make himself a suitable vessel for the impulsesof the spiritual world. It is perhaps quite interesting that hespent half a million on the school, which was a lot of moneyfor that time. The first school building is still standing today,only changed a little; those who have visited Stuttgart knowthe administrative building. On Haussmann Street, formerlyKanonenweg, he bought a cafe for 450,000 German marks,spending 50,000 marks for renovations out of his own privatefunds. I want to say with this that a school can be built uponly out of forces of sacrifice. Sacrifices are not gifts; sacrificeshurt. These are really contributions of substance that mustbe given. The teachers too made great sacrifices, for thefinancial security was minimal, as minimal as in some of theAmerican schools even today — something that we on theEuropean continent can only admire deeply — that is, withwhat powers of sacrifice you run your schools. So, we mustbe grateful to Emil Molt, for without such personal sacrifices27