Against the Wind: Eberhard Arnold and the Bruderhof - Plough

Against the Windwith Emmy, who was anything but a spectator. She led meetings, held follow-uptalks for women, and planned evenings for singing and music. As in the previousyear, those who attended these gatherings were, for the most part, unfamiliarwith the church. At his talks, Eberhard found himself confronted by spiritualists,Millenniumsleute (“millennium people”), and anthroposophists. 14 Witnessesreported that Eberhard received the questions of negative or doubting hearers withdisarming openness. He could find his way unerringly to the heart of a questionand then give a simple and illuminating answer, always trying to base his reply onthe Gospels. Throughout his life Eberhard regarded this ability as a special giftfrom God. 15This gift helped him in two series of lectures given in January and April of 1910in Halle’s Tulpe Auditorium. These lectures on Nietzsche attracted numerousmembers of the Halle Theosophical Association. Some converted to Jesus on thespot. The chairman of the association, a certain Herr Krause, was eager to win backhis flock. But, in making the attempt, he was himself convinced of the “Jesus of earlyChristianity.” The Theosophical Association disbanded for lack of members, andsome of them joined the Alte Promenade Fellowship.48EStrangEmEnt of a friEndFor the most part Eberhard’s relationship to Ludwig von Gerdtell remained close,though not entirely without problems. Von Gerdtell’s complete break with theSCM had marked just the beginning of a whole series of conflicts with formerassociates, culminating in a sudden and complete break with the Baptist associationin the summer of 1909. Still, von Gerdtell continued his lectures, choosing Leipzigas the next scene of his “work among the educated.” This undertaking became thefirst endurance test for the Arnolds’ new marriage.In mid-January von Gerdtell came to the Arnolds’ Kanzlerstrasse home tobe their guest for the duration of his lectures. He forced the whole household toconform to his daily schedule and habits. He bathed three times a day, as washis custom, and rejected spices, sugar, and salt on grounds of health, dictating anexpensive dietary plan to the maid. He ate by himself on principle (for the sake ofquiet) but afterwards, quite unceremoniously, he would join the Arnolds duringdinner. He rose at six o’clock in the morning. At night he demanded absolutesilence at the stroke of nine.Emmy and Eberhard were somewhat put off by the elitist approach they nowbegan to recognize in von Gerdtell. A hall to seat nine hundred had been rented