Re: A Widening Rift

Mary wrote:

> Bruderhof News wrote:
> 
>> Eberhard began avoiding the usual parties and social events. He
>> refused invitations from professors’ families in the Arnolds’ circle
>> of friends – all at once these affairs seemed empty and pointless.
>> This led to serious differences with his parents, especially with his
>> father, who labeled his son’s behavior the “impudence of an immature
>> boy.” 
> 
> In his intense enthusiasm, the sixteen-year-old set stipulations: he
> agreed to attend the gatherings on the condition that he could speak
> openly to the guests and point out the errors of their ways.
> 
> Even on New Year’s Eve, when the family and a few students sat
> together over a bowl of punch to welcome in the year 1900, Eberhard
> related his encounter with Jesus and challenged the relatives and
> guests to seize the hour and seek such experiences. His father
> attempted to play down the guests’ embarrassment by reading Psalm 103,
> as he did every year, and then starting their traditional chorale,
> “Now let us enter with singing and prayer before the Lord who has
> given us strength to live until this time.” 
> 
> 
> 

The rift between father and son increased when Eberhard questioned the 
large reception his parents held twice a year. He criticized the 
tremendous expense – “two hundred marks for food and drink” –and pointed 
out that all the invited guests were wealthy and well-fed. He reminded 
his father of the working-class families in the eastern section of 
Breslau and of Jesus’ words: “When you give a party…go out into the 
streets and invite the very poorest who can never invite you in return” 
(Luke 14:12). To Carl Franklin Arnold, this behavior was nothing short of 
insolent, and he ordered his son to stay in his room. Misunderstandings 
between father and son continued. Both suffered as a result.