Mary Caroline "Myrtle" Page Fillmore (August 6, 1845 – October 6, 1931) was an American who was co-founder of Unity, a church within the New Thought Christian movement, along with her husband Charles Fillmore.[1] Before that she worked as a schoolteacher.
Myrtle was the seventh child (of eight) of an Ohio businessman-farmer. Her parents were strict Methodists, but Myrtle rejected their puritanical teachings. Most of her childhood and into adulthood, she experienced "all the ills of mind and body that I could bear. Medicine and doctors ceased to give me relief and I was in despair," as she says. After struggling with numerous medical ailments for which orthodox medicine (of the day) fell short, she eventually "awoke" to spiritual self-healing which she credited for greatly improving health, including recovery from chronic tuberculosis.
Also at a young age she developed a strong enjoyment of reading. At the age of twenty-one she enrolled in the (one year) 'Literary Course for Ladies' at Oberlin College. After graduating in 1867, she taught at public schools in Clinton, Missouri and later, Denison, Texas. There, she met her future husband, Charles Fillmore, they married in 1881. Initially residing in Gunnison, Colorado, they moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where their first two sons were born, Lowell in 1882 and Rickert in 1884. The family then moved to Omaha, Nebraska and then Kansas City, Missouri, where their third son, Royal, was born in 1889.[2]
Introduction to New Thoughtedit
After the births of their first two sons, Lowell Page Fillmore and Waldo Rickert Fillmore, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri. Two years later, in 1886, Charles and Myrtle attended New Thought classes held by Dr. E. B. Weeks. Myrtle subsequently recovered from chronic tuberculosis and attributed her recovery to her use of prayer and other methods learned in Weeks' classes. Subsequently, Charles began to heal from his childhood accident, a development which he too attributed to following this philosophy. Charles Fillmore became a devoted student of philosophy and religion.[3]
In 1889, Charles and Myrtle began publication of a new periodical, 'Modern Thought', notable among other things as the first publication to accept for publication the writings of the then 27-year-old New Thought pioneer William Walker Atkinson. In 1890, they announced a prayer group that would later be called 'Silent Unity'. In 1891, Fillmore's 'Unity' magazine was first published. Dr. H. Emilie Cady published 'Lessons in Truth' in the new magazine. This material later was compiled and published in a book by the same name, which served as a seminal work of the Unity Church. Although Charles had no intention of making Unity into a denomination, his students wanted a more organized group. He and his wife were among the first ordained Unity ministers in 1906. Charles and Myrtle Fillmore operated the Unity organizations from a campus near downtown Kansas City.[4]
Deathedit
Myrtle Fillmore died in 1931. Charles remarried in 1933 to Cora G. Dedrick who was a collaborator on his later writings.[5] Charles Fillmore died in 1948. Unity continued, growing into a worldwide movement; Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village and Unity Worldwide Ministries are the organizations of the movement.[6]
^Dictionary of American Biography, Supplement 4: 1946-1950. American Council of Learned Societies, 1974, reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008., accessed September 2009.
^"A Timeline of Unity History 2011-10-16 at the Wayback Machine", Association of Unity Churches, accessed September 2009.
^Gale Publishing Group, "Charles Fillmore" in Religious Leaders of America, 2nd ed. Gale Group, 1999. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Gale, 2008., accessed September 2009.
^See, e.g., Ferm, Vergilius (ed). An Encyclopedia of Religion; Westport, CT: Greenwood Press (1976; 1st ed. pub. 1945 by Philosophical Library); pg. 805.
Referencesedit
Vahle, Neal (2002). The Unity Movement. Philadelphia: Templeton Foundation Press. ISBN1-890151-96-3.
Further readingedit
Vahle, Neal (1996). Torch-Bearer to Light the Way: The Life of Myrtle Fillmore. Open View Press. ISBN0-9655906-0-7.
October 29, 2023
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Mary Caroline Myrtle Page Fillmore August 6 1845 October 6 1931 was an American who was co founder of Unity a church within the New Thought Christian movement along with her husband Charles Fillmore 1 Before that she worked as a schoolteacher Myrtle FillmoreBornMary Caroline Page 1845 08 06 August 6 1845Pagetown OhioDiedOctober 6 1931 1931 10 06 aged 86 SpouseCharles FillmoreWebsitehttps www unity org resources articles words myrtle fillmore Contents 1 Biography 2 Introduction to New Thought 3 Death 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Further readingBiography editMyrtle was the seventh child of eight of an Ohio businessman farmer Her parents were strict Methodists but Myrtle rejected their puritanical teachings Most of her childhood and into adulthood she experienced all the ills of mind and body that I could bear Medicine and doctors ceased to give me relief and I was in despair as she says After struggling with numerous medical ailments for which orthodox medicine of the day fell short she eventually awoke to spiritual self healing which she credited for greatly improving health including recovery from chronic tuberculosis Also at a young age she developed a strong enjoyment of reading At the age of twenty one she enrolled in the one year Literary Course for Ladies at Oberlin College After graduating in 1867 she taught at public schools in Clinton Missouri and later Denison Texas There she met her future husband Charles Fillmore they married in 1881 Initially residing in Gunnison Colorado they moved to Pueblo Colorado where their first two sons were born Lowell in 1882 and Rickert in 1884 The family then moved to Omaha Nebraska and then Kansas City Missouri where their third son Royal was born in 1889 2 Introduction to New Thought editAfter the births of their first two sons Lowell Page Fillmore and Waldo Rickert Fillmore the family moved to Kansas City Missouri Two years later in 1886 Charles and Myrtle attended New Thought classes held by Dr E B Weeks Myrtle subsequently recovered from chronic tuberculosis and attributed her recovery to her use of prayer and other methods learned in Weeks classes Subsequently Charles began to heal from his childhood accident a development which he too attributed to following this philosophy Charles Fillmore became a devoted student of philosophy and religion 3 In 1889 Charles and Myrtle began publication of a new periodical Modern Thought notable among other things as the first publication to accept for publication the writings of the then 27 year old New Thought pioneer William Walker Atkinson In 1890 they announced a prayer group that would later be called Silent Unity In 1891 Fillmore s Unity magazine was first published Dr H Emilie Cady published Lessons in Truth in the new magazine This material later was compiled and published in a book by the same name which served as a seminal work of the Unity Church Although Charles had no intention of making Unity into a denomination his students wanted a more organized group He and his wife were among the first ordained Unity ministers in 1906 Charles and Myrtle Fillmore operated the Unity organizations from a campus near downtown Kansas City 4 Death editMyrtle Fillmore died in 1931 Charles remarried in 1933 to Cora G Dedrick who was a collaborator on his later writings 5 Charles Fillmore died in 1948 Unity continued growing into a worldwide movement Unity World Headquarters at Unity Village and Unity Worldwide Ministries are the organizations of the movement 6 See also editList of New Thought writers List of New Thought denominations and independent centersNotes edit Larson Martin A New Thought A Philosophy for Health Happiness and Prosperity New York Philosophical Library 1987 215 256 Vahle 2002 pp5 6 Dictionary of American Biography Supplement 4 1946 1950 American Council of Learned Societies 1974 reproduced in Biography Resource Center Farmington Hills Mich Gale 2008 accessed September 2009 A Timeline of Unity History Archived 2011 10 16 at the Wayback Machine Association of Unity Churches accessed September 2009 Gale Publishing Group Charles Fillmore in Religious Leaders of America 2nd ed Gale Group 1999 Reproduced in Biography Resource Center Farmington Hills Mich Gale 2008 accessed September 2009 See e g Ferm Vergilius ed An Encyclopedia of Religion Westport CT Greenwood Press 1976 1st ed pub 1945 by Philosophical Library pg 805 References editVahle Neal 2002 The Unity Movement Philadelphia Templeton Foundation Press ISBN 1 890151 96 3 Further reading editVahle Neal 1996 Torch Bearer to Light the Way The Life of Myrtle Fillmore Open View Press ISBN 0 9655906 0 7 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Myrtle Fillmore amp oldid 1112201436, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
