About Myrtle Fillmore

Myrtle Page Fillmore

b. Mary Caroline Page 1845-1931
"Mother of Unity"

Charles Fillmore

Myrtle Fillmore

Known as co-founder of the world wide Unity movement with her husband Charles Fillmore.

Myrtle dedicated her life to the healing prayer work of the Unity movement from which the famed "Silent Unity" derives its mission. To this day her loving presence is felt not only at Unity World Headquarters, but in Unity Churches all over the world. She was a friend, a counselor, and a teacher to those who wanted to learn the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Myrtle Fillmore proved the Truth of Christ Presence in her life and affairs. The healing, prospering, and harmonizing ideas of Divine Mind moved through her consciousness and manifested as a glorious, unifying ministry of love. Today, the Unity School of Christianity at Unity Village, Missouri, through its books and numerous publications including the Daily Word, its Retreat Center, Silent Unity Prayer Ministry, and Unity Centers and Churches throughout the world continue to serve all who seek their inspiring and practical help.

The "Theology" of Myrtle Fillmore

Myrtle Fillmore was a late 19th century religious thinker whose writings often paralleled the thoughts of Ernst Daniel Schleiermacher (1768-1834), a Protestant theologian who believed that the individual who develops a personal religious attitude is best prepared. The following outlines some of the comparable points as seen in her book "How To Let God Help You" published by Unity Books.

Separation from God

"There is only One Presence and One Power in the Universe and in our lives;
God, the Good,
Omnipotent."

The broader concept of God is not that of a personal individual being. "Though personal to each one of us, God is IT, neither male nor female, but Principle. " God is not principle like general scientific data, but is "the Principle of life, love, and intelligence." God is Intelligence; the One Mind that is the Unity of all people, all races and all genders. "A full realization of this great truth would do away with all selfishness, the cause of all the misery on earth." The true life of all people is One Life; everything else is illusion. The "seeming differences in people are caused by selfishness or desire for something separate and apart from God." (Myrtle, 25)

Science and Religion

Some theologians have equated absurdities from "illogical reasoning." They begin with the axiom: "God is all - all good, all power, all wisdom, all presence." They then introduce "false quantities and false theorems" by arguing that "there is a quantity in life called evil which equals good in power." Myrtle Fillmore calls this an absurdity. "Where Good is, evil (its opposite) cannot exist." The axiom that "God is all, reduces evil to nothing. (Myrtle, 28)

Reason

If God is All, then God is Omnipresence. "That which is All can have no opposing power, so it must be Omnipotence. That which is Omnipresence must contain all Wisdom and must be Omniscience. Those who agree that God is all and insist that evil has power in life are not using logic. (Myrtle, 36)

The Notion of Good and Evil

It is natural for humans to discriminate between those things that bring desirable results and those things that bring undesirable results. The subconscious is impressed with the notion that the undesirable thing should be avoided. Those things to be avoided are often named as evil, sin, devil, or adversary. The development of feelings and attitudes about God and the world can be seen in the Bible. The fearful God in the Old Testament is an outgrowth of the expanding human concept of power and good. But in the consciousness of avoiding the undesirable, and feeling threatened, people attributed these same qualities to another power. (Myrtle, 55).

Spiritual Growth Through Experience

God created human life in His image and likeness. Humans have the same qualities and ideas as God-Mind. But, having been given free will, humans are dynamically growing and unfolding toward God, with the freedom to interpret life and experiment. Sometimes unwise experiments bring results that are undesirable.. These experiments are never unprofitable, since they provide the lessons of experience. Therefore, experience and growth determine one's concept of God. (Myrtle, 56)

"To him that ordereth his way aright will I show the salvation of God." Every experience will prove encouraging when it is understood. (Myrtle, 103). The understanding of every experience is revealed by the Spirit of truth within the soul. This causes a quickening and awakening of spiritual growth. Experiences that challenge one's faith are opportunities to manifest the spiritual good. Such experiences are steppingstones of progress toward spiritual awakening. (Myrtle, 75)

The most difficult and long way to God is through experience. The short way is by being "receptive and obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, in thought, word, and deed, putting God first in your life." That leading comes while we abide in the Christ consciousness. Although no one remains constantly in this state while in the world, nothing is lost because Spirit has implanted seeds of good that will multiply. (Myrtle, 84)

Knowledge of Spirit

Those who are growing spiritually, are beginning to realize that there is something within human life that understands better than intellect. Concepts that were formerly thought to be beyond human understanding are begin to manifest as knowledge and they gradually realize that they are spiritually one with God. They are discovering that "the Spirit within is greater than all else." (Myrtle, 62)

Understanding Spirit

It is not possible to understand spiritual things by straining the intellect. Spiritual growth is not developed by intellect but by listening and obeying Spirit. (Myrtle, 79)
This is done by turning from the world of the outer and entering the "Secret Place of The Most High." Jesus said, "When you pray, enter into the inner chamber, and having shut the door, pray to the Father who is in secret." This is done with the consciousness of the Presence of God. The "doors" are closed to the outer senses of "material activities." (Myrtle, 86)

Those who embrace sense consciousness and believe in materiality for satisfaction are "clothed in darkness." Concentration on sense consciousness gives reality and power to material things and builds a "sense mind" where "thoughts dwell on things apart from God." (Myrtle, 115)

*Pleasure*
Those who dwell in the outer are looking for pleasure from things. But this kind of pleasure does not last. When it passes, the individual is left feeling empty. Myrtle Fillmore likens material pleasure to moonlight, only a reflection the true Source of Light. (Myrtle, 87,88)

	*Stimulants; Drugs and Alcohol*
	The emptiness left by material pleasure breeds a negative sense of lack in life, which leads to a kind of "soul hungering" that in turn is accompanied by a craving for stimulants. A strong desire for a fuller realization of life sometimes will bring one to destructive dependence on stimulants such as drugs and alcohol. (Myrtle, 96)

Gratitude

Spirit cannot be depleted and is never absent. It responds to those who have faith in it, but is not affected by ignorant words. The only affect ignorance has is on those who think and act in ignorance. This is because ideas govern action. The Holy Spirit is always willing to give to those who, in thanksgiving and praise, know the unfailing, infinite supply of spiritual substance. Thanksgiving and gratitude are qualities of the soul. God listens and responds to the soul quickening of praise and thanksgiving. "Praise is gratitude in action." (Myrtle, 146)

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