August 2007 ~ Heritage
The month of August is not known for a national holiday, but to those of us in the Unity movement, it is a very important month. Our co-founders, Myrtle and Charles Fillmore, were born in August. Myrtle was born on August 6, 1854 in Pagetown, Ohio. Charles was born on August 22, 1863 near St. Cloud, Minnesota. What were the chances that they would meet and marry, that they would discover a new way of healing that they would share with the world? What were the chances?
Fortunately, their destiny was not a matter of chance. Fortunately, they were committed to the guidance of the Spirit of Truth and were willing to follow as they felt led. Perhaps this is their most important legacy to us today. More than a new way of understanding God and our relationship to God, more than a new way of understanding our oneness to all creation, more than a new way of understanding the scriptures and the freeing message of Jesus Christ, the reality and availability of Divine Guidance is our most precious heritage. Expressing through us as instinct and insight, as common sense and intuition, as information and inspiration, as doors that open and doors that close, Divine Guidance is always our salvation.
When Charles Fillmore defined Unity as “a practical application of the teachings of Jesus Christ to every aspect of daily life,” he made it plain that Unity is about living every moment from an “inner knowing” that leads us on a clear path and allows us to be fearless and faithfilled. Surely this was Jesus’ example. Surely this was the example of our co-founders.
In 1942, while looking through some old files, the librarian at Unity headquarters uncovered a document in Mr. Fillmore’s handwriting that was signed by Myrtle and Charles. The document had remained a secret for fifty years, but the spirit of the “covenant,” as it has become known, had shown itself time and time again since the Fillmores signed it on December 7, 1892, for it is the spirit that motivated their life and work. (from The Story of Unity)
Today, as we honor our past and embrace our opportunity to carry the work of Unity into the future, may our purpose and our progress be firmly dedicated to the same Spirit of Truth that has been our foundation from the beginning. May we never lose sight of what we are as we set our sights on what we may yet become.
jbm
Fortunately, their destiny was not a matter of chance. Fortunately, they were committed to the guidance of the Spirit of Truth and were willing to follow as they felt led. Perhaps this is their most important legacy to us today. More than a new way of understanding God and our relationship to God, more than a new way of understanding our oneness to all creation, more than a new way of understanding the scriptures and the freeing message of Jesus Christ, the reality and availability of Divine Guidance is our most precious heritage. Expressing through us as instinct and insight, as common sense and intuition, as information and inspiration, as doors that open and doors that close, Divine Guidance is always our salvation.
When Charles Fillmore defined Unity as “a practical application of the teachings of Jesus Christ to every aspect of daily life,” he made it plain that Unity is about living every moment from an “inner knowing” that leads us on a clear path and allows us to be fearless and faithfilled. Surely this was Jesus’ example. Surely this was the example of our co-founders.
In 1942, while looking through some old files, the librarian at Unity headquarters uncovered a document in Mr. Fillmore’s handwriting that was signed by Myrtle and Charles. The document had remained a secret for fifty years, but the spirit of the “covenant,” as it has become known, had shown itself time and time again since the Fillmores signed it on December 7, 1892, for it is the spirit that motivated their life and work. (from The Story of Unity)
DEDICATION AND COVENANT
We, Charles Fillmore and Myrtle Fillmore, husband and wife, hereby dedicate ourselves, our time, our money, all we have and all we expect to have, to the Spirit of Truth, and through it, to the Society of Silent Unity.
It being understood and agreed that the said Spirit of Truth shall render unto us an equivalent for this dedication, in peace of mind, health of body, wisdom, understanding, love, life, and an abundant supply of all things necessary to meet every want without our making any of these things the object of our existence.
In the presence of the Conscious Mind of Christ Jesus, this 7th day of December, A.D. 1892. (signed) Charles Fillmore / Myrtle Fillmore
Today, as we honor our past and embrace our opportunity to carry the work of Unity into the future, may our purpose and our progress be firmly dedicated to the same Spirit of Truth that has been our foundation from the beginning. May we never lose sight of what we are as we set our sights on what we may yet become.
jbm
