Chronicles of Religious Science, Volume II, 1960-2012: The History of the Religious Science Movement With Interviews, Quotes, and Commentary

By Marilyn Leo and Roger Teel

Building on the history documented in Chronicles of Religious Science Volume I, this second volume opens with the transition of Ernest Holmes in 1960. Each chapter highlights the growth and decisions of the Church of Religious Science and Religious Science International as the organizations grew and eventually merged back into one whole in 2012. Based on interviews, quotes, meeting minutes and commentary, these two volumes capture the essence of Religious Science and preserve its history for future generations.

Chronicles of Religious Science Volume II is truly a work of heart by Dr. Marilyn Leo, “Living Treasure” and former neighbor to Ernest and Hazel Holmes. Dr. Leo delves deep into the oracles and wisdom of the Science of Mind Archives to share key events in the evolution of Science of Mind. In this book, we honor the transition of our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes, in 1960, and we celebrate the healing and uniting of our movement in 2011-12. "This is a valuable resource and an essential read for anyone who has been touched by this profound teaching." — Rev. Kathy Mastroianni Executive Director, Science of Mind Archives and Library Foundation

This latest volume of Chronicles of Religious Science embodies the spirit of our founder, Dr. Ernest Holmes’, statement that Religious Science should always remain “open at the top.” It opens the reader to the unfolding story of this amazing movement. In so doing, it is a valuable resource to every practitioner of the Science of Mind. "Dr. Marilyn Leo has a way of answering the questions of the curious in this, her latest contribution to Religious Science. Enjoy your journey through the annals of one of the major contributors to the Science of Mind." — Rev. Stephen Rambo, Spiritual Leader, CSL Simi Valley             

"Ernest Holmes writes, “When, through intuition, faith finds its proper place under Divine Law, there are no limitations, and what are called miraculous results follow.” The Chronicles of Religious Science II is one of those miraculous efforts. I offer deep gratitude to Marilyn Leo for capturing the essence and details of so many aspects of the life of Holmes and the Religious Science movement and honor the keen minds and huge hearts who worked tirelessly to bring it to you. Holmes also writes, “A thought of love is always healing.” May this work be a loving support to you on your spiritual path. The journey continues." — Rev. David Goldberg, Ph.D. Past Publisher and Editor, Science of Mind Magazine, Science of Mind Publishing

• Language: English
• Publisher: Science of Mind Publishing
• Release date: Jun 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9780917849800

Book preview

1960s

A Sad Time

In Religious Science History

VERSE ON IMMORTALITY BY ERNEST HOLMES

When death shall come

And the spirit, freed, shall mount the air,

And wander afar in that great no-where,

It shall go as it came,

Freed from sorrow, sin and shame;

And naked and bare, through the upper air

Shall go alone to that great no-where.

Hinder not its onward way,

Grieve not o’er its form of clay,

For the spirit, freed now from clod,

Shall go alone to meet its God.¹

…as when one layeth

His worn-out robes away,

And, taking new ones, sayeth,

These shall I wear today!

So putteth by the spirit

Lightly its garb of flesh,

And passeth to inherit

A residence afresh.

— A favorite of Ernest Holmes from the Bhagavad Gita,

translation by Edwin Arnold

From the Los Angeles newspapers

DEATH OF ERNEST HOLMES

APRIL 7, 1960

AT HOME IN LOS ANGELES

Never the spirit was born; the spirit shall cease to be never;

Never was time it was not; End and Beginning are dreams!

Birthless and deathless and changeless remaineth the spirit forever;

Death hath not touched it at all, dead though the house of it seems!

Ernest Holmes had many aspects of a renaissance man, a mystic, always curious about the meaning of life, filled with the light and love of God. He lived a long and, for the most part, happy life. He was never ill, not even with the sniffles. That was not in his consciousness to experience.

The 1950s, however, took a toll on Ernest Holmes, the man. After his beloved wife, Hazel, passed away in May 1957, it was as if part of his life was gone. Many believe Ernest died of a broken heart. In the fall of 1959 he began to not feel himself, the happy vibrant person he had always been.

He was looking forward to the completion and dedication of Founder’s Church on 6th Street and Berendo in Los Angeles. He had been a part of the design ground breaking. The glass paintings behind the choir loft symbols were his collection, and he had been at the site most every day to pray and see the construction of the building.

Founder’s Church was completed and dedicated the first Sunday in January 1960. For about 6 weeks, Reginald Armor, the associate minister, conducted an early meditation/healing service. Ernest would speak at the first service, and Senior Minister William H. D. Hornaday spoke at the 11 a.m. service.

In a letter dated March 8, 1960, from Ernest Holmes to Raymond Charles Barker in New York:

My dear Raymond,

I have been intending to write you for some time, but for the first time in my life I got sick. It is thoroughly disgusting, and I haven’t enjoyed one minute of it. I guess I don’t have much patience. At any rate, I am much better and undoubtedly will be up and at ’em again very soon. But there were a few days when I wasn’t sure. The helpful thing I can see coming out of this, because I don’t believe suffering is imposed on us to save our souls or anything else since that is silly, is that it has made me wonder if we have the best possible physical structure for the long pull. I know we come nearer to having everything than any other group. Not that we are better or more holy (God, how I hate holiness) and not that we are any more spiritual because you and I are no more spiritual than a couple of black spiders.

I have never found out to my complete satisfaction what is meant by spirituality. But I do know what consciousness means, and you do, too. But we do have the best possible structure for some permanent good to happen to the world. I have long since lost any personal interest in a movement, as though it had anything to do with me, but I don’t want to shuffle off and leave a weak spot that might have been worked out.

So I have been going over it in my mind while lying here in bed, which is a stinking thing to have to do and I hate it. And of course I know I should love it and praise it and bless it, all of which I certainly do not do and I would be a liar if I said I did.

What I am really getting at in all this crazy confession is, you are a pretty smart cookie and I’m sure your interest is in the permanency of a Movement, the same as mine is, even though we are on two sides of the same coin. I don’t mind it as long as the coin is good.

If you can think of anything that could be added to our physical structure which would make it stronger, in your estimation, I would be glad to have you let me know, and next time you are out here, we could discuss it.

Of course I know the whole thing will come back together when the right time comes, merely because it is the logical thing to do, and I think in the long run, common sense usually wins.

Adela [St. Johns] writes glowing accounts of your work, and I am very happy she is able to be with you.

Meanwhile more power and everything good to you.

— Ernest Holmes

Within a couple of weeks, Ernest had a stroke. He remained at home with a limited number of people approved to see and visit with him. Bill Lynn, the executor of Ernest’s will and estate, acted on behalf of Ernest. Dr. Omar Fareed was his attending physician. There was a nurse and, of course, Lena, the Holmes’ longtime housekeeper. Reginald Armor stopped and visited every day as he traveled from the Institute at 6th and New Hampshire west to his home in Beverly Hills. Elsie Armor also visited Ernest. Bill Hornaday came by often despite his very busy schedule and the fact that his commute was in the opposite direction from Dr. Holmes’ house at 6th St. and Lorraine, where a vigil was being held for Ernest. One other person was in attendance — Arion Lewis, attorney for Holmes and the Institute. On April 7, Ernest made his transition.

(AUTHOR’S NOTE: SEE BEAUTIFUL EULOGIES AND CONVENTION MEMORIAL IN THE APPENDIX.)

Ernest Holmes came from a loving family of nine boys, one having died before Ernest was born. His mother, Anna Columbia Heath, was from Sumner, Maine; and his father, William Nelson Holmes, was from New Brunswick, Canada. They lived on a farm near Lincoln, Maine. There have been several books written about the life of Ernest Holmes, so I will not give further details here.

After Ernest’s transition, the Religious Science movement had to move forward. Ernest had not named a successor, and so there were many prospects of who that person might be. In the end there was no set leader to replace Ernest Holmes. Actually, how could there be?

At the Church of Religious Science Convention in 1961, this memorial and challenge was offered to attendees:

The loss of our beloved leader and founder cannot be measured in words. All of us are the beneficiaries of the wise and practical teaching which he has left to the world for its emancipation from all bondage and for the enlightenment of those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. We shall best show our love and appreciation to Dr. Holmes by growing together in the strongest bonds of love and united strength; by remaining true to those ideals of service to others which he so lovingly placed in our hands; and by demonstrating to the world our loyalty to and our love for this magnificent church and organization which stands as the corporate structure of the Church of Religious Science.

If the characteristic mark of the primitive Christian Church in the first century was Behold, how these Christians love one another, may the same thing be said of us in the 20th century: Look how these Religious Scientists love one other. It is a time of closing ranks and demonstrating our corporate life together as a great and growing family of churches. In this way we shall always reverence the name and memory of Dr. Ernest Holmes. In unity of purpose and action and loyalty there is strength, and this we shall realize more and more as time goes on. The discipline of loyalty to a teaching, and not to a teacher, is the great lesson we must learn together.

We have become a church in order to proclaim to the world and share with the world the glorious teaching and practice of Religious Science, not only individually but corporately. In this knowledge lies our strength and our destiny. In our Affiliation we have joined with all other Affiliated churches in an organized way to identify ourselves with an organized body of believers and an organized body of belief under one united banner and in one family of churches. While we realize all too well – because I think we have learned the lesson of history – that the organization must never be allowed to become an end in itself, we shall never forget that it furnishes the tool as a means to the end, which is the emancipation of man and the changing of the race consciousness. For this high purpose, this church and its organization exists. The day of the prima donna is over.

While we believe wholeheartedly in liberty, we do not believe in license – we know the difference. While we believe in freedom, we know that the intelligent use of freedom always carries with it responsibility – we know that there is no such thing as irresponsible freedom. Therefore, we have banded ourselves together in this church structure under the discipline of loyalty and unity, expressing our common freedom with profound respect for loyalty to each other and the parent organization, from which springs our identification and our unification.²

A Tour of Founder’s Church

Bill Lynn, business manager of the United Church of Religious Science, wrote this introduction to a tour of Founder’s Church:

Founder’s Church was dedicated January 3, 1960, at a cost of $1.1 million for the building only — not including land or later additions, such as Hornaday Hall and Holmes Memorial Chapel. It was later discovered that an underground stream ran under the building, necessitating the addition of extensive piling under the building.

Dr. Ernest Holmes passed on April 7, 1960, at the age of 72, about three months after the dedication.

The auditorium seats 1,600, plus 100 seats in the choir loft. The domed ceiling is 50 feet deep and spans 110 feet. The domed ceiling is blue with the star-like embedded lights, and together with the in the round construction of the auditorium, they represent the encompassing of all mankind — the One Mind principle.

The Wisdom of the Ages mural in back of the choir loft was painted by artist Wallace Stark. It depicts seventy-seven symbols, symbolically representing the whole spectrum of human knowledge and understanding, throughout the ages to the present.

The organ is made especially to the specifications of our internationally acclaimed organist and pianist, George Goulding. The pipes, on each side of the auditorium and at the sides of the dais, reach from the ground level of the building to the ceiling; often one may see students of the organ seated in the front row of the balcony, on the organ side, observing George — receiving a free lesson from a master.

The sound-proof booth is in the balcony. It is used to control the lights, microphones, sound systems, as well as to record all sermons and other programs.

The auditorium has 41,500 square feet. This building has its own emergency power plant. Should public power supply fail, a flip of a switch supplies this building with an immediate source for the convenience of its members and visitors.

The crying room is located beyond the wall to the right of the stage and is equipped with one-way glass in order that those mothers with babes in arms may clearly view the services and hear the program in the completely soundproof room. The entrance is through the hall en route to Dr. Hornaday’s office.

Once in the office we can step through these glass window panels and see the small Meditation Garden. We immediately notice the three trees representing the Trinity as mentioned in The Inner Light. On the shelf in back of the desk there is an ivory tusk elephant bridge — a memento of Dr. Bill’s stay in Africa studying under Dr. Albert Schweitzer. On the wall across from the desk is a beautiful wood carving by the famous artist and wood-sculptor Lester Matthews. It is carved from a single piece of wood, named Madonna of Infinity, representing the Mother God Principle. On the right, the shelves of gifts to Dr. Bill include a baseball autographed by Babe Ruth and the key to the city of Jerusalem, presented by its mayor. Dr. Bill has received numerous awards and honors, a few of which are: The Freedom’s Award, The Israel Peace Award, The Civil Rights Award from President Johnson, and Honorary membership in the 9th Command-Viet Nam. His radio program, KIEV, 870 on the dial, at 7 a.m., Monday through Friday, is heard by our Armed Forces around the world —a great service which we are proud and happy indeed to support.

Proceeding downstairs, we first come to Holmes Chapel, which seats 422 persons. It was dedicated in July 26,1964 — a beautiful, inspiring memorial to Dr. Ernest Holmes. The seats at each side face the center, typical of old New England church seating arrangements. Dr. Holmes spent many years as a child, youth, and young man in New England and expressed a special fondness for the lovely interiors of the old New England churches. Every Wednesday evening, both Dr. Bill Hornaday and Dr. Ezra Ellis hold meditation services in this chapel. The chapel is used for weddings and memorial services.

Exiting to the right of the chapel we follow around to Hornaday Hall. Remember, this is a round building so there are no straight hallways; all are curved. On our left is the bride’s room. There is also a child-care room for children older than infants to use while their parents attend services. Hornaday Hall seats 700 persons, has complete kitchen facilities, used for, among other events, the Wednesday night social hall after the service. Hornaday Hall was dedicated October 9, 1964.

1960

IARSC CONGRESS AND SEMINAR TOGETHER

AS ONE CONFERENCE AT ASILOMAR

The September 15 International Association of Religious Science Churches (IARSC) board minutes discuss combining the annual IARSC Congress and IARSC Seminar. The motion was made and carried, the board approving the combination — when feasible.

Then Mr. Jamison moved that the board approve the combined Congress-Seminar for 1961 to be held at Asilomar from May 21 to May 27. That motion was carried.³

The board also approved a Congress-Seminar for 1962 to be held at Asilomar from July 22 to July 28. That motion carried.⁴

It was decided that the IARSC Youth would be allowed to conduct its seminar during the summer months beginning in 1961.⁵

1961

IARCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ MEETING

At the December 8 IARSC Board of Directors meeting two recommendations were made by Rev. Cole Pryor:

1.  The Department of Standards:

This department was created to formulate standards for Practitioner licenses, Teacher licenses, entry to Ministerial School, and granting Church Charters to be presented to the Board of Directors for approval. (BM July 23, 1959).

This department has provided us with our now-adopted standards. It does not seem there will be additional work along this line; at least nothing this Board could not handle directly.

2.  Department of Finance:

This department was created to pass on all requests for expenditures of over $500 and to pass on and make recommendations to the Board of Directors on all requested changes in fiscal policies. (BM September 15, 1960.)

Though I requested this department, in the clearer view I now have of this board and the functions of the Executive Committee, I believe financial items can be handled directly by this board or its Executive Committee.⁶

1962 – 1963

IARSC BUYS PROPERTY IN FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA

A special meeting was called by the Board of Directors on April 4 for the purpose of discussing the purchase of the Carl Wolff property in Fillmore, California, as permanent headquarters for the IARSC. Dr. Bitzer had letters approving the purchase from all absent members.

Following is the detailed information concerning purchasing the Fillmore property:

It was moved and carried unanimously that the property called Rancho Topocado be purchased for $104,500, subject to obtaining a conditional use permit. One person was assigned to go to the Ventura County Planning Commission and acquire a use permit; another person was assigned to put it into escrow immediately contingent upon granting a conditional use permit. A third person moved that Joseph Kern be the attorney to handle all papers necessary for the sale. The president and treasurer were approved to make all necessary financial arrangements for the purchase of the property up to a $50,000 loan and to sign any and all papers necessary for the purchase of the property. Furniture was to be purchased from the Wolffs. A checking account was to be opened at the Bank of America in Fillmore and savings accounts wherever it was felt to be beneficial, for which the president and the treasurer be authorized to sign. Finally, Rev. Hinckley was to be reimbursed for any expenses she may have incurred.

At the July 22 meeting of the IARSC, the board moved that the Congress-Seminar would be held at Asilomar in 1963, 1964, and 1965. The motions were passed.

The IARSC produced a pamphlet, Religious Science. They now want to revise it. Cole Pryor made the suggestions for the changes, which were approved at the May 19, 1963, Board Meeting. The pamphlet included space for individual churches to add their names and contact information.

1963

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE CONVENTION

The theme of the January 7-10 Annual Convention of the Church of Religious Science was The Uniqueness of Religious Science. On the third day — Wednesday, January 9 — the Convention convened at 9:30 a.m. in Founder’s Church, Los Angeles. Reports were given by several departments.⁷

1964

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE CONVENTION

The theme of the January 6-9 Annual Convention of the Church of Religious Science was Living Religious Science. It was held at Founder’s Church, Los Angeles.

There was a resolution (#4), Protection of Church Property:

WHEREAS property of the Churches of Religious Science, Ernest Holmes, Founder, is the result of gifts and contributions designated for the establishment and/or maintenance of such churches; and

WHEREAS the acceptance of that property is made in trust,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that it shall not be lawful for any Affiliated Church or any Fellowship Church or the corporate officers or congregations thereof to encumber, sell, alienate, transfer or convey any real property, the title to which is held by and for the use of said Affiliated or Fellowship Church without the approval of the Standing Committee of five persons elected by this Convention for the purpose of protecting the use of Church property.⁸

The motion to adopt the resolution was tabled.

Resolution to Purchase Property for a Retreat Center

WHEREAS the Religious Science teaching program would be enhanced by a conference center or retreat atmosphere in a non-urban location, to the end that members and other interested persons may deepen their understanding of Religious Science through the workshop technique, and

WHEREAS the cost of land continues to rise with concurrent decreasing availability of suitable sites,

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Church Council, or other appropriate church authority:

1. create and administer a Religious Science Conference Fund by February 1, 1964; and

2. appoint a committee to determine the facilities to be provided, size of site, location not more than three hours’ drive from Los Angeles (with acceptable alternates), etc.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Affiliated Churches be canvassed for ideas and factual information from interested members – the first canvass to be completed by June 1, 1964.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the cost shall be met by an annual additional apportionment of 3 percent plus donations.⁹

The Resolutions Committee recommended No Action.¹⁰

Apportionment and Tithing

Also at this meeting there was an announcement that several of our Affiliated Churches have become tithing churches, as a matter of conviction and Principle.¹¹ Dr. Mark Carpenter announced that when the apportionment has been filled, the remainder of the tithe is credited to the Expansion Fund (created by a resolution at the 1960 Convention by Dr. Craig Carter). He said, We know that every member of the church who becomes a tither is blessed in manifold ways and so it is with a church when it becomes a tithing church.¹²

There had previously been an apportionment tax of $2 per member of the churches, to be paid annually. At the 1958 convention it was recommended that the apportionment be changed to 3 percent of each church’s operating expenses, which could actually be less than the $2 per person. The resolution to continue this apportionment method at this convention was adopted.¹³

World Peace Initiative

Under the subject of peace, it was moved that

WHEREAS members of Religious Science and the peoples of the world seek a more peaceful existence; and

WHEREAS it is fitting and timely that churches launch an offensive to accomplish that Divine purpose; and

WHEREAS such a goal can be attained only when men first accept responsibility for the establishment of peace within themselves;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED: that the members of the Church of Religious Science, Ernest Holmes, Founder, in convention assembled do collectively and individually adopt the following pledge:

I affirm my recognition that the peace of the world is a product of what lies in the hearts of individual men; that peace among peoples must be accomplished first in peaceful minds. I therefore solemnly and sincerely pledge my earnest effort to rid myself of resentment, hate and bigotry; to commit no outer action that stems from other than peaceful motives, that I may henceforth be One in Peace; and I urge upon all men to good purpose a similar effort to find peace within that the Peace of Heaven may be established in the experience of mankind.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: that individual members of Religious Science in churches around the globe and men of all creeds and faiths be encouraged to accept personal responsibility for peace by signing a similar pledge.¹⁴

A motion was made to adopt this Peace resolution, and it passed.

Science of Mind Magazine Report

The Science of Mind magazine report by Mr. Willis Kinnear was read by Rev. Gene Emmet Clark:

During the past year your magazine has continued to progress in a very fine way. The circulation has continued to be very healthy. And of considerable importance is the fact that it is producing a good revenue for the Church…. Two new features are being added…. For some time now we have been receiving, from a highly educated Cuban refugee in Florida, Spanish translations of the regular features Workshop of the Mind and Mental Engineering. We would appreciate any suggestions from you as to how these can best be used. Also in our office is a Russian translation of the textbook The Science of Mind. It was made by a Russian musician and composer who has traveled the world and who also took the first year major course in 1952. Suggestions as to what should be done with it would be most welcome. As in the past, the first Sunday in February is "Science of Mind Sunday" in all churches. This is a special Sunday for calling attention to the value of the magazine as well as an effort to secure subscriptions.¹⁵

At the 1965 convention, the magazine report also stated that

The churches which undertake a strong promotion for the sale of subscriptions at this time find it profitable, because only on this Sunday they are able to retain a larger portion of the subscription price. If someone does not have a friend or relative to whom they wish to send a subscription, they may desire to have the magazine office supply some needy person, a prison, a hospital or a retirement home with a subscription. There are also many people overseas who are unable to send money out of their country who want to receive the magazine. It is difficult to estimate the life or number of readers that a copy of the magazine has. We hear from people in all parts of the world, and some refer to copies they just came across that are ten to fifteen years old.¹⁶

[AUTHOR’S NOTE: THE PROJECT OF THE SCIENCE OF MIND SUNDAY CONTINUED FOR MANY YEARS.]

Church Property Ownership Rights

Continuing with the Convention resolutions, the following is an alternative on the subject of church property and alienation of church property made by and recommended by the Resolution Committee:

WHEREAS this convention believes that religious liberty does not imply material license and that while any church member or group of church members should therefore be free to change their church affiliation but should not therefore be at liberty to take with them the existing material property of the church, thus alienating it from the church members who do not share the desire for such a change and whose financial gifts over a period of time made that property possible; and

WHEREAS there also exists in American civil law, established precedent that in the case of dispute and severance among church members the church property shall remain with the original members of the church in question, even though they be a minority;

NOW, BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that this convention hereby petitions the authoritative bodies of the Church of Religious Science to pursue without delay the establishing of method, means and procedure to guarantee to the members of each and all of our affiliated churches that no descendent group within their church shall in future be permitted to alienate from the loyal group within that church the property which their gifts have made possible.

There was a motion to amend this second amendment with the following additions, deletions, and substitutions so that the amendment would read as follows:

WHEREAS this convention believes that religious liberty does not necessarily imply material license and that while any minister, church member, or group of church members should, therefore, be free to change their church affiliations, they should not, therefore, be at liberty to take with them the existing material properties of the church without proper and diligent consideration to the right and privileges of the remaining church members who do not share the desire for such change,

WHEREAS, there also exists in American civil law, established precedent that in cases of dispute and severance among church members, the church property shall remain with the original members of the church in question even though they may be a minority;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this convention hereby petitions the authoritative bodies of the Church of Religious Science to pursue without delay a study of methods, means and procedures to guarantee to members of each and all affiliated churches that the rights and privileges of the loyal group within the church be given fair and just consideration; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the result and recommendations from this study will be submitted to each Affiliated Church for proper acceptance and ratification by the congregation and/or Board of Trustees of these churches prior to its final adoption.

There was a standing vote, with 126 votes for the amendment and 81 against. At this time there were 243 delegates in place. In the discussion on this, Dr. Craig Carter brought to the convention’s attention that the amendment was concerned with providing a way that a church might adopt to protect its own property. This resolution, as amended, was then passed.¹⁷

1965

CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

BECOMES

UNITED CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE

At the 1965 Annual Convention of the Church of Religious Science there was a resolution on the agenda concerning the church’s name.

WHEREAS at several of the Annual Conventions of the Church of Religious Science in past years resolutions have been presented and adopted, requesting the Board of Trustees to take such action as may be necessary and proper in order to correct the confusion which was felt to have existed in the minds of the public as to the identity or the churches affiliated with the Church of Religious Science, Ernest Holmes, Founder, as distinguished from other churches and organizations employing the name Religious Science and which are not affiliated with, nor sponsored by, our Church of Religious Science; and, requesting that the Board of Trustees adopt some appropriate means to clearly identify this Church and its affiliated churches by some name or symbol which could be made exclusive to this Church and to its affiliated churches; and

WHEREAS our late and beloved founder, Ernest Holmes, in his lifetime authorized the organization of a California non-profit corporation under the name United Church of Religious Science, with the thought and idea that by organizing such a corporation, the name United Church of Religious Science could be reserved for the possible future use, distinguishing this from other Religious Science movements, and said corporation had been and is now a valid and existing corporation controlled by our Board of Trustees; and

WHEREAS our Board of Trustees has expressed itself as believing that now may be an appropriate time to respond to such resolutions and to proceed with the plan which Dr. Holmes had in mind at the time he authorized the creation having the name United Church of Religious Science, the first step in the suggested plan is that our corporation bearing the name Church of Religious Science, which has sometimes been further identified as Headquarters, and which is the corporation to which affiliated churches are affiliated, shall, by appropriate legal action, change its name to United Church of Religious Science, the existing corporation by that name at the same time dissolving and ending its corporate existence; and

WHEREAS it is proposed upon the Church of Religious Science having changed its name to United Church of Religious Science, the affiliated churches would no longer be known as affiliated churches, but as members of the United Church of Religious Science; by way of example, the Church of Religious Science of Beverly Hills, which now uses the phrase an affiliated church of the Church of Religious Science, Ernest Holmes, Founder, would refer to itself as Church of Religious Science of Beverly Hills, a member of the United Church of Religious Science; and other affiliated churches would do likewise; and

WHEREAS the Board of Trustees of the Church of Religious Science has adopted an insignie or symbol which may be used in advertising, on stationery, flags, buttons or whatever other use in which it may be used to identify the United Church of Religious Science and its members, which symbol was drafted by the late Dr. Ernest Holmes to illustrate what he believed to be a profound spiritual truth, and the Board of Trustees has authorized that this symbol shall be registered with the U.S. Patent Office as a collective mark so that the provisions of the federal law will assure that this insignie or symbol may be used by the United Church of Religious Science and its member churches; and

WHEREAS it is not intended that the foregoing shall materially change the present relationship between the Church of Religious Science and its affiliated churches, and that the Bylaws which presently regulate that relationship would not be materially changed except as above described, and subject to the proviso that the words Member of United Church of Religious Science and the insignie or symbol could be used only so long as a member church continues to be entitled to all of the privileges of such membership, and that upon losing such privileges it shall not thereafter be permitted to either advertise that it is a member, or to use, employ or advertise the distinctive insignie or symbol;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the affiliated churches of the Church of Religious Science, in convention assembled, do hereby approve the foregoing plan and specified procedures, and consent that the name shall be implemented in the manner herein described; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each of the affiliated churches participating in this convention shall be hereafter considered to be members of the United Church of Religious Science and authorized to use and display the distinctive insignie or symbol so long as each is entitled to the privileges of such membership.¹⁸

Following discussion and return of the resolution to the Resolutions Committee, the following was proposed as a complete substitution beginning with the close of the third paragraph, which reads, the existing corporation by that name at the same time dissolving and ending its corporate existence.

WHEREAS it is proposed that when, as and if the Church of Religious Science amends its Articles of Incorporation to change its name to United Church of Religious Science, Ernest Holmes, Founder, the incorporated Affiliated Churches shall no longer be known as Affiliated Churches but as members of the United Church of Religious Science, the corporate names of the Affiliated Churches being unaffected; and the existing relationship between the Church of Religious Science and its affiliated churches being unchanged except as to nomenclature, member or membership being considered to being identical to affiliated or affiliation; and

WHEREAS the Board of Trustees of the Church of Religious Science has therefore approved and adopted an insignie or symbol (which was prominently displayed on the platform on the second day of the 1965 Convention) which is intended to be used to identify the United Church of Religious Science and its member