Charles and Myrtle Fillmore: From Students of Emma Curtis Hopkins to Founders of Unity

Introduction

Charles Sherlock Fillmore (1854–1948) and Myrtle Page Fillmore (1845–1931) stand as the most influential couple in the history of the New Thought movement. From their modest beginnings in the American Midwest, they transformed personal healing experiences into Unity, the largest and most distinctly Christian expression of New Thought. Their journey—from desperate seekers of health to devoted students of Emma Curtis Hopkins, and finally to founders of a movement that still thrives today—is a story of faith, resilience, and the power of metaphysical ideas. This article traces their path, situates their work within the broader intellectual currents of the nineteenth century, and examines their enduring legacy.

Historical Context

The Fillmores emerged during a period of profound religious ferment in America. The mid-nineteenth century witnessed the rise of Transcendentalism, with its emphasis on individual intuition and the inherent goodness of humanity, championed by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Concurrently, the practical philosophy of Phineas Quimby, a clockmaker turned healer, introduced the idea that illness originated in false beliefs and could be cured through mental suggestion. Quimby’s methods influenced Mary Baker Eddy, who founded Christian Science in 1879, and later Emma Curtis Hopkins, a former student of Eddy who developed her own ‘mental science’ approach. Hopkins, known as the ‘teacher of teachers,’ trained many future New Thought leaders, including the Fillmores. The movement also drew from Swedenborgianism, mesmerism, and the optimistic, can-do spirit of the Gilded Age. This eclectic blend of ideas—emphasizing the power of mind over matter, the immanence of God, and the possibility of practical healing—formed the intellectual soil in which Unity would grow.

Main Narrative

Early Lives

Myrtle Page was born on August 6, 1845, in Pagetown, Ohio, the eighth of nine children in a devout Methodist family. Described as ‘not robust’ and often seriously ill, she nonetheless worked as a newspaper writer before attending Oberlin College for a year (1868–69) and then teaching in Missouri and Texas. Charles Fillmore was born on August 22, 1854, in St. Cloud, Minnesota Territory, to a trader father and a Canadian-born mother. A childhood ice-skating accident at age ten broke his hip, leaving him with lifelong disabilities and chronic pain. Despite limited formal education, he read widely, studying Shakespeare, Tennyson, and Emerson. The two met in Dennison, Texas, and married in 1881, settling in Kansas City, Missouri, with their three young sons.

Influences and Healing

The Fillmores suffered from persistent health problems. Myrtle had incipient tuberculosis, and Charles’s leg remained painful. They sought relief through orthodox medicine without success. In 1886, they attended a lecture by E.B. Weeks, a metaphysician, who presented a radical idea: ‘I am a child of God, and therefore I do not inherit sickness.’ This resonated deeply with Myrtle. She began two years of intensive prayer and meditation, eventually healing her body of tuberculosis. Charles, inspired by his wife’s transformation, also applied these principles and claimed healing of his damaged leg. The couple became devotees of Ralph Waldo Emerson and studied with leading teachers of the day, including Mary Baker Eddy and, most importantly, Emma Curtis Hopkins. Hopkins, who had broken with Eddy to teach a more inclusive, less dogmatic version of mental healing, became their mentor. The Fillmores absorbed her teachings on divine healing, the power of affirmative prayer, and the idea that God is the only reality—principles they would later adapt and systematize.

Founding Unity

To share their discoveries, the Fillmores did not initially start a church but a magazine. In April 1889, they published the first issue of Modern Thought, which later became Unity Magazine. The publication offered practical lessons in metaphysical healing and attracted a growing readership. The following year, in 1890, they formed a prayer group that evolved into Silent Unity, a 24/7 prayer ministry that continues to respond to requests from around the world. As the movement expanded, the Fillmores established the Unity School of Christianity in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, where they developed educational materials, correspondence courses, and a publishing house. They emphasized practical Christianity—applying Jesus’ teachings to daily life—and promoted vegetarianism for three decades, reflecting their belief in the unity of body, mind, and spirit.

Institutional Development

Under Charles’s leadership, Unity grew from a small magazine into a multifaceted organization. He served as the primary theologian, interpreting biblical scripture through a metaphysical lens, while Myrtle focused on prayer ministry and healing work. The couple also participated in the broader New Thought movement, helping to establish the International New Thought Alliance, which sought to unify various metaphysical groups. Unity’s teachings diverged from Christian Science in their more open acceptance of medical care and their emphasis on the indwelling Christ rather than a personal, anthropomorphic God. They also welcomed people of all faiths, making Unity a bridge between traditional Christianity and New Thought philosophy.

Later Years and Legacy

Myrtle Fillmore died on October 6, 1931, in Lee’s Summit. Charles married Cora G. Dedrick in 1933, and continued to lead Unity until his death on July 5, 1948, at age 93. By then, Unity had become a worldwide movement with hundreds of churches, a vast literature, and a robust prayer ministry. The Fillmores’ personal writings, including Myrtle’s Healing Letters and Charles’s numerous books, remained foundational texts. Their successors built on their work, and Unity today remains one of the most successful New Thought denominations, with a message that continues to inspire seekers of spiritual and physical well-being.

Why It Matters in New Thought History

The Fillmores’ significance lies in their synthesis of New Thought principles with a distinctly Christian framework. While other leaders like Emma Curtis Hopkins and Ernest Holmes developed more universalistic or philosophical systems, Unity offered a practical, devotional path that appealed to mainstream Christians. The couple’s emphasis on affirmative prayer and the power of thought directly influenced later movements such as Religious Science (founded by Ernest Holmes, who studied under Hopkins and was influenced by Unity) and the broader human potential movement of the twentieth century. Their establishment of Silent Unity, a round-the-clock prayer service, institutionalized the practice of intercessory prayer in a way that was unprecedented. Moreover, their commitment to publishing—Unity Magazine and countless books—helped disseminate New Thought ideas to a mass audience. For students of New Thought history, the Fillmores exemplify the movement’s transition from a fringe healing practice to a structured, enduring religious tradition.

Primary Sources

• Modern Thought (later Unity Magazine), first issue April 1889 – The foundational publication of Unity, containing early teachings and announcements.
• Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters (c. 1890s–1931) – Personal correspondence and teachings on spiritual healing, later published as a book.
• Charles Fillmore’s books, including Christian Healing (1909), Prosperity (1936), and The Twelve Powers of Man (1930) – Systematic expositions of Unity metaphysics.
• Silent Unity records – Archival materials documenting prayer requests and responses, illustrating the ministry’s evolution.
• Unity School of Christianity archives, Lee’s Summit, Missouri – Contains organizational records, correspondence, and unpublished manuscripts.