In 1921, after a series of lectures at the YWCA on applied psychology by Dr.
David Bush,
Susan Lawrence Gehrman became
the first and only president of the Springfield Society for Applied Psychology.
Besides lectures by Reverend Frank Waller Allen
and other traveling New Thought lecturers, a full schedule of classes were
arranged using Susan’s home and the YWCA. Course titles included
"Psychology and Life" and "The Science of Being." The
library at the Dana house
was named the Lawrence Center for Constructive Thought and classes were held
there or upstairs in the gallery. The Center had a large circulating library and
bookstore.
In 1924, with Reverend Allen gone, the New Thought movement in Springfield
had reached a turning point. With only a few prominent members remaining, the
Society for Applied Psychology was ready to fold. It was then that Mary Meeks,
the mother-in-law of Frank Waller Allen took over as class leader. She was
working as a school teacher and principal in Decatur. The Lawrence Center had
been incorporating Unity literature in its collection and Mrs. Meeks began
studying to become a Licensed Unity teacher.
In 1927, Mrs Gehrman and Mrs Meeks
decided that more people might attend meetings if they weren’t held in a
private home and Mrs. Gehrman provided space on the second floor of a building
she owned at 225 South Sixth. Classes held by Mary Meeks included classes on
"Lessons in Truth" by Emilie Cady, "Talks on Truth,"
"Christian Healing,"and "The Twelve Powers of Man" by
Charles
Fillmore, and "Selected Studies" by Imelda Shanklin. Mrs. Meeks
began studying to become a Licensed Unity Teacher.
In 1929, the Lawrence Center became a Unity Center and meetings were held at
4th and Monroe in the Miner's Building (located where the SBC Ameritech Building
is now). In 1932, the group moved to the Elks building at 500 S 6th. Mrs.
Meeks gave up her job as a school teacher to become a full-time Unity teacher.
Mrs. Meeks served as spiritual leader for 16 years.
Charles and Myrtle Fillmore came to Springfield in 1932 and addressed the
group at the Centennial Building on February 21, 1938. Maud Kellogg became
pert-time leader in 1941 after the transition of Mrs. Meeks. In 1942, the group
moved to 402 E. Adams with larger rooms for classes, a meditation room and
lending library. In 1944, the lease expired and the group met in various
locations; the Centennial Building, the Masonic Temple and the Court House. Mrs.
Kellogg served as spiritual leader until 1945. She had two secretaries;
Eva Conover in Decatur and Margaret Cain in Springfield. Eva Conover, served as
leader until 1956 and then went to serve in Peoria. In 1946, a house was
purchased at 709 S 7th and the first formal memberships were issued. The house
on 7th Street was home until 1972.
Margaret Cain returned to Springfield in 1956 after serving as minister in
Bloomington for 5 years. In July of 1972, ground was purchased on Cordelia
Street and the first Sunday service was held in December. The formal dedication
of the Cordelia church was May 20, 1973. In 1978, Mrs. Cain retired and Linda
Spencer became minister. Gerry Comstock was our minister form 1989 to 1999 and
Leslie Bradshaw became minister in December 2000.
