Church of the Truth Papers

This collection contains 49 items chiefly documenting the early years of the Church of the Truth in Pasadena, California. The collection includes article clippings mentioning the church or its sister congregations during the 1920s-1930s; bible lessons used by the church's reverends; a catalogue from the University of Metaphysics; church bulletins which give an introduction to the church, its teachings, and activities that the members can participate in; the program used during the dedication of the chapel; the School of Truth catalogue for 1984; and the Christmas service bulletin from 1973. Also included are letters between the former Rev. Jean Williams and Erma Wiley Wells (a leader in the New Thought Movement and founder of the University of Metaphysics) and between Rev. Judi Dell Warren and Rev. Kathy Meyers about the process of starting the Albert Grier School of ministry in Pasadena.

The collection includes seven diaries that span from 1920 to 1937. The first diary belongs to Gladys, the daughter of Albert Grier. It documents her family's travels during the summer of 1920 as they journeyed from the state of Washington throughout California and all the way down to Tijuana, Mexico. The majority of the other diaries were kept by H. Edward (H.E.) Mills, Reverend Grier's successor, and span the time period of 1925-1935. In his journals he describes how he came to be ordained as Reverend of the Church of Truth in Pasadena and the role he fulfilled while serving in that ministry. Mills moved with his family from Spokane, Oregon after serving a number of years as associate pastor for the Church of Truth in Spokane. He was called to replace Grier who moved to New York to oversee the Waldorf Astoria Hotel and was ordained on August 15, 1925. His diaries record church events and meetings, the creation of a song book, the song book dedication, trips from Portland to Los Angeles, music recitals, and newspaper clippings that mention the church. The last diary was kept by Mary T. Mills, the wife of H. E. Mills, in 1937. It includes information about new church members, preparation for services, newspaper clippings mentioning the church, and piano recitals.

In addition, there is a handwritten table of contents and an author's index for The Truth, a magazine edited by A.C. Grier, which ran from 1924 to 1932. There is an outline of article titles and authors for each issue organized by month and year. Miscellaneous church items include church flyers and spring concert planning notes. Also included are the C.T.C. notebooks kept by Rev. Jean Williams from 1957-1964 and a notebook belonging to Albert Grier which outlines Ralph Waldo Emerson's philosophy and teachings for the Church of the Truth.