From time to time, there appear among us those people of apparent genius, people whose insight, understanding, and love are influential in changing the thinking of whole generations, and whose impact will be felt for years to come. I sincerely believe Ernest Holmes to have been such a person.

Because I knew Ernest intimately for 45 years (I met him when I was 12 years old and he was 27), I was aware of the deep sincerity of his search for answers to basic questions about life. This search led him to study science, philosophy, and religion, as firsthand he sought out the great minds in these various fields. His investigations took him to authorities on psychology, philosophy, psychosomatic medicine, faith healing, spiritualism, psychic phenomena, and many other related areas.

"There is a power for good in the universe greater than you are - and you can use it."

The man, who first stated that positive belief, choosing those exact words, was speaking to those sharing the Twentieth Century with him. Because of him countless others have discovered and countless millions yet unborn will discover a rewarding awareness of their infinite potential.

A lifelong searcher and student himself, he was inspired to write a book that would become a textbook, a guidebook, for other searchers and students. His book, The Science of Mind, correlated "the laws of science, the opinions of philosophy and the revelations of religion applied to the needs and the aspirations of man." This correlation, something completely new to the world, was also the beginning of the Institute of Religious Science and School of Philosophy, Inc. where he and others were to teach and inspire. This, in turn would lead to the beginning of the Church of Religious Science, later to become the United Church of Religious Science.

Chapter 1:

New York: The Shinn Press [1941]
THE SECRET DOOR TO SUCCESS

"So the people shouted when the priests blew with the
trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard
the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a
great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the
people went up into the city, every man straight before
him, and they took the city."—Joshua 6:20.
A successful man is always asked—"What is the secret of your success?"