Church preserves recordings of metaphysical instructor

A few members of the church want to have an old-fashioned tape party.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Joel S. Goldsmith was known for his metaphysical interpretations of the Bible and his teachings, known as The Infinite Way.
The Infinite Way is a mystical message by which students are taught spiritual principles to live by for harmonious living and a deeper understanding of God.
The core of his teaching was that people are infinite beings because of God's grace.
Goldsmith was born into a secular Jewish family in New York City, became a follower of Christian Science, and then struck out on his own. His teachings and messages were distributed through books he wrote, speeches he gave all over the world, and tapes.
Though the teachings centered on individual meditation and study, tapes of Goldsmith's discussions often found their way into the homes of those who could not attend his classes, but still wanted to hear his message.
Even in Goldsmith's heyday -- the 1950s and 1960s -- the reel-to-reel tapes and the equipment to play them were expensive, leading to group forums to hear the tapes.
Goldsmith died in 1964, but followers of The Infinite Way remained dedicated, using his books and tapes to continue their studies.
Keeping archive
Now, 150 recordings of Goldsmith's classes and teachings have found a new home in the Unity Church Centre. The tapes cover about 300 hours of material from 1952 to 1964. They are in excellent condition and will become a part of the church's lending library once they are converted to digital files and burned onto CDs.
"Joel's teachings are quite at home in the Unity church," said its pastor, the Rev. Richard A. Schumacher. "His work is not at all new to the Unity movement."
The Rev. Mr. Schumacher said the philosophies of The Infinite Way and the Unity Church are very similar, with one of the only differences being that Goldsmith refused to form an organization around his messages and teachings.
Tape parties
Goldsmith focused on individual spirituality, which has become common. Mr. Schumacher said that Goldsmith started teaching in 1931, when people had very little and were looking for some sort of fulfillment.
The tape parties, as they were known, were the closest the movement came to organization, Mr. Schumacher said.
"Already, a few people have said they want to have an old-fashioned Joel Goldsmith tape party," he said.
The tapes were recorded in many locations, including Hawaii, London, San Diego and New York. Goldsmith suggested which tapes should be used for different levels of study, and also recommended tape party etiquette, such as not inviting back those who couldn't be quiet.
Anonymous donation
The tapes were the anonymous gift of a woman in Austintown, who donated them to the church because she felt they would be best received by the Unity Church and because church officials would abide by her wish that they not be sold, Mr. Schumacher said.
"We have no desire, no intention to sell these CDs once they're complete," he noted.
The real fun, he said, is discovering the messages in the tapes as they are converted to computer audio files. The real value of the tapes is immeasurable.
"Their true importance is still unknown," he said. "We are still discovering the treasures that are in these tapes. Are they of value? Without a doubt. But until we get through all of them, we still don't know what we own."
Some tapes begin a prayer or meditation while others begin with Goldsmith saying good morning or good evening.
Additional materials
In addition to the tapes, Mr. Schumacher said, the donation included early copies of several of Goldsmith's books. Those, too, will be added to the church's library.
Once the conversion of reel-to-reel to compact disc is complete, he said, interested students will be able to either come to the church and listen or check them out for personal use.
In the meantime, anyone interested in participating in the transfer or supporting the preservation process can contact the Unity Church Centre, 1226 Naylor-Lloyd Road, Girard, or call the church office at (330) 539-0122.
slshaulis@vindy.com