James Dillet Freeman
(1912 – April 9, 2003)
About New Thought Author James Dillet Freeman
James Dillet Freeman was an internationally acclaimed writer, lecturer, poet, and teacher. He also served as minister of the Unity Church (Unity School of Christianity), and was one of the most popular Unity writers and teachers of his time.
Freeman was born in Wilmington, Delaware. He was of Cherokee, Choctaw, English, and Irish descent, but identified himself more with his Native American culture. He saw that the beliefs of Native Americans were very similar to metaphysical Christian denominations such as Unity. James moved to Kansas City with his family when he was 10 years old where he attended Kansas City public schools. In 1932, he graduated with honors from the University of Missouri.
Freeman started writing poetry verse and by the time he had finished college, his poems had been published in national publications. In 1929, Freeman was given a summer job working at the Unity School by invitation from Unity co-founder, Myrtle Fillmore. After a year of post-graduate work at the University, he joined the Unity staff on a permanent basis in 1933, serving in the School's prayer ministry as a letter writer.
In 1946, James Dillet Freeman was led to organize a traning program for Unity ministers, which has now become the http://www.unityworldwideministries.org/become-minister. He would serve as director of Unity's ministerial traning program for twenty years. His responsibilities included guiding and traning hundreds of Unity ministers, many whom still serve Unity churches around the world today. When asked what it meant to be a minister, James Dillet Freeman replied "It means to be God-Centered and Human-hearted; to involve yourself in man's humanity and to keep your vision on man's divinity.."
In 1984, Freeman retired from his position as a member of the board of trustees and first vice president of Unity School, which he had served for more than fifty years. For thirteen years he had served as director of Silent Unity, the worldwide prayer ministry of Unity School. In 1984 he resigned the position as director in order to devote more time to his writing and speaking on behalf of the Unity branch of the New Thought movement. He was also a writer for the Unity magazine called Daily Word.
James Dillet Freeman was a dynamic and articulate speaker and was often in great demands as a lecturer. Aside from appearing as a guest on many radio and television programs in the U.S, his unique lectures had him touring across the United States, Europe, and the West Indies.
James was a modern-day transcendentalist who wrote in the tradition of Emerson, Whitman, and Thoreau.
James Dillet Freeman's widest acclaim coming from his poetry. His poem "The Traveler" was commonly read at funerals, and his poem "Blessing for a Marriage" was recited a countless weddings.
His 1941 "Prayer for Protection" was taken aboard Apollo 11 in July 1969 by Lunar Module pilot Buzz Aldrin, and a microfilm of Freeman's 1947 "I Am There" was left on the moon by James B. Irwin on Apollo 15.
James Dillet Freeman inspired millions of people around the world by his teaching and writing, which brought him profound success in his life.
Published writings by James Dillet Freeman:
Other/Misc:
Resources:
"I Am There" by James Dillet Freeman - Unity Article
Quotes by James Dillet Freeman
The Traveler: A Video Meditation From Unity
I Am God's Song - The Inspired Wisdom of James Dillet Freeman
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