Joel S. Goldsmith - Early Years

Early Years

Joel Goldsmith was born in New York City on March 10, 1892. Goldsmith's parents, non-practicing Jews, had been married in New York City in 1891 and Joel was their first child. They subsequently had another son two years later followed by a daughter two years after that.

Goldsmith's father became critically ill while in England 1915 and word was sent to the Goldsmith family to come for the body. However, according to Goldsmith, his father was healed by a Christian Science practitioner in London From his early adulthood, Goldsmith had many spiritual experiences. He was a healer. He spent many years in spiritual studies, reading original scriptures of Aramaic, Greek and Sanskrit origins. His first book, "The Infinite Way" was published 1948.

After serving in the Marines during World War I, Goldsmith returned to work in the garment district of New York City where he owned his own business. While on a return trip from Europe, he developed pneumonia. As his father before him, Goldsmith was healed by a Christian Science practitioner, who happened to be on-board his ship at the time. In 1928, Goldsmith began to have strangers approach him on the street asking for prayer and healing. He had no religious training whatsoever, but these people were healed. To seek answers about this phenomena, Goldsmith first entered the Christian Science Church and worked at Rikers Island prison as a First Reader. After 11 years, he left the Christian Science Church and moved to Boston, where he set up his own office. He later moved to California before World War II and maintained a successful healing practice there. In 1948 Goldsmith wrote the book, "The Infinite Way", which came to the attention of Willing Publishers. The title of this book also became the name associated with the spiritual message and work of Goldsmith, ref. The Taped Lectures of Joel S. Goldsmith 1950-1964.