Dr. Raymond Charles Barker (1911-1988) opened the First Church of Religious Science in New York City in 1946, was President of the International New Thought Alliance (INTA) and a well-known minister, author and teacher throughout the New Thought movement.

He had grown up in New Thought, being trained at the Unity Training School, and prior to his election as INTA president in 1943, was minister at the Unity Center in Rochester, New York. He was later to affiliate with the Church of Religious Science and became the leader of the First Church of Religious Science in New York City and president of the IARSC. But his deep interest in INTA never flagged. He was probably the youngest person ever to be chosen INTA president and was very enthusiastic about it and entered actively into the affairs of INTA. He served on committees, attended congresses, worked in regional groups promoted by INTA, and in general warmly supported INTA in its various activities.

He went during his presidency to every major city in the USA where he could get local groups to open the doors to him, holding rallies in the name of INTA. He averaged about two months a year on the road, usually working "one-night stands." His being a accredited minister of Unity made it possible for him to get into Unity Centers despite the fact that Unity had already withdrawn from any official connection with INTA by then. He also lectured in Europe.

Dr. Barker had a keen sense of the value of history. He was, during his years of the INTA presidency and editorship of INTA Bulletin, vitally interested in gathering and making public such knowledge as was available of some of the earlier leaders of the New Thought movement. He supported warmly the decision to make a university library the depository of the older archives and of as full a set as possible of the publications of INTA.

His classic book, Treat Yourself to Life is often used in Religious Science classes. Dr. Barker explains how to change the subconscious pattern through spiritual treatment. Some of his statements: "There are unfortunately a great many people with attractive surface attitudes but with the same old rubbish underneath;" "If you fail to direct your subconscious mind, it produces under a law of averages, and you are a nice, ineffective sweet person;" "I call treatment mind surgery. It is the way in which you go into the subconscious, destroy old patterns and instill new ones."

He provides processes for treating the subconscious blocks which prevent individuals from attaining their goals. These treatments include everything from creating new ideas, eliminating problems, creating happiness, removing the belief of lack and limitation, how to decongest your consciousness and how to create a fresh mind!