The Beginning, 1918
The College of Divine Metaphysics was organized in 1918 as the realization of a dream held by Dr Joseph Perry Green, one of the early pioneers in the Metaphysical movement in America. In order to raise money to establish the College, Dr Green traveled from city to city, giving lectures and holding classes. Many of our alumni gained their first knowledge of Metaphysics in those early gatherings.

Dr Green
With courage born of great faith, he ventured into unknown territory and set up the standard of Truth. But during his journeys around the country, he started to realize the impossibility of personally reaching the many people who were ready for his teachings. Perhaps there would be only two or three in one town, a dozen or more in another, but those who were interested were far separated from one another; covering the expense of bringing the message in person became too great a challenge. Yet Dr Green knew many people around the country were ready for this newer revelation of Truth.

Out of this need, and the earnest desire in the minds of many people, the College of Divine Metaphysics was born. This same human appeal has kept it in continuous operation ever since. Circumstances have retarded progress from time to time, but out of each such experience the College has emerged stronger than ever.

In 1925, Dr Green assigned the extension work to Dr William H. Woodfin who, at that time, was Director-General of the Church of Divine Metaphysics. Dr Green’s itinerary kept him for some time in California, and when he decided to remain in the West, he resigned from the Presidency of the College.

1920 to 1945
On April 15, 1925, Dr Woodfin was elected to fill the office of director when Dr Green resigned. Dr Woodfin held this position until his death on April 23, 1945. In the first seven years, the Institution had not grown much; it had become apparent that if the school was to fulfill its purpose and become an important factor in the Metaphysical movement, some changes in program and methods of operation must be made.

With the training and experience gained in his many years of organization work, Dr Woodfin outlined his plan and concentrated the full force of his logical mind to the task. He first sought to establish a policy that would be stable and permanent for the purpose of creating confidence and assurance among the students. Next, he moved to broaden the influence of the school and to bring it to the attention of those most interested.

It was a long, hard process. Inadequate equipment and lack of funds made it more difficult. Only firm determination and an unquenchable faith in the rightness of the thing he was doing kept Dr Woodfin at his desk.

Little by little he laid the foundation for a worldwide movement. At no time during the long term of his Administration did he swerve or deviate from his ideal for teaching sound principles of Truth. There were times when a compromise with principle seemed to promise greater financial returns, but he held true to his ideals and to the course that ultimately led the College to its goal for expansion.

1945 to 1977
As years passed, it became increasingly important that the school own its home, and a building was purchased in June of 1944. It housed the College work and was well adapted to its needs. After Dr Woodfin passed away, his secretary, Dr Ruth M. Hurley, became president. She continued the work of the College until Dr. Henry Carns became president.

In the late 1950s, Dr Henry A. Carns became the College’s fourth president at its location on Illinois Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1969 the College moved to 3936 N. Delaware Street, Indianapolis. For over twenty years Dr Carns propagated the message for which the College stood; as a result, the school's message found its way to Metaphysical students around the world.

1977 to 1991
On December 1, 1977, Dr Henry A. Carns retired. At this time, the College and the Church of Divine Metaphysics closed in Indianapolis. In 1978, the Alumni Association of the College of Divine Metaphysics of the Church of Divine Metaphysics was incorporated in the State of California as a nonprofit religious and educational corporation. The Association resumed operations of the College under its fifth president, Dr Joseph A. Garduno of Glendora, California, with Dr Virginia Means of Pasadena as the College Vice-President and Advisor. In 1990, Dr Joe's daughter, Penelope Privette, began serving as the school secretary.

1991 to 2006
In 1991, Dr Garduno engaged Ann Gordon (a CoDM student) to edit and update the College courses and promotional materials. Dr Ann is a teacher, consultant, copy editor, and published author; she has a Bachelor's degree in English, a Master's degree in Computer Information Systems, and a Ph.M. degree from the College of Divine Metaphysics. In the year 2000, she built the school's first website to help spread the word about the courses and programs offered by the College.

After Dr Means passed away, Dr Ann expanded her role to become the College Advisor as well as the Webmaster. In 2006, she became the Vice-President of the school, in charge of the Online Division. Throughout the remainder of his tenure, Dr Joe taught the students who communicated through postal mail while Dr Ann taught the students who communicated through email.

2007
In 2007, Dr Garduno moved back to New Mexico, to where he had been born and raised. He moved the main office of the College with him to New Mexico. Dr Gordon remained in Utah, headquarters of the Online Division.

2018 to present
In January 2018, when the school became 100 years old, Dr Joe passed away and was buried near his home in New Mexico. At that time, Dr Ann became the college's sixth President. She licensed the church and school as a non-profit in the State of Utah and began serving all students, those who communicated via postal mail as well as those online. In 2020, she expanded the school's outreach to people incarcerated in the country's prisons. In 2021, the school enrolled over 60 inmates, some of whom completed their studies to earn a degree in less than a year.

Outreach
The College of Divine Metaphysics has students and aspirants throughout the world. Our hope is that the school's True teachings will have a positive impact on the world community.

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