Robert H. Bitzer; Founder of Hollywood Church

Robert H. Bitzer, who founded the Hollywood Church of Religious Science and served as its minister for 64 years, has died at the age of 98.

Bitzer, who spoke at weekly services until a short time ago, died May 30 in Hollywood, the church announced Monday.

The indefatigable minister also served 15 years as president of the International New Thought Alliance, a federation of about 500 metaphysical churches, and 10 years as president of Religious Science International. Bitzer also founded Creative Thought magazine and served for many years as its chairman and editor.

When he established the church in 1930, he conducted services in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. In 1941 the congregation acquired a small building on Sunset Boulevard that was enlarged many times and remains the church’s permanent home.

Bitzer, who lectured around the world as well as from his own pulpit, espoused positive thinking as a means of shaping one’s destiny.

“A lack of personal responsibility is the weakness of most religions today,” he once told 3,000 delegates to the International New Thought Alliance. “There are lots of people who don’t want to think they can change their lives. They like to think of themselves as the victim of circumstances over which they have no control.”

Born and reared in Alexandria, Va., Bitzer studied piano and at 15 became organist and choirmaster for his church. He was an Army pilot in France during World War I.

After the war, Bitzer enrolled as a premedical student at Columbia University. But his career took a new direction after he attended lectures by W. John Murray, founder of the Church of Divine Science in New York.

Bitzer started lecturing for the League of the Larger Light, and then won a post as pastor of the New Thought Church in Boston. He also served for four years as president of the New England Federation of New Thought Centers before moving to Los Angeles.

Bitzer is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marguerite C. Bitzer, also an ordained minister of Religious Science.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. June 25 at the Hollywood Church of Religious Science, 7677 Sunset Blvd.