Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus
Contents
Chapter 34: All Saints
Overview
Flashbacks reveal the All Saints bishop lied that young Calvin Evans died, inventing a memorial to secure Parker Foundation funding. Years later, Reverend Wakely baits the bishop with a fake donation, prompting him to confirm Calvin’s past and the memorial’s existence. Wakely verifies the fund, while Madeline flags its dates as impossible and aims for Mr. Wilson.
Summary
In 1933, an ambitious but resentful bishop is assigned to All Saints, a struggling Iowa boys’ home. Unable to secure real endowments, he despises the place and its “unadoptable” boys, especially troublemaking Calvin Evans. Fundraising fails, and his fixation turns to money by any means.
Years earlier, a Parker Foundation representative, Mr. Wilson, arrives to retrieve ten-year-old Calvin for living relatives. Expecting a gift, the bishop hears only a request to take Calvin away. To protect his fundraising hopes, the bishop lies that Calvin died of pneumonia and produces a photo, prompting a shaken Wilson to start the “Calvin Evans Memorial Fund.”
Decades later, the bishop instructs his secretary to deflect inquiries and invent burn-down stories. After Calvin appears on a Chemistry Today cover, Avery Parker discovers the deception and cancels the endowment. The bishop continues to stonewall, prioritizing donations over truth.
Following a park meeting with Madeline, Reverend Wakely calls All Saints again, posing as a donor. The bishop first denies knowing Calvin, then, enticed by a sizable “gift,” admits Calvin grew up there and cites the memorial as proof, angling to secure the money.
Wakely confirms the memorial via library tax records and reports back to Madeline. She catches the timeline: the “memorial” was funded years before Calvin’s death, exposing the lie. Wakely provides Parker Foundation details—Mr. Wilson in Boston, reachable only by post office box—while Mad asserts she has faith, not hopes, underscoring her resolve.
Who Appears
- All Saints bishopCorrupt administrator who lies that Calvin died, creates a memorial to secure Parker funding, and later stonewalls inquiries.
- Reverend WakelyPoses as a donor to coax a confession, verifies the memorial, and reports findings to Madeline.
- Mr. WilsonParker Foundation lawyer who came to reclaim Calvin; deceived into funding a memorial after the bishop’s lie.
- Madeline ZottReceives confirmation of All Saints, spots the memorial timeline flaw, and gets Wilson’s P.O. box; asserts faith separate from religion.
- Avery ParkerHead of the Parker Foundation who discovers the ruse after Calvin’s magazine cover and cancels the endowment.
- Calvin EvansSubject of the deception; troubled All Saints boy later presumed dead by the bishop to extract funds.
- All Saints SecretaryCarries messages, repeats the bishop’s denials, and is told to fabricate cover stories about records.