| Glad Tidings C.O.G.I.C. |
"The Church where everybody is somebody and Jesus is the Only Star!"
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| Bishop Charles Harrison Mason |
Elder Charles Harrison Mason, who later became the founder and organizer of the Church of
God in Christ, was born September 8,1866, on the Prior Farm near Memphis, Tennessee. His
father and mother, Jerry and Eliza Mason, were members of a Missionary Baptist Church,
having been converted during the dark crises of American Slavery.
Elder Mason was converted in November, 1878, and baptized by his brother, I.S. Nelson, a
Baptist Preacher, who was pastoring the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church near
Plumerville, Arkansas. In 1893, he began his Christian Ministry with the accepting of ministerial
licenses from the Mt. Gale Missionary Baptist Church, in Preston, Arkansas. He then
experienced sanctification through the word of God and preached his first sermon in "Holiness"
from II Timothy 2:1-3: "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
On November 1, 1893, Elder Mason matriculated into the Arkansas Baptist College, but
withdrew after three months because of his dissatisfaction with the methods of teaching and the
presentation of the Bible message. He then returned to the streets and to every pulpit that was
opened to him declaring Christ by the word, example, and precept.
In 1895, Bishop Mason met Elder C.P. Jones of Jackson, Mississippi; Elder J.E. Jeter, of Little
Rock, Arkansas; and Elder W.S. Pleasant of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, who subsequently became
Bishop Mason's closest companions in the ministry. Jointly, these militant gospel preachers
conducted a revival in 1896, in Jackson, Mississippi, which had far-reaching affects on the city.
God in Christ, was born September 8,1866, on the Prior Farm near Memphis, Tennessee. His
father and mother, Jerry and Eliza Mason, were members of a Missionary Baptist Church,
having been converted during the dark crises of American Slavery.
Elder Mason was converted in November, 1878, and baptized by his brother, I.S. Nelson, a
Baptist Preacher, who was pastoring the Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church near
Plumerville, Arkansas. In 1893, he began his Christian Ministry with the accepting of ministerial
licenses from the Mt. Gale Missionary Baptist Church, in Preston, Arkansas. He then
experienced sanctification through the word of God and preached his first sermon in "Holiness"
from II Timothy 2:1-3: "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."
On November 1, 1893, Elder Mason matriculated into the Arkansas Baptist College, but
withdrew after three months because of his dissatisfaction with the methods of teaching and the
presentation of the Bible message. He then returned to the streets and to every pulpit that was
opened to him declaring Christ by the word, example, and precept.
In 1895, Bishop Mason met Elder C.P. Jones of Jackson, Mississippi; Elder J.E. Jeter, of Little
Rock, Arkansas; and Elder W.S. Pleasant of Hazelhurst, Mississippi, who subsequently became
Bishop Mason's closest companions in the ministry. Jointly, these militant gospel preachers
conducted a revival in 1896, in Jackson, Mississippi, which had far-reaching affects on the city.
| Church of God In Christ Founder Bishop Charles Harrison Mason |
The theophanic manifestations of the revival, which included the large numbers that were converted, sanctified, and healed by the
power of faith and the dogmatic teachings of Bishop Mason on the doctrine of sanctification caused church doors within the Baptist
association to become closed to him and to all those that believed and supported his teachings.
So in 1897, when these pioneering, persistent preachers returned to Jackson, Mississippi, Bishop Mason was forced to deliver his
first message from the south entrance of the courthouse. A Mr. John Lee, who desired to see Bishop Mason's ministry continue,
provided the living room of his home the next night. Because of the overwhelming number that attended, a Mr. Watson, the owner of
an abandoned warehouse in Lexington, Mississippi, gave his consent to transfer the revival meeting to the gin house on the bank of a
little creek. This gin house subsequently became the meeting house for the Church of God in Christ. This miracle deliverance revival
was such a success it stirred up the "devil", causing someone to shoot five pistol shots and two double barreled shotgun blasts into
the midst of the saints while they were shouting and praying. Some persons were wounded but miraculously, none of the shots were
fatal.
A meeting was mutually called by Elder Mason, Elder Jones, and Elder Pleasant, and sixty stood as charter members. Land was soon
bought on Gazoo Street, from Mrs. John Ashcraft, just beyond the corporate line, upon which was built a little edifice 60x40. These
charter members formed a Pentecostal body known as the "Church of God."
Subsequently, in 1897, while seeking a spiritual name which would distinguish the church from others of the similar title, the name
"Church of God in Christ" was revealed to Bishop Mason while walking along a certain street in Little Rock, Arkansas. The following
scripture supported his revelation: I Thessalonians 2:14, "For ye brethren became followers of the Churches of God which in Judea
are in Christ Jesus: for ye have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews." All of the brethren
unanimously agreed to the name of "Church of God in Christ." Later, the church was reorganized during which Elder C.P. Jones
was chosen as General Overseer. Elder C.H. Mason was appointed as overseer of Tennessee, and Elder J.A. Jeter was overseer of
Arkansas.
The first National meetings were held at 392 South Wellington Street, Memphis, Tennessee. The first National Tabernacle was built
and completed at 958 South Fifth Street, in 1925. This Tabernacle, however, was destroyed by fire twelve years later in 1936. In
the interim until 1945, our National Convocation was held within the Church pastored by Bishop Mason at 672 South Lauderdale. In
1945, Bishop Mason was able to visualize the culmination of his dream. He dedicated the Mason Temple at Memphis, Tennessee
which was built for less than $400,000 during World War II. This auditorium became the largest convention hall owned by any
colored religious group in America.
Under Bishop Mason's spiritual and apostolic direction our church has grown from ten congregations in 1907, to the second largest
Pentecostal group in America. The membership of the Church of God in Christ grew from three million in 1973 to an estimated eight
million in 1997. Churches under the parent body in Memphis, Tennessee, are now established throughout the United States, on every
continent, and in many of the islands of the sea.
power of faith and the dogmatic teachings of Bishop Mason on the doctrine of sanctification caused church doors within the Baptist
association to become closed to him and to all those that believed and supported his teachings.
So in 1897, when these pioneering, persistent preachers returned to Jackson, Mississippi, Bishop Mason was forced to deliver his
first message from the south entrance of the courthouse. A Mr. John Lee, who desired to see Bishop Mason's ministry continue,
provided the living room of his home the next night. Because of the overwhelming number that attended, a Mr. Watson, the owner of
an abandoned warehouse in Lexington, Mississippi, gave his consent to transfer the revival meeting to the gin house on the bank of a
little creek. This gin house subsequently became the meeting house for the Church of God in Christ. This miracle deliverance revival
was such a success it stirred up the "devil", causing someone to shoot five pistol shots and two double barreled shotgun blasts into
the midst of the saints while they were shouting and praying. Some persons were wounded but miraculously, none of the shots were
fatal.
A meeting was mutually called by Elder Mason, Elder Jones, and Elder Pleasant, and sixty stood as charter members. Land was soon
bought on Gazoo Street, from Mrs. John Ashcraft, just beyond the corporate line, upon which was built a little edifice 60x40. These
charter members formed a Pentecostal body known as the "Church of God."
Subsequently, in 1897, while seeking a spiritual name which would distinguish the church from others of the similar title, the name
"Church of God in Christ" was revealed to Bishop Mason while walking along a certain street in Little Rock, Arkansas. The following
scripture supported his revelation: I Thessalonians 2:14, "For ye brethren became followers of the Churches of God which in Judea
are in Christ Jesus: for ye have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the Jews." All of the brethren
unanimously agreed to the name of "Church of God in Christ." Later, the church was reorganized during which Elder C.P. Jones
was chosen as General Overseer. Elder C.H. Mason was appointed as overseer of Tennessee, and Elder J.A. Jeter was overseer of
Arkansas.
The first National meetings were held at 392 South Wellington Street, Memphis, Tennessee. The first National Tabernacle was built
and completed at 958 South Fifth Street, in 1925. This Tabernacle, however, was destroyed by fire twelve years later in 1936. In
the interim until 1945, our National Convocation was held within the Church pastored by Bishop Mason at 672 South Lauderdale. In
1945, Bishop Mason was able to visualize the culmination of his dream. He dedicated the Mason Temple at Memphis, Tennessee
which was built for less than $400,000 during World War II. This auditorium became the largest convention hall owned by any
colored religious group in America.
Under Bishop Mason's spiritual and apostolic direction our church has grown from ten congregations in 1907, to the second largest
Pentecostal group in America. The membership of the Church of God in Christ grew from three million in 1973 to an estimated eight
million in 1997. Churches under the parent body in Memphis, Tennessee, are now established throughout the United States, on every
continent, and in many of the islands of the sea.
