Jerry and Eliza Mason were quite ecstatic on that particular Sabbath day: Saturday, September 8, 1866. They witnessed an increase in their family, as a newborn male child was welcomed into this world. Jerry and Eliza decided to name the baby boy Charles Harrison. Both parents, people of strong Christian faith, were members of a Missionary Baptist Church not too far from their residence on Prior Farm near Memphis, Tennessee. Eliza Mason a woman of especially firm faith often pray that her small son, "Charlie," might be converted early in life. And it is said that young Charles would join in with her --- asking God to give him the kind of religion that his parents possessed.

It would seem that these prayers were heard for even as a very young lad, Charles was endowed with certain unique spiritual qualities. He was the frequent recipient of unexpected visions and startling dreams until he was just over forty years of age. Although we do not have much information available as to the exact nature of these visions and dreams, we may deduce from his own words that they were different from those. That he had in later years (after he had been baptized in the Holy Ghost). According to the personal testimony of Charles Mason: "When I was baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire, these endowments of a divine nature departed and have returned no more."

Plumersville, Arkansas became the new home of the Masons in November 1878. During this time in Plumersville --Charles Mason had a magnificent series of visions of heaven and hell. These vivid visual impressions replayed themselves night after night as young Charles lay pondering the splendor of heaven and the horror of hell. This sequence of visions led to his conversion as he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the age of twelve. The family had relocated to Mr. John Watson's plantation which was located in a swamp like area. But this particular location greatly displeased Charles Mason because he deplored the ungodly ways of the people who lived there. Often he wept because of this condition and longed to return to his former homestead. In the midst of a less-than-ideal environment, young Charles captured respect of friends and enemies alike because of the sincerity and strength of his Christian conviction. Other people often noted: "He's so different from those other bad boys roundabout."

It was during this period of personal unhappiness that God chose to demonstrate the divine approval upon his life. He was stricken with fever and chills near the end of the summer of 1880. By the close of August, the Mason family sadly awaited his impending death. Such was not the divine will. On Sunday, September 5, 1880, the glory of God appeared to Charles Mason as never before. Being instantly healed by the divine presence, the fourteen-year-old lad got out of bed and walked outside all by himself. There, under the morning skies, he prayed and praised God for his healing. During these moments, Mason renewed his commitment to God as he whispered: "Lord, I have done all that I can do." As he continued to praise God, all of his former sadness was lifted. Although he had been dangerously near death, Charles Mason felt the inner assurance that GOD had completely healed him. He sensed quickly donned his simple clothing to find family and friends to share what the Lord had done.

After Mason was converted, he was called by God into the Christian ministry. In 1893, he received a local license from the Mount Gale Missionary Baptist Church at the age of twenty-seven. He hesitated accepting the call at first. There were priorities that he had already established for his next several years. First of all, Charles Mason wanted to purchase a home. Secondly, he wanted to attend college. Thirdly, he wanted to secure a wife for a lifelong companion. Afterwards," he insisted, "my life may be completely turned over to the ministry." God had different plans. Instead of turning the whole of his attention to the voice of God, Charles Mason decided that he must first complete this "list" of priorities before fully embracing the ministry. Not much later he met Alice Saxton. He was warmly received by Miss Saxton as well as her entire family. He sought to marry her, promising God that he would preach if he were just allowed to have this woman. Soon Charles Mason discovered that he had made a grave error by failing to comply with the advice of Jesus Christ as recorded in St. Matthew 6:33: "Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all these things will be added." As a direct result of placing his personal life before his divine calling, Charles Mason's first marriage fell into turmoil. His wife, Alice, strongly objected to his need to travel and preach the gospel. And, three years later, they separated.

This entire episode had caused Charles Mason to "drift" away from the perfect will of God for his life. And Charles was aware of this. Coming to the Baptist Church to repent publicly, he both astonished his fellow members and peace with God. Mason told the Baptist members that he had been on his way to hell, but had turned again to do God's will. This event caused a great deal of confusion in the church-but it was soon resolved. In this particular incident-unknown until now to many persons-we observe some of the true greatness of the Church of God in Christ founder. Not only did Charles Harrison Mason insist that others carefully follow his God given doctrines, he did so himself. And, when personal repentance was expedient, he did so-humbly and forthrightly. In the year 1894, Charles Mason was sanctified through the Word. He preached his first sermon on holiness using the text of II Timothy 3:12, "Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier ...."

After his very first sermon on sanctification, Mason was away for two weeks. He returned to discover that a revival had broken out due to that first holiness sermon. When the revival had ended, Charles Mason traveled to Lee County, Arkansas, to see his brother, Nelson. His brother and others who had known him well found Charles Mason to be greatly changed in doctrine and in deed. Soon, they grew somewhat uncomfortable with his uncompromising teaching against the practice of sin.

Young Mason continued to preach, and many repented as they heard the Word of God. Although some fought against his new teachings, many people were "thirsting" to hear these holiness doctrines. And, in 1894, Charles Mason was growing in popularity among the "grass roots" people while pastoring the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Selma, Alabama. Finally, the perfect will of God was being carried out in the life of Charles Harrison Mason. Hundreds of souls were being saved and sanctified because of hearing his sound scriptural teachings on the 'second' work of grace. The divine master plan of a new holiness church was gradually being unfolded to Charles Mason. In 1895, he accepted a unanimous call to the Mount Helm Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Here, Mason says, "I began my deeper spiritual labors among the people. I worked in the Association (Baptist) at Byrum, Big Creek, Mt. Olive, and Charlton where later Elder F.S. Sherrill was pastor." Also in 1895, Mason met the man who was to become his very closes friend and colleague in the gospel: "In 1895, I met C.P. Jones of Jackson, Mississippi, who was very sweet in the spirit of the Lord and prayed much. Soon I loved him with unfeigned love.

The Church of God in Christ 'pioneers' were rapidly appearing on the 'stage' of God's activities, and the moment had arrived when a separation from the Baptist Church became inevitability. The decision in 1896 to call a Holiness Convention and Mason's consistent teachings on the holiness doctrines caused a tremendous surge of hostility from the Baptist clergy. However, this did not cause the convention or the teachings to be canceled. Instead, Charles Mason and his colleagues intensified their efforts.

"In due time we made the call. We had already in 1896 begun to publish Truth.' So it became the special organ of the call. We began the meeting on Sunday, June 6, 1897, and continued two weeks, studying the Bible and praying night and day. We were persecuted by the churches ...Associations and sects combined against us. This persecution compelled us to build another sect, which was not our aim nor desire, we contended that Christ is all but we were extreme in our fight. The times demanded it. But we, from the first, only wanted to exalt Jesus and put down man-made traditions. A move on the part of the Mt. Helm Church gave the enemies of the Holy Spirit a chance and they put us in court. Though we won our liberty in the lower court, the Supreme Court put us out, not on general law, but on a technicality involving Mt. Helm's holdings ...."

Having been totally rejected by his own denomination, Elder Mason sought the Lord carefully for a name for this new holiness church. While he was walking down the street in Little Rock, Arkansas, the Lord revealed to him the name Church of God in Christ. To confirm the name, God placed upon his heart the scripture: I Thessalonians 2:14. Hence, a new denomination-comprised of saved and sanctified saints-was born in 1897. And even though Elder Mason had not yet experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God was certainly at work directing the development of his Church. In that same year, the Church of God in Christ established its first church in an old gin on the bank of a little creek in Lexington, Mississippi. People were drawn there from the surrounding areas because Jesus Christ-and His doctrines of holiness were being magnified. Eventually, Satan was motivated to action because of their large success. While the saints were praising the Lord, someone fired several rounds from a shotgun into the building. A few persons were wounded, but no one killed. When the report of this event reached the local newspapers, the worshipping crowds were further increased. Many said: 'If the sanctified people are having meetings under such conditions, truly it must be of the Lord.' Soon afterwards, a 40 feet by 60 feet lot was purchased from Mrs. John Ashcraft on Yazoo Street. The congregation outgrew this structure almost immediately. In 1906, a large brick church was erected which cost approximately $6,000.

The Man... Charles Harrison Mason

Elder Mason began to thirst for a more complete relationship with God in 1907. He hoped to retreat to some secluded place to remain there until his soul was satisfied. Meanwhile, a very exciting report arrived from Los Angeles, California. The Azusa Street Revival was in progress, and large numbers of people were begin saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost, healed, along with many other miracles and spiritual demonstrations. Elder C.P. Jones, Mason's dearest friend, offered further information and insight concerning the baptism. After studying the baptism of the Holy Ghost with C.P. Jones, Elder Charles H. Mason was directed by God to visit the Azusa Street Revival. Elder Mason traveled the great distance from Mississippi accompanied by a few friends-with great anticipation of God's blessing. When he arrived on Azusa Street, the forty year old Elder Mason witnessed some very unique occurrences. Already, Mason's heart was being prepared to receive 'the Gift.' And, the dynamic, Holy Ghost filled preaching of Elder W.J. Seymour was the instrument that the Almighty had chosen to bring Elder Mason to the point of baptism. Elder Charles Harrison Mason's heart quickened with anticipation:

"The sound of a mighty wind was in me and my soul cried, 'Jesus, only, one like you.' My soul cried and soon I began to die. It seemed that I heard the groaning of Christ on the cross dying for me. All of the work was in me until I died out of the old man. The sound stopped for a little while. My soul cried, 'Oh, God, finish your work in me.' Then the sound broke out in me again. Then I felt something raising me out of my seat without any effort of my own. I said, 'It may be imagination Then I looked down to see if it was really so. I saw that I was rising. Then I gave up for the Lord to have his way within me. So there came a wave of glory into me, and all of my being was filled with the glory of the Lord. So when I had gotten myself straight on my feet there came a light which enveloped my entire being above the brightness of the sun. When I opened my mouth to say glory, a flamed touched my tongue which ran down to me. My language changed and no word could I speak in my own tongue. Oh, I was filled with the glory of my Lord. My soul was then satisfied. I rejoiced in Jesus my Savior, whom I love so dearly. And from that day until now there has been an overflowing joy of the glory of the Lord in my heart."

The Holy Ghost had come! Finally, Elder Charles Harrison Mason had received "the promise" which he had so heartily sought. He had experienced all three operations of divine grace: regeneration, sanctification, and spiritual baptism. As a result, Elder Mason was fully equipped to lead God's people. Remaining at the Azusa Street Revival for a total of five weeks, Elder Mason refined his knowledge of the operations of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ.

Elder Charles Harrison Mason returned from California full of the Holy Ghost. Immediately, his ministry launched into a more dynamic dimension, and the Church of God in Christ began to literally spread its 'branches' in all directions. No denomination in America has matched its rapid growth and development. And, it is all because God's goodness and the personal dedication of one man who dared to believe wholly in the Word of God, Charles Harrison Mason.

Adapted from the book, "The Man... Charles Harrison Mason" by Mrs. Elsie W. Mason, a "Pioneer Series" publication, 1979, Wayne Bass, Sr. and Bishop W. L. Porter editor.