Charles Harrison Mason (1864–1961)

An African-American holiness preacher shaped by Scripture, prayer, and a desire for a clean and obedient life, Charles Harrison Mason preached repentance and sanctification at a time when public faith often carried social cost. His ministry developed under the pressures of Jim Crow segregation, yet he labored for souls with steady courage, believing that true holiness must show itself in humility, moral integrity, and love for neighbor.

Azusa Street Revival (Los Angeles, 1906–1909)

The Azusa Street Mission at 312 Azusa Street became an unexpected gathering point for believers seeking renewal. Under the leadership of William J. Seymour, worship and prayer crossed racial and social boundaries that society demanded. Many observers dismissed the meetings as disorderly or dangerous, but participants testified to deep conviction of sin, joyful worship, and a renewed devotion to Christ’s mission.

March 19, 1907: Mason’s Spirit Baptism

On March 19, 1907, Mason sought God earnestly at Azusa and testified that he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. He embraced what he understood as a New Testament gift, not as spiritual entertainment but as divine enablement for witness, consecration, and fearless obedience. He often connected the experience to the promise of power for mission: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses…to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He also pointed to the Pentecost pattern: “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them” (Acts 2:4). In an age of suspicion—both racial and religious—his willingness to follow conviction required quiet heroism: choosing Scripture-shaped faithfulness over acceptance.

Legacy: Church of God in Christ, Inc.

Mason’s Azusa experience became a turning point that helped shape his later work as founder and presiding leader of the Church of God in Christ. He urged believers toward disciplined prayer, holy living, and bold evangelism, teaching that spiritual gifts must serve Christlike character and the Great Commission. His influence encouraged many, especially the overlooked and oppressed, to pursue a prayerful, Spirit-filled faith anchored in the authority of God’s Word and the call to obedient love.