Black History Month 3--Charles Harrison Mason

C. H. Mason is arguably the most influential African-American leader of the 20th century. By virtue of the fact that he was Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ from its beginnings in the late 19th century, guiding the church into the Pentecostal movement and leading it through six decades of last century, Mason is largely responsible for the shape of the African-American church. One of his largest contributions is that he encouraged the use of popular music and instruments in worship services. What we know of Black Gospel, we probably know because of Mason's foresight. In this, Mason was being true to his Wesleyan-Holiness tradition.