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Charles Price Jones, Sr
Charles Price Jones, Sr. (December 9, 1865 - January 19,
1949). He was a religious leader and hymnist. He was the founder of the Church
of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A., along with Charles Harrison Mason.
Jones was born in Floyd County, Georgia. He became a missionary Baptist preacher
in Jackson, Mississippi, where he met Mason in 1895. In 1896, Jones, Mason, and
two other radical preachers held a faith healing revival in Jackson. The
doctrine of sanctification that was presented at this revival was not approved
of by Jones' church. In 1897, he and Mason were both thrown out of their church
for their beliefs in the holiness movement and abstinence. They started their
own church, first preaching in supporters' homes and eventually in a former gin
house.
Jones is the author of over 1000 hymns. Some of his known hymns which are still
sung around the world are Deeper, Deeper, I Will Make the Darkness Light, Come
Unto Me, Where Shall I Be, and Jesus Only. He pastored churches in Arkansas,
Mississippi, and California.
In 1907, he split with Charles Harrison Mason over the doctrine of speaking in
tongues as an evidence of the Holy Spirit. After the split he came up with the
actual name of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. Prior to that the movement
operated under the name of the Church of God in Christ.
In 1922 the church created a council of Bishops in the national convocation and
he was chosen to be the first Senior Bishop. He maintained the spiritual
leadership and operated as Senior Bishop of the church until his death in Los
Angeles, California. He was succeeded by Bishop M. R. Conic.
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