Charles McCallon Alexander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles M. Alexander
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| Background information | |
| Born | 24th October 1867 Tennessee (near Maryville), U.S. |
| Died | 13 October 1920 England |
| Genres | Gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, song leader |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1895–1918 |
Charles McCallon Alexander (born October 24, 1867 – died October 13, 1920) was a famous gospel singer from Tennessee. He traveled a lot, leading songs and sharing Christian messages. He worked with well-known evangelists like R. A. Torrey and John Wilbur Chapman. In 1904, Charles married Helen Cadbury. Her family owned the famous Cadbury Chocolate Company. Helen traveled with him, helping women during their tours. Together, they helped spread The Pocket Testament League around the world. This group encouraged people to read the Bible.
Contents
Charles Alexander's Early Life and Faith
Charles Alexander's mother greatly influenced his early Christian faith. She often read sermons by Dwight L. Moody to the family. They would gather around the fireplace each night. When Charles was thirteen, in 1880, he decided to follow the Christian faith. He later attended the Moody Bible Institute from 1892 to 1894. After his studies, he joined a revival tour with M. B. Williams. In 1902, he traveled to Australia with Dr. R. A. Torrey.
The Chapman-Alexander Campaigns
In 1907, Charles Alexander teamed up with evangelist John Wilbur Chapman. They started the "Chapman-Alexander Simultaneous Campaign." This was a big effort to reach many people at once. They gathered a large team of evangelists and song leaders. Their first big campaign was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1908. It ran from March 12 to April 19.
Reaching Philadelphia
For the Philadelphia campaign, they divided the city into 42 areas. Twenty-one teams, each with an evangelist and a musician, covered these areas. They spent three weeks in each half of the city. This huge effort led to about 8,000 people becoming Christians. Years later, at a similar event in North Carolina, David Otis Fuller became a Christian. He later became a well-known supporter of the King James Bible.
A Worldwide Tour
The Chapman-Alexander team also went on a worldwide tour. They left Vancouver, Canada, on March 26, 1909. They returned on November 26 of the same year. Their journey took them to many places.
Tour Stops Around the World
- Australia: They visited cities like Melbourne, Sydney, Ipswich, Brisbane, Adelaide, Ballarat, Bendigo, and Townsville.
- Asia: Their tour included Manila in the Philippines. They also stopped in Hong Kong, Kowloon, Canton, Shanghai, Hankow, Peking, and Tientsin in China.
- Korea and Japan: They visited Seoul, Korea. In Japan, they went to Kobe, Kyoto, Tokyo, and Yokohama.
Later Years and Legacy
By the end of 1910, the "mass evangelism" style was changing. Chapman and Alexander returned to holding large revival meetings by 1912. Their final joint tour was from January 6 to February 13, 1918. After this, Charles Alexander retired to England. He lived there for his last two years. He passed away in 1920 in Birmingham, England. He was buried in Lodge Hill Cemetery.
Charles Alexander's contributions to gospel music were recognized in 1991. He was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
