Shouting in the Second Story: The Jacksonville Auditorium Dedication
On entering the auditorium Sister Emma Barr was the first to dance upstairs. . . .
Sunday, April 12, 1936, was no ordinary day for the “saints” gathering in Jacksonville, Florida. It was the first day of the annual assembly of the Church of God’s black constituency. And it was a day of celebration as members and ministers dedicated the second floor of their assembly auditorium—a celebration that included marching, singing, preaching, shouting and dancing.
The black members of the Church of God had met together in an annual assembly since 1925. The purpose of this assembly was not to create a separate community. Rather it encouraged the emergence and ministry of black leadership, promoted fellowship at a time when Southern laws excluded black Americans from many of the public social events of the day, and fostered a sense of common identity among black members of the movement.
Under the leadership of Overseer J.H. Curry, black congregations saw a great deal of progress in the 1930s. They dedicated an Industrial School and Orphanage in Eustis, Florida, and built the auditorium in Jacksonville. Jacksonville was the “gate city” of Florida and the state in which the majority of black Church of God congregations were located.
Although the basement of the auditorium had been available since the 1932 assembly, the sanctuary on the second level was not ready for use until 1936. Erected in the middle of the Great Depression with the love and sacrifice of many people, the building was constructed for $18,000 and valued at $25,000. C.F. Bright, who served as both the local pastor and state overseer of black churches in Georgia and North Carolina, oversaw the construction. Not surprisingly, women’s groups were recruited to help raise construction money.
Fund-raising efforts included pledges, special offerings and coupon redemption. Each member was asked to donate not less than one dollar, and there was an ongoing campaign to redeem Octagon soap coupons. Colgate produced Octagon soap for the laundry, but many people used it as an all-purpose soap. In order to promote the sell of individual bars, the soap’s wrapper included a coupon that could be redeemed for cash or merchandise. Between June 1931 and December 1935, members redeemed 205,862 coupons for $886.81.
Such sacrifice and hard work was quickly forgotten on dedication day, however. The record of events that day includes singing and preaching as well as a baptismal service. Assembly delegates circled both the old and new buildings and read Psalm 121. They then marched to the new auditorium singing “Moving Higher.” Joy and praise filled the air as they entered and worshiped in the new facilities. Past and present church leaders as well as community representatives participated. W.L. Ford later reported to the Church of God Evangel, “Our dedicatory service was very impressive, after which we felt that the second story was God’s house. We were happy to shout in the second story this year.”
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This article was written by Church of God Historian David G. Roebuck, Ph.D., who is director of the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center and assistant professor of the history of Christianity at Lee University. This “Church of God Chronicles” was first published in the April 2003 Church of God Evangel.
