History of the Restoration Movement


John Allen Hudson

1893-1962

The Life And Work Of John A. Hudson

John Allen Hudson was born in Cold Water, Mississippi, February 25, 1893. He was married to Lurline Stewart May 3, 1917. To this union was born two sons, John Allen Jr. and Stewart.

John was baptized into Christ by J.W. Crumley in 1909. Within three years he began preaching in Hobart, Oklahoma. He attended Cordell Christian College in Cordell, Oklahoma while he continued to preach among churches in the area. Churches he served included the Tenth and Francis church of Christ, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from 1919-1922. He then moved back east to the city of Memphis, Tennessee where he preached for the Union Avenue Church of Christ for three years. His family moved then to the Washington D.C. area where he preached for the Manhattan church from 1926-1927. The following year Hudson took the work at Tenth and Rockford in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He continued there until 1935, when an opportunity arose for mission work in different parts of the globe. For the next two years he did work abroad in New Zealand, Australia and in Great Britain. In 1938 the Hudsons returned to the US and lived for a year in Chicago, Illinois working with the church at Cornell Avenue. From there they moved to Los Angeles, California to work with the Southwest church of Christ. He served the church there from 1939-1945. The following year the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri to work with the Brush Creek Blvd. church. He served this congregation until 1950. He preached in three to five gospel meetings per year and his travels took him to many places around the world.

Hudson was a writer. He wrote articles that appeared in the Gospel Advocate on a regular basis. Additionally, he was editor for the Old Paths Guide, and for a time published the Bible Advocate. He also wrote some books. These were: The Man And The Moment - A Study Of The Life Of Alexander Campbell, published by the Christian Leader in 1927; and Peter Fenwick, published by the Christian Leader in 1928. Two more volumes were produced privately: Studies in the Covenants in 1950; and Back To Jerusalem, a book he had published while in Great Britain in 1946. In 1945 he founded and owned the Old Paths Book Club in which he produced many volumes written by capable writers in the brotherhood. Under its banner he released two more books: The Church in Great Britain in 1946; and How To Read The Bible in 1958. Through the Old Paths Book Club he produced many out of print volumes of Restoration writers as well as books addressing prevalent needs among churches of his day.

Brother Hudson was known to enter the polemic platform to defend the faith. He had at least three debates. In 1916 he was engaged in the Hudson-Killingsworth Debate on the subject of "Sanctification and Baptism." In 1932 he took part in the Hudson-Nevills debate on Premillennialism. Then in 1940 he was in the Hudson-Kerr Debate on Women Preachers and Teachers.

For a number of years John Allen Hudson participated in Radio evangelism. He preached on KVOO in Tulsa, Oklahoma; KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and KLAC in Los Angeles, California.

John Allen Hudson spent the last years of his life seeking to build churches in Southern California. He lived in Rosemead, just outside of Los Angeles and preached in lectureships and Gospel Meetings. He was a herald of truth, standing for it in his writing, his preaching, his publishing, and in all areas of his life. The respect for this man of God among churches of Christ spread beyond the borders of the United States to nations all around the world.

Brother Hudson left his earthly home on May 13, 1962. His body was laid to rest in the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California, to await the coming of the Lord.

-Sources: Preachers Of Today Volumes I & II

John Allen Hudson

John Allen Hudson, one of the great preachers of the first half of this century, was born February 25, 1893 at Coldwater, Mississippi of Thomas R. and Emily Hudson.

The family moved some and we do not have the dates of these moves, but while John Allen was still quite young the family moved to Mt. Pleasant in East Texas and later to Hobart, in Kiowa County in Oklahoma. We do not know the reason for these moves, but we presume they were a part of the "Westward migration" that characterized our people at that period. Land was cheap and plentiful, but they probably got to Hobart after all the good land was taken.

His education began in the Texas public schools while the family was in East Texas and continued at Hobart after they moved there. He later attended the Cordell Christian College, which was not a great distance from his home in Hobart. In his early years he became a serious student of the Bible and remained so to the end of his life. He was well known for his knowledge of and devotion to The Book, as well as his vast knowledge in other fields, especially in the English language and literature. he obeyed the gospel under the preaching of the lamented Joe W. Crumley, in either 1909 or 1911. (Each date is given in different articles). Two years later he began preaching. Brother Crumley was impressed with the obvious ability of this young man and encouraged him to give his life to the preaching of The Word. He began this work in his home town of Hobart, Oklahoma.

On May 3, 1917 he was married to miss Lurline Stewart, who is described by one close to the family, as (. . . always the ideal preacher's wife . . .") Two sons, John Allen Jr., and Stewart M. were born to them.Both sons are active in The Church, and there are six grand children, all of whom have obeyed the gospel except one who is too young, (1976).

Brother Hudson's work took him to all sections of the nation, and to many other countries. He spent 1936 and 1937 in New Zealand and Australia. In addition to giving much strength to the work that was there, he did much to call it to the attention of American brethren, this helping to involve many others in that work in the years that followed. He returned to the United States by way of India, Palestine, and Great Britain. In 1947 he returned by Great Britain and again did much to center the attention of American brethren to the needs and possibilities of that important field. During this six month period of work in England, he wrote his very useful book, The Church in Great Britain.

Most of his work was with a local church, however, he did conduct many gospel meetings, participated often in special lecture series and other special work, including several debates. He was a prolific writer, writing for the Gospel Advocate, Firm Foundation, Christian Leader, and other such "brotherhood" publications. In addition to the book about the English churches, he wrote, The Man and the Moment; Peter Fenwick, an interesting novel; How to Read The Bible; Studies in The Covenants; and Back To Jerusalem. He founded the Old Paths Book Club in 1945 for the purpose of preserving the literature of the pioneer preachers. This proved to be a very popular movement, and is still continued by his son, Dr. Stewart Hudson and still follows the original purpose. In addition to the book club, he founded a religious book store which is still in operation and cares for the needs of many Christians in Southern California (1976).

Like other preachers of his time, he was sometimes called upon to debate his cause. Though he was not naturally inclined to that kind of work, he did not shun it, and the Truth never suffered in his hands. In 1916 he met a Mr. Killingsworth on the subject of Sanctification and Baptism. In 1932 he met a Mrs. Neville on the subject of pre-millenialism, and in 1940 he met a Mr. Kerr on the subject of women preachers.

He did much radio work on some of the betters stations, such as KVOO and KTUL in Tulsa, Oklahoma and KLAC in Los Angeles. his local work included such places as Winfield, Alabama, Douglas, Oklahoma, Tenth and Francis in Oklahoma City; Tenth and Rockford, Tulsa, Oklahoma; Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee; (He was there when the building was built.) Manhattan in New York; Fourteenth Street in Washington D.C.; Brush Creek in Kansas City, Southwest in Los Angeles, California; Cornell Avenue in Chicago; Hollywood and Palm Springs in California. Brother Hudson was always a builder, and the work always prospered where he worked. He is the ONE man that put The Oklahoma City and Tulsa work on its feet. he was a good and wise man, and his brethren sometimes called him for help in settling problems that arose among them. I remember being with him once in such a meeting in a California city that lasted late into the night. He was a great help in bringing that problem to what was finally a satisfactory conclusion. His preaching brethren held him in high esteem for his personal Christian character, his wisdom, ability, and scholarship. From the days of his youth he was one who would take a stand for truth against error.

He passed from this life to the better one on May 13, 1962 at the comparatively youthful age of sixty-nine. His body now sleeps in the Rose Hill cemetery in Whittier, California. In 1968 Sister Hudson was married to Brother T.W. Phillips II but she has not joined Brother Hudson "over there."

We do not have to pray for God to bless the memory of John Allen Hudson, for He will certainly do that, for Brother Hudson was the kind of man whose works live on and on.

-Loyd L. Smith, Gospel Preachers Of Yesteryear, c.1986. pages 184-186. First published in Christian Leader in October, 1976.


Signature of John Allen Hudson
From the personal collection of Mark McWhorter - 10.21.2019

Directions To The Grave Of J.A. Hudson

John Allen Hudson is buried in the Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. From downtown Los Angeles head south on I-10 to Exit 133, east on the Pomona Fwy. (Hwy. 60). Go about 10 miles on the Pomona Fwy. and just before the I-605 take the Durfee Ave. Exit. Turn left and back to the right on Peck Rd. Peck Road will cross under the I-605. Continue on Peck Road. The road will become Workman Mill Rd. Drive a short distance and you will see the Rose Hill Cemetery on the left. This is a huge complex that controls two large cemeteries. Go into the office and request a map if you have time. However, if you have no time for that then follow the instructions they gave me.
Instead of turning into the first entrance you see continue on Workman Mill Rd. about 2 miles and see another entrance on the left to Rose Hills Memorial Park. Look for the number 17 on the sign to know you have the correct entrance. Head into the cemetery to the top of the hill, about a half-mile. When you come to the end, look to your right. This will be the section the Hudsons are buried in. But you will want to turn here and go up about 20 yards and stop the car. Look for a sign on the curb (#126). From the sign, go into the section 11 rows, and turn right for 20 spaces, and you will find the Hudson plots. It is amazingly simple to find when you consider the sheer size of the cemetery.

GPS Location
N34˚00.395' x W118˚02.874'
or D.d. 34.0065833333333333,-118.0479
Accuracy to 15' / Grave Faces NW
Location: Suncrest Lawn Lot 1122 Grave 1

Main Entrance To Rose Hills, But NOT Entrance To Where Hudson Is Buried. See Instructions Above

Hudson Graves In Foreground. Eleven Rows From The Top

From The Hudson Plot Back Toward Los Angeles And The West Coast


Lurline Hudson Phillips
Wife And Mother
1896-1978


John Allen Hudson
Minister-Wise Counselor
Husband And Father
1893-1962

History Home

History Index Page