Twin-City herald., 1933-12-23
Popular Radio Preacher
Former Fish Peddler
ELDER MICHAUX; THE HAPPY
AM r. PREACHER, FORMERLY
A FISH PEDDLER
(Afro-American)

Washington, D. C.-Special-From
fish peddler to pastor of one of the
most unusual churches in the land, is
the story of the rise of Elder Solomon
Lightfoot Michaux, the Happy Am 1"
Negro preacher heard with his sing
ing congregation over a nationwide
Columbia network every Saturday.
The elder has been familiar figure
in the nations capital, but not until
Columbia put microphone in his
church on the banks of the Potomac
river did he and his homely express
sion of religion become the subject of
household appreciation from coast to
coast.
Born in Virginia, home of natural
orators, Elder Michaux eventually
worked his way to the establishment
of the present Church of God" in
the nations Capital. The edifce
is often graced by the presence of
Capital dignitaries, ex-Secretary of
State Henry L. Stimson mere than
once having visited the church to see
and hear the service. From this
Church Elder Michaux spreads his
philosophy of religion-a philosophy
which teaches that religion should
make one happy and that the way to
religion into home is through the
servant. President Franklin D. Roose-
velt's personal valet is an attendant
of Elder Michaux's church.
In this manner of teaching religion,
Elder Michaux believes he is 100 years
ahead of his time. Holding to his
creed of happiness for all, he starts
all his broadcasts with the stirring
hymn, Happy Am l." written and
dedicated to President Roosevelt dur
ing a revival meeting held in Wash
ington's Griffith Stadium, where thou
sands stood in the drizzling rain. The
first copy was hurried to the White
House by special messenger right
from the park. -.
One of his priced responses is
letter from the Chief of Police of
Washington thanking the elder for his
work in helping to reduce crime in the
Capital city. The elder has it framed
in his office.
Specifically, Elder Michaux was
born in Newport News, Virginia. He
deserted small fish peddling business
he had established and entered the
ministry at Hopewell, Va, in 1917,
where he had his first church. Here.
too, he had his first experience with
radio, his church services being broad
cast by the local station. This sta
tion broadcast the first baptismal con-
Quoted by the elder, when fully 10000
persons lined the banks of Chesapeake
Bay for the ceremony. Elder Michaux
came to Washington in 1929 and i'm
mediately established the Washington
Church of God under the Gospel
Spreading Association /.
Elder Michaux has jammed various
public spots in Washington far be-
yond capacity ever since his arrival.
Fire and Police squads had to call for
reserves to handle the crowds during
his meeting in big auditorium and
request had to be made that no more
songs be sung because of fear that
the lswaying of the crowd in time to
the singing would actually bring
down the crowded balconies.
Elder Michaux, despite his many
! and varied activities, holds his church
strictly within the rules of the Gospel
Spreading Association. He draws no
salary. Once month his eongre-,
cation has free will offering for him.
Consequently, he is not hired preach
er and cannot be fired and hence, as
he puts it, "plays no favorites but
God" No member of his church
smokes, drinks or dances. One day
in each month each member of the
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