H. M. S. Richards
Encyclopedia
Harold Marshall Sylvester Richards, Sr. (1894–1985), commonly known as H.M.S. Richards, was a well known Seventh-day Adventist
evangelist
and author
.
Born in Iowa
, he is most famous for founding the Voice of Prophecy
radio ministry and was a pioneer in religious radio broadcasting. His ministry inspired broadcasts in 36 languages on more than 1,100 stations, and Bible courses in 80 languages offered by 144 correspondence schools.
Richards married Mabel Annabel Eastman in 1920, and they had 1 daughter and 3 sons.
and Canada
and during this period experimented with radio announcements in connection with his meetings.
He began regular radio program on October 19, 1929 on KNX (AM)
in Los Angeles
.
Later Richards broadcast daily live broadcasts of The Tabernacle of the Air over KGER in Long Beach
, and live weekly remote broadcasts from his tabernacle to KMPC (AM)
in Beverly Hills.
In January 1937 his footprint expanded over a network of several stations of the Don Lee Broadcasting System
, and the name of the broadcast was changed to the Voice of Prophecy.
His first coast-to-coast broadcast over 89 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System was on Sunday, January 4, 1942.
Throughout the years Richards' Voice of Prophecy broadcasts were marked by an opening theme song of "Lift Up the Trumpet" performed by the King's Heralds
quartet and closed with his poem "Have Faith in God" each week having a new verse written.
His life has been the subject of two biographies:
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
.
Born in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, he is most famous for founding the Voice of Prophecy
Voice Of Prophecy
The Voice Of Prophecy is a long-running Seventh-day Adventist religious radio broadcast founded in 1929 by H.M.S. Richards, Sr.. Initially aired on a single radio station in Los Angeles it has since grown to numerous stations throughout the United States and Canada and more recently has begun...
radio ministry and was a pioneer in religious radio broadcasting. His ministry inspired broadcasts in 36 languages on more than 1,100 stations, and Bible courses in 80 languages offered by 144 correspondence schools.
Richards married Mabel Annabel Eastman in 1920, and they had 1 daughter and 3 sons.
Radio broadcasting
Upon graduation from Washington Missionary College (now Washington Adventist University) in 1919, H.M.S. Richards served as an evangelist in various places in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and during this period experimented with radio announcements in connection with his meetings.
He began regular radio program on October 19, 1929 on KNX (AM)
KNX (AM)
KNX is an all-news radio station in Los Angeles, California, USA. The station operates on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio. KNX broadcasts from facilities shared with sister stations KFWB, KCBS-FM, KTWV, and KAMP on Los Angeles' Miracle Mile...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Later Richards broadcast daily live broadcasts of The Tabernacle of the Air over KGER in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, and live weekly remote broadcasts from his tabernacle to KMPC (AM)
KMPC
KMPC is a radio station based in Los Angeles, California and is owned by P&Y Broadcasting Licensee, LLC. Radio Korea is a division of the Radio Korea Media Group. The station airs Korean-language programming...
in Beverly Hills.
In January 1937 his footprint expanded over a network of several stations of the Don Lee Broadcasting System
Don Lee (broadcaster)
Donald Musgrave Lee was the exclusive west coast distributor of Cadillac automobiles in the early 20th century. In 1919 Lee purchased the Earl Automobile Works of Hollywood, California. Harley Earl, the son of the company's owner, was kept on as manager...
, and the name of the broadcast was changed to the Voice of Prophecy.
His first coast-to-coast broadcast over 89 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System was on Sunday, January 4, 1942.
Throughout the years Richards' Voice of Prophecy broadcasts were marked by an opening theme song of "Lift Up the Trumpet" performed by the King's Heralds
King's Heralds
The King's Heralds is a male gospel music quartet that began in 1927 and have recorded over 100 albums encompassing 30 languages.They are primarily known for their a cappella singing and close harmony.-History:...
quartet and closed with his poem "Have Faith in God" each week having a new verse written.
As an author
In addition to published sermons and booklets, Richards authored the following books:- The Indispensable Man
- The Promises of God
- What Jesus Said
- Feed My Sheep
- Look to the Stars
- Why I Am a Seventh-day Adventist
- One World
- Revival Sermons
- Day After Tomorrow
Awards and biographies
- Awarded the Honor Citation by the National Religious BroadcastersNational Religious BroadcastersNational Religious Broadcasters is an American organization that represents Christian religious broadcasters on American television and radio, including several high-profile televangelists and Christian radio show hosts. It claims a membership of more than 1700 organizations...
in 1967 and 1970. - Honorary doctorate conferred by Andrews UniversityAndrews UniversityAndrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
in 1960. - Washington Adventist University's faculty of religion building "HMS Richards Hall" on Flower Ave, Takoma Park, MD is named in his honor
His life has been the subject of two biographies:
- H.M.S. Richards Man Alive by his daughter Virginia Cason
- H.M.S. Richards: A Biography by Robert E. Edwards, longtime member of the King's Heralds
External links
- Biography on the Voice of Prophecy website
- John Robertson, "The Voice of H. M. S. Richards". SpectrumSpectrum (magazine)Spectrum is the official publication of Adventist Forums, published four times a year. It was established "to encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the...
13:1 (September 1982), p36–43 - Articles by Richards cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)