MARY MAGDALENE (Mary of Magdala): The most devoted of the female followers of Jesus. She has been confused with two other persons mentioned in the New Testament; with the "woman . . . which was a sinner" of Luke vii. 36 sqq., by reason of which she has been supposed to have been of profligate character, and with Mary of Bethany. The first of these identifications is probably due to the mention of Mary in Luke viii. 2, but is made unlikely by the statement in Luke viii. 1, while it appears from verse 2 and Mark xvi. 1, that Mary Magdalene had been healed by Jesus of a mental disease. The second identification is shown un likely by the total difference appearing in the so counts of the two. Mary of Bethany belonged to a highly respected family living near Jerusalem, and remained in the immediate circle of her family, while, according to her name, Mary of Magdala belonged to a place in Galilee (Matt. xv. 39), and devoted herself wholly to the service of the Master. She was the first visitor to the grave on Easter morning and was the first to see Jesus after his resurrection (John xx.). She has a considerable part in the legend and art of the Church. One legend takes her to France and makes her an ascetic there. The eastern story carries her to Ephesus and makes her a companion of John. The paintings which depict her as a penitent are many and well known. The mystery plays of the Middle Ages also por trayed her as in league with Lucifer until Jesus appeared and effected her conversion. It is time that her name be dissevered from the associations with which it has so long been connected and that she be given her due as a devoted disciple of Jesus.

(Karl Burger†.)

Bibliography: DB, iii. 214-216; EB, iii. 2970-71; KL, viii. 735-739 (identifies Mary of Magdala, Mary of Bethany, and the sinner of Luke vii.). On Mary in art: J. E. Wessely, Iconographic Gottes und der heiligen, pp. 288 sqq., Leipsic, 1874; Mrs. Jameson, Sacred and Legendary Art, i. 363-404, Boston, 1893, On the mystery plays, H. Kurz, Geschichte der deutschen Literntur, i. 722 sqq., Leipsic, 1853.

MASON, FRANCIS: Baptist missionary; b. at York, England, Apr. 2, 1799; d. at Rangoon, Burma, Mar. 3, 1874. He was educated at home by a retired naval officer and in 1818 came to the United States, where he worked at the shoemaker's trade until 1824. In 1827 he entered the Newton Theological Seminary and in 1830 was sent to Burma by the Baptist Missionary Union. There he became the successor of G. D. Boardman in his work among the Karens. He learned not only the Karen language in all its dialects, but also many other Eastern tongues. He translated the Bible into two of the Karen dialects, the New Testament into a third, also several religious works, and edited the Morning Star, a Karen monthly. He wrote: The Karens or Memoir of Ko Thah-Byu (Tavoy, 1842); Synopsis of the Grammar of the Karen Language (1846); Natural Productions of Burmah (Mauhnsin, 1850); Flora Burmanica (Tavoy, 1851); Tenasserim, or the Fauna, Flora, Minerals, and Nations of British Burmah and Pegu (1852; 2d edition, enlarged, Rangoon, 1860); Pali Grammar (Toungoo, 1868); and Story of a Working Man's Life (an autobiography; New York, 1870); he also translated Kachchayano's Pali Grammar (Calcutta, 1848).