MASON, JOHN MITCHELL: Associate Reformed divine and educator; b. in New York Mar. 19, 1770; d. there Dec. 26, 1829. He was graduated from Columbia College in 1789; studied theology with his father for two years, then went to Edinburgh for further study in 1791; was pastor of the Cedar St. Church, New York (his father's), 1793-1810; founded a new church, subsequently located in Murray St., New York, 1810; was provost of Columbia College, 1811-16; president of Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa., 1821-24. In 1822 he transferred his ecclesiastical relations to the Presbyterian Church. He became eminent in his denomination through his services to the cause of education of the ministry and by his advocacy of a more froquent communion service. In the latter connection his pamphlet Letters on Frequent Communion (New York, 1798) was noteworthy; in the former his services in calling the attention of his coworkers to the necessity of providing a supply of ministers educated in America for the American churches led to his being appointed in 1802 on a commission to draft a plan for a theological seminary, and finally to his appointment as first professor of the institution in 1804. It was opened, apparently in his home in New York city, November 1,1805. The course of study lasted five years. He established The Christian's Magazine in 1807 and himself wrote most of what appeared in its pages, the substance being a friendly controversy with Bishop Hobart on episcopacy. He was also one of the founders of the American Bible Society. Dr. Mason was eminent as a preacher, speaking without notes and with great eloquence; and he was often called upon as orator on national and patriotic occasions. His writings were collected by his son Ebenezer (4 vols., New York, 1832, new ed. enlarged, 1849).

Bibliography: J. Van Vechten, Memoirs of John Mitchell Mason, 2 vols., New York, 1856; W. B. Sprague, Annals of the American Pulpit, iv. 1-26, ib. 1858.

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MASON, LOWELL: Musical composer and educator; b. in Medfield, Mass., Jan. 8, 1792; d. in Orange, N. J., Aug. 11, 1872. He early developed a remarkable talent in musical matters, and in 1812 began to give public instruction in that branch in Savannah, Ga.; in 1827 he removed to Boston, Mass., whence his activities spread through all New England, exciting popular interest and educating taste for music. By his instrumentality the Boston Academy of Music was established, and an enormous impetus given to musical education. In 1837 he visited Europe for purposes of study. He was especially devoted to the bettering of the musical services of the churches, and to that end paid attention to the training of church choirs. He was indefatigable also in the preparation of handbooks and manuals for use in churches, Sunday-schools and singing-classes. His collections, from his first (Boston Handel and Haydn Society's Collection of Church Music, Boston, 1821) to his last (The Song Garden, 1866), number more than forty. He also composed many hymn tunes which are still in use. In 1855 the University of the City of New York made him a "doctor in music," the first degree of the kind given in the United States.

Bibliography: American Annual Eneyclopadia, Xtii, 495500, New York, 1873 (contains a very full list of Mason's works); G. Grove, Dictionary o1 Music and Musicians, ii. 225, London, 1880; J. D. Champlin and W. F. Apthorp, Cyclopedia of Music and Musicians, ii. 532-533, New York, 1893.