John M. Mason

John Mitchell Mason (March 19, 1770 – December 26, 1829) was an American preacher and theologian who was Provost of Columbia College in the early 1810s, and briefly President of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania in the early 1820s. Biography Born in New York City, Mason was the son of a prominent clergyman. He graduated from Columbia College in May 1789, and in 1791 traveled to his father's home country of Scotland to study theology at the University of Edinburgh. Preaching career Towards the end of 1792, his studies in Edinburgh were interrupted by news of the death of his father, prompting Mason to return to the United States and accept the pastoral charge of the church with which his father was connected, in New York. He was licensed to preach in November, 1792; and, after preaching there for several months, was installed in April, 1793, as their pastor. On May 13, 1793, he married Ann Lefferts, with whom he had five sons and two daughters. In 1793 a yellow fever epidemic broke out in Philadelphia which afflicted nearly everyone in the city in varying degrees. Not understanding its cause, and knowing no other recourse, Mason wrote a sermon and had it printed by Samuel Loudon in his newspaper and then read it in New York on a day that the city set aside for public fasting and prayer for the people of Philadelphia.