Mason, John

(?1646-1694)

   Born probably in Irchester, Northamptonshire, he graduated M.A. from Clare Hall, Cambridge, in 1668, and like his father was a clergyman in Northamptonshire. Increasingly drawn to interpreting apocalyptic passages of the Bible in the light of events of the time, he preached the personal reign of Christ on earth, which he announced was about to begin in his parish of Water Stratford. A crowd of followers camped out in a part of the village they called "Holy Ground." He died of a throat infection and was buried in the church of Water Stratford. Mason was one of the earliest writers of hymns used in congregational worship. His one poetry publication was Spiritual Songs, or Songs of Praise (1683, with the 16th edition in 1859). Some of his hymns/poems: "A Living Stream, as Crystal Clear," "A Song of Praise for Family-Prosperity," "A Song of Praise for Health," "A Song of Praise for the Morning," "Blest Be My God That I Was Born," "Blest Day of God, Most Calm, Most Bright," "Dives and Lazarus," "How Shall I Sing that Majesty," "I've Found the Pearl of Greatest Price."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. English Poetry: Author Search. Chadwyck-Healey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author.html). Stanford University Libraries and Academic Information Resources (http://library.stanford.edu). The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm).