I think it is not claimed for Dr. Mason that he was one
of the most eminent musidaos of his time, but it can be
claimed that he was one of the most celebrated teachenl, and
more than this, that he interested ^e public at large in- a
new style of musical composition. He was known as a oom-*
poser, and his tunes are sung ixx every Christian congregatioii^



^OITAKAL OP PBOCfiE^yiHOft. 25



<3^ ^yerf dtfironfflitftidtl. Kb wm dtetingiiiBhed, atf I under-
9(4iBd, M irhAt nig^t be eiUed a tnoiidAtov c»f nmsio, bring*-
lUg t6 tb« ktiO#ledg« of tbe edocatdfft of tfai* tonntry the
b«8t 6onip6«i^<MM ^ biflf |(Mitetfl8f depwrtx&ent, to be found
in Europe. He introduced that class of tunes so popii])at«
tmd wMeh ^Wim t>Hbllsbeidl by the Boston Aoademy undei9 the
title of Gregorian Gbants* snoh tunes as Hanibarg, Ohnnts,
Me. , #bidh are r^Mj a thouMiid ytwt% old, taken frmn tike
itttfsld nsed in ttie CA^elie cbnrdi, and made o^er into £ng«
1is% f ttfree.
One t^ing^ mote in regard to Mf . Mason ^ i^btdi shows his
tfiHgentie as an insttnetor and teacher, eminent in saored ma-
de in the same way that Firofessor SfUimSEn was in the study
of chemistry $ beginning in the same way, when a popular
taste in regard to a seni^blo style of nnisie had to be ereated.
One thing that shows his seal in this matter, is the splendid
priir&te Vibmtf of musical works whi^ he coUetfted. I had
ftn opportun^y of seeing this twenty years ago, and there
was tfot l^eil any wofk pabKsbed in tl»ia oaoatry that he dia
not pesiiess.
