JOHN THOMSON MASON, R. John Thomson Mason, R., one of the earliest members of this Association and a prominent lawyer of Baltimore City, died on June 21st, 1901. Mr. Mason was the son of Major Isaac S. Rowland, an officer of the United States Volunteers during the war with Mexico, and was born in Detroit, Mich., March 9th, 1844. His mother was the daughter of John Thomson Mason of Loudon County, Virginia, and the sister of Stevens Thomson Mason, the first Governor of Michigan. Mr. Mason's mother returned to Virginia after the death of her husband, and, at the request of her father, the boy's name was changed by an Act of the Virginia Legislature to John Thomson Mason, while his father's name of Rowland was indicated by the capital letter, R., following the name. At the outbreak of the civil war, young Mason, at the age of sixteen, served for a time in the 17th Virginia Regiment, and afterwards became a midshipman on the Confederate States Steamship "Shenandoah," where he saw varied service during the long cruises of that vessel as a commerce destroyer. The "Shenandoah" was in the North Pacific Ocean when the war ended and was navigated by its officers to Liverpool, months after General Lee's surrender. Upon returning to America, Mr. Mason studied law at the University of Virginia and came to Baltimore in 1871, where he was admitted to the Bar and continued to reside and practice until his death. Mr. Mason was a lawyer of decided ability, well-grounded in the principles of his profession and skillful in their application to practical affairs. He was a safe counselor as well as an efficient trial lawyer and soon acquired and retained a valuable clientage. Throughout his career his personal integrity and professional honor were conspicuously such as are demanded by the highest standards. He was a man unusually attractive in his personality, an interesting talker, unfailing in courtesy and possessing great charm of manner. He was one of the leading laymen in the Protestant Episcopal Church and a member of numerous social organizations. Mr. Mason's death was caused by heart disease, from which he was a sufferer for the last two years. He is survived by his widow, the daughter of Alonzo C. Jackson of the United States Navy, and by two sons and two daughters. FORMER PRESIDENTS. JAMES MCSHERRY, Frederick. ROBERT RANDOLPH HENDERSON, Cumberland. JOHN PRENTISS POE, Baltimore. HENRY PAGE, Princess Anne. STEVENSON A. WILLIAMS, Officers and Standing Committees, FOR 1901-1902. · OFFICERS. PRESIDENT: JOHN S. WIRT, Elkton. First Judicial Circuit, Second Judicial Circuit, Third Judicial Circuit, Fourth Judicial Circuit, Fifth Judicial Circuit, Sixth Judicial Circuit, Seventh Judicial Circuit, Eighth Judicial Circuit, Eighth Judicial Circuit, VICE-PRESIDENTS: THOMAS W. SIMMONS, JAMES A. PEARCE, J. EDWIN WEBSTER, CLAYTON PURNELL, JAMES REVELL, HAMMOND URNER, B. HARRIS CAMALIER, RICHARD BERNARD, Baltimore. MARTIN LEHMAYER, Baltimore. |