ARTHUR MASON
1866-1955
Picture from 'History of Public School Music in the United States', by
Edward Bailey Birge. Copyright (c) 1966 by MENC. Used
with permission.
Bibliography of Sources on This Member
Arthur Wright Mason was born November 19, 1866, at New Lexington, Ohio. His father, William Alexander Mason, of English descent, and mother, Sarah Wilson were united in marriage on November 21, 1861. William Alexander Mason was a men's tailor by trade. and served in the army for four years
Arthur was the third of seven children - Charles, Ella, Arthur, Bessie, Sammie, Louise, and Earl. Ella was still born, Bessie and Sammie died as the result of diphtheria, Bessie, at about 7, and Sammie at 5 years of age. Louise passed away at the age of 40, Arthur's father, at the age of 57. Of this family of children, two survived - Arthur, about whom this story centers, and his brother Earl.
Arthur was a musical prodigy. His organ and piano experience was gained from playing in church and for dances around the age of eight years. He never had any formal training until he went on the road. Then he received it wherever he could.
Arthur had early musical training through a local band that was fortunate enough to have an outstanding circus band leader as director. He crystallized his musical education and got it into shape when he went to Chicago during summer vacations studying piano and public school music.
At the age of 15 or 16 years, he traveled with a family of bell ringers, consisting of a husband and wife and their son, Charlie, also a comedian, violinist, cornet player, etc. They had heard Arthur play and offered him the position of organist. He accepted. They then fired their other organist. They worked both on stage and in the pit, while traveling through Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana.
He quit this group while in western Illinois and went to Blandsville to visit relatives and from there to his home. Upon his return from this visit, he learned telegraphy. The following spring he took a job as a telegraph operator which lasted two years.
About the time he left this job, Arthur joined a drama group and went with them as their pianist, traveling for the next two years through Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and as far as Nashville, Tennessee.
The next summer he joined a company known as Little Nugget Company, formed by Sisson and Cawthorne, and traveled up through Michigan and Wisconsin with them through the summer and fall. In February, he left the group and went home, as they had decided to form a band and go south, although they wanted him to go with them.
The following June, Arthur went to New York with the 14th Regimental Bank of Columbus, Ohio. While in New York, he worked as apiarist and musical director for the Lizzie Evans Company. He was with them for three years, traveling through most of the United States.
In the fall of 1890, they came through Columbus, Indiana, where he received an offer as organist and musical director of the Tabernacle Christian Church. He accepted, then went on with his company to Wheeling, West Virginia, where he resigned during Christmas week. Arthur then went to Columbus on January 2, 1891, to take up his work at the church.
Prior to a GAR convention, the committee asked Arthur to organize and direct a children's chorus. He got the idea of grouping the children to represent the American flag. Rows of elevated seats were erected. The white children were dressed in red and white to represent the stripes of the flag and the afro-American children were dressed in blue and wore white caps with stars to represent the field of the flag. The children sang patriotic songs during the passing of the parade.
This presentation was so well received that it resulted in the school board offering Arthur a position as Supervisor of Music in the Columbus, Indiana public schools. He accepted and remained in that position for 21 years.
After going into the schools, he joined the Indiana Music Teacher's Association. He was active in it and became its president in 1906. About that time a group of about forty music supervisors, including Arthur, went to Koekuk, Iowa to observe a demonstration in public schools music by Dr. Philip Hayden, public schools supervisor. While there they conceived the idea of forming a National Supervisors Conference which had a phenomenal growth and developed into the largest musical organization in the United States. Arthur became president in 1916.
In 1920 Arthur accepted a position as Associate Director of the Louisville Conservatory of Music at Louisville, Kentucky, While there, he became President of the Kentucky Music Association and remained there until August 26, 1926.
About this time he left Louisville, having been offered the position at Indianapolis as Director of the Indianapolis School of Music and Fine Arts, which later merged with the Metropolitan School of Music to form the Arthur Jordan School of Music, affiliated with Butler University. Also in 1926 he became Director of the Murat Chanters. He held this position for 14 years.
In 1932 Arthur resigned his position with the Arthur Jordan School of Music to become choir director of the Third Christian Church. He began giving private piano and voice lessons. He organized progressive choirs at the Third Christian Church as follows:
The Youth Choir, consisting of children from 9 - 12 years of age;
The Chapel Choir from the teenage group
The Chancel Choir, which was the regular church choir.
The women's chorus, a small group composed of older women of the church.
The Glee Club of the Young Women's Federation Class.
The Male Chorus from the C.M.B. Class
The Quintet, a group of three girls and two boys, which became a very popular group in their special line of work.
All of these choirs were used at various times in the Church Services.
Preceding his work there, the church had had thirteen choir directors. The church minister told Arthur "I'll just give you one year to stay." Arthur stayed 15 years.
In the spring of 1941, he resigned his positions with the Third Christian Church and upon leaving was presented a radio by the Board. He was also presented a watch by the Murat Chanters when he retired from music to join with Louise and Ross in an Indian Gift Shop at Cherokee, north Carolina, and there he became bookkeeper for the shop.
In 1952 Arthur was honored by a visit from the Murat Uniformed Organizations stopping here at Cherokee on their way to Miami, Florida, for the Imperial Council Session. Arthur was made a life member of the Chanters and was presented with a beautiful Fez as Director Emeritus. While they were here, some Indian boys gave an Indian dance and the Chief of the Cherokees, Osley Saunooke presented Paul Rathert, Potentate of Murat Temple, with the Indian Head Dress, and the Peace Pipe, with Carl Standing Deer assisting in the ceremony. The Chanters sang a couple of songs and Arthur directed them in "Let Me Call You Sweetheart". There were 10 bus loads and they were conducted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. Ross was Master of Ceremonies.
Arthur considers this visit a most wonderful honor as so far as he knows, he is the only one who has been so honored.
Dated Spring of 1955, by Minnie R. Mason, Biographer (edited by G. Mancho Gonzalez)
Arthur was a member of the Christian Church. He was a fine organist, director and orchestra leader.
He was the youngest Past Master of St. Johns Masonic Lodge of Columbus, Indiana. In
1951, he received a Fifty Year Membership Pin from the St. Johns Lodge. He was an active
member of the Murat Shriners of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Pictures
The Lion's Club honored Arthur Mason and designated July 20, 1926 as "Mason's Day"
Arthur Mason is layed to rest next to his wife, Minnie
Arthur Mason being honored as a Shriner.
Third Christian Musical Enterprise to be Directed by Arthur W. Mason
Indianapolis Star Newspaper Article
Dated Monday, September 19, 1932
Co-ordination of all the musical activities in a new method of church musical enterprise has been devised at the Third Christian Church. Seventeenth street and Broadway, the Rev. William F. Rothenburger, pastor, has announced. Arthur W. Mason, for many years a leader and teacher of music in public schools, conservatories and churches, will be the director. Mr. Mason has been choir director at Third church the last few years.
"The modern church in its religious and educational program is a highly organized institution conforming to the demand of the times for the best in religious training and ideals," Dr. Rothenburger said.
Music as Part of Service
"In this program there is a constantly growing place for the fine arts, and among these is the appreciation of music as an integral part of the service and also of its adoption of one of the necessary subjects in the curriculum of religious education."
"In line with this modern trend, the Third Christian Church has been drawing upon its music resources for the regular programs of the various groups of vocal and instrumental ensembles which are functioning regularly in the programs of the church school. Among these organizations are the following: A vested youth choir of thirty-five members, assisting frequently in the regular church service, with Mrs. Grace Paris, director, and Miss Milder Hume, accompanist; a girls' federation chorus and string ensemble, an orchestra conducted by Leslie Troutman, who plays for the Christian Men Builders' class; several smaller groups which appear on various programs. Two more vocal groups will be organized during the fall. A dramatic organization, the Third Masque, under the leadership of Miss Maxine McKay, ranks among the leading dramatic groups of the city."
"The musical activities have been co-ordinated into a music department with an organized program with definite objectives offering an opportunity for training and participation in the musical activities by those who desire to do this work. During the winter a course in church music and choir conducting and management will be given, and also a weekly class in music theory."
Has Had Long Experience
"Mr. Mason, the director, from his long experience as teacher, organist and choral director, is highly qualified for this position. He is a teacher of piano and music theory. For a period of years he was a supervisor of music in the public schools and is a founder and past president of the National Conference of School Music Supervisors. Several years since he became associate director of the Louisville Conservatory of Music and was later identified with the Arthur Jordan Conservatory as director. With a vision of the rapidly growing possibilities of the music of the church he will devote his time to the development of the musical resources of the Third church and the teaching of piano."
Obituary of Arthur Wright Mason
Born November 19th, 1866 at New Lexington, Ohio
Son of Wm and Sarah Mason
He came to Columbus in 1891 and immediately became Director of Music and Organist at the Tabernacle Christian Church and simultaneously established a class in piano.
He married Minnie Reeves, April 27th, 1892 at Columbus.
He served as Supervisor of Music in the Columbus Public Schools for about twenty five years, during which time he was President of the National Conference of Public School Music Supervisors. Also during this time he was organist and Musical Director at the Tabernacle Christian Church, the Central Christian Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He received an appointment as Associate Director of the Louisville Conservatory of Music at Louisville, Kentucky, where he remained for about six years.
Giving up this position he went to Indianapolis to assume the Directorship of the Arthur Jordan Conservatory of Music. While serving in this capacity, he was Director of Music at the Third Christian Church and Director of the Chanters at Mural Shrine Temple.
In 1940 he retired from active work and went to Western North Carolina to make his home, where he lived until he passed away September 23, 1955 at Waynesville, North Carolina.
His body will be interred in the family plot at Garland Brook Cemetery.
He is survived by the widow Minnie R. Mason, Waynesville, the son Wilfred R. Mason,
Indianapolis, the daughter, Mrs. Ross Caldwell, Maggie, North Carolina and a brother, Earl
Mason, Bloomington, Indiana.
Jennifer Gearries
Bartholomew County Historical Society
MSNC Journal of Proceedings, Membership Roll, 1912, 1914, 1915-1932
_________________________________________________________________________
Submitted by
G. Mancho Gonzalez.
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