His grandparents on his father's side were German. His mother's parents were Scotish, English and Welch. His grandmother Mason was a Methodist. His parents were members of a United Brethren Church. His father (E.C. Mason) owned a general store in Ohio, but entered the ministry when Harold was very young. E.C. became the Publishing agent for the church.
Harold was converted at age 13, under his father's preaching. Harold (at 15) left home and entered the preparatory department of Central College, and graduated from Central College in 1907 with a B.S. degree; graduated in 1913 from Central College with an A.B degree. [Central College became Huntington College and is now Huntington University]
He received his quarterly conference license in 1906, and his annual conference license in 1907 in North Ohio Conference. He taught for one year in New York, at Chesbrough Seminary. In 1913 he received Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntington and also one from Adrian College.
When elected bishop in 1921 at age 32, he was the only bishop to NOT be born on a farm. He was the second-youngest bishop ever elected (Jacob John Glossbrenner was four months younger when elected in 1845). Mason served just four years as bishop, and spent the rest of his life in academia, including seven years as president of Huntington College—arguably, saving the college.
North Ohio Conference assigned him to what was called the Ransom Circuit in rural Hillsdale County, Mich. Harold met a girl named Alta, who would become his wife. However, he resigned in defeat during that first year–it’s unclear what happened, even to son, Robert—and took a teaching job at a Free Methodist school near Rochester, New York. In that community, he experienced healing. He moved back to Michigan and married Alta on December 25, 1909.
They both taught in public schools until 1911, when Harold sensed God pulling him back into the ministry. He served the UB church in Adrian, Mich., and then the Etna Avenue congregation in Huntington, Ind. Then, in 1913, he was given a plum assignment—the UB church in Blissfield, Mich., one of the conference’s most prominent congregations. During the next five years, the church grew and completed building projects. Sons Robert and Wendell were born there. It was a good situation.
In 1918, the conference moved him to the small congregation in Montpelier, Ohio. There, again, the church prospered under his leadership, and people across the denomination noticed. In 1921, Harold Mason was elected bishop, largely on the basis of eight years as a successful pastor (he hadn’t taken the usual paths of being a conference superintendent or denominational official). He was assigned to the Pacific district. Making the rounds of his churches in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California required a journey of up to 6000 miles, most of it by train. But in year three, he moved the family to Ann Arbor, Mich. cut back his church traveling, and enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1924 with a Masters in English and Philosophy, headed west to conduct his annual conferences, and in the fall began teaching philosophy at Adrian College. When his term as bishop ended in 1925, he became Academic Dean at Adrian College. He was obviously drawn to higher education.
Mason was superintendent of schools in Blissfield, Mich., 1929-1932. In 1932 the Board of Trustees of Huntington College voted to close the doors for one year, due to lack of finances. However, someone said "If Dr. Mason would come, we could make it" He did, and they did!! When he was asked to become president of Huntington College, the school was on the verge of closing in those early days of the Depression. Mason agreed to come (at half the salary he was getting in Blissfield), and he kept the college alive for the next seven years.
In 1939, Mason left to pastor the flagship Free Methodist church in Winona Lake, IN., while also pursuing a doctorate at Indiana University. In 1943, he began five years as Professor of Christian Education at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL.) He finished his career in 1961 after 12 years as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Christian Education at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kent.).
It was an interesting life. Professionally, he gave about 20 years to the United Brethren denomination, and about 30 years to non-UB educational work. He died on June 2, 1964, in Winona Lake, IN.
He was ordained in 1915 by Bishop Wood. He received a MA degree from the University of Michigan and Dr. of Education from Indiana University. He also had honorary degrees from Huntington College (D.D.) and Houghton College (Dr. of Humane Letters.)
In 1911 he served the Ranson circuit, and then Adrian U. B. Church in 1912. From 1913 to 1918 he served at the Blissfield U.B. From 1918 to 1921 he was at Central U.B. in Montpelier, Ohio.
His service:
1921-1925 Bishop of West Coast U.B. churches
1925-1929 Dean of Adrian College.
1929-1932 Superintendant of Schools of Lenawee County, MI
1932-1939 President of Huntington College
1938 Professor at Winona Lake
1939-1943 Pastor of Free Methodist Church Winona Lake
1943 Professor at Grace College
1943-1948 Professor at North Baptist
1944 Professor at Houghton College
1949-1961 at Asbury Seminary
1961-1962 at Bethel College (part of year)
1961-1964 at Winona Lake
He married Alta McFate, of Waldron, Michigan, on December 25, 1909. They had 2 sons, Robert and Wendal.
Much of this information is from Harold's son, Robert.
Harold was converted at age 13, under his father's preaching. Harold (at 15) left home and entered the preparatory department of Central College, and graduated from Central College in 1907 with a B.S. degree; graduated in 1913 from Central College with an A.B degree. [Central College became Huntington College and is now Huntington University]
He received his quarterly conference license in 1906, and his annual conference license in 1907 in North Ohio Conference. He taught for one year in New York, at Chesbrough Seminary. In 1913 he received Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntington and also one from Adrian College.
When elected bishop in 1921 at age 32, he was the only bishop to NOT be born on a farm. He was the second-youngest bishop ever elected (Jacob John Glossbrenner was four months younger when elected in 1845). Mason served just four years as bishop, and spent the rest of his life in academia, including seven years as president of Huntington College—arguably, saving the college.
North Ohio Conference assigned him to what was called the Ransom Circuit in rural Hillsdale County, Mich. Harold met a girl named Alta, who would become his wife. However, he resigned in defeat during that first year–it’s unclear what happened, even to son, Robert—and took a teaching job at a Free Methodist school near Rochester, New York. In that community, he experienced healing. He moved back to Michigan and married Alta on December 25, 1909.
They both taught in public schools until 1911, when Harold sensed God pulling him back into the ministry. He served the UB church in Adrian, Mich., and then the Etna Avenue congregation in Huntington, Ind. Then, in 1913, he was given a plum assignment—the UB church in Blissfield, Mich., one of the conference’s most prominent congregations. During the next five years, the church grew and completed building projects. Sons Robert and Wendell were born there. It was a good situation.
In 1918, the conference moved him to the small congregation in Montpelier, Ohio. There, again, the church prospered under his leadership, and people across the denomination noticed. In 1921, Harold Mason was elected bishop, largely on the basis of eight years as a successful pastor (he hadn’t taken the usual paths of being a conference superintendent or denominational official). He was assigned to the Pacific district. Making the rounds of his churches in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California required a journey of up to 6000 miles, most of it by train. But in year three, he moved the family to Ann Arbor, Mich. cut back his church traveling, and enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1924 with a Masters in English and Philosophy, headed west to conduct his annual conferences, and in the fall began teaching philosophy at Adrian College. When his term as bishop ended in 1925, he became Academic Dean at Adrian College. He was obviously drawn to higher education.
Mason was superintendent of schools in Blissfield, Mich., 1929-1932. In 1932 the Board of Trustees of Huntington College voted to close the doors for one year, due to lack of finances. However, someone said "If Dr. Mason would come, we could make it" He did, and they did!! When he was asked to become president of Huntington College, the school was on the verge of closing in those early days of the Depression. Mason agreed to come (at half the salary he was getting in Blissfield), and he kept the college alive for the next seven years.
In 1939, Mason left to pastor the flagship Free Methodist church in Winona Lake, IN., while also pursuing a doctorate at Indiana University. In 1943, he began five years as Professor of Christian Education at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL.) He finished his career in 1961 after 12 years as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Christian Education at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kent.).
It was an interesting life. Professionally, he gave about 20 years to the United Brethren denomination, and about 30 years to non-UB educational work. He died on June 2, 1964, in Winona Lake, IN.
He was ordained in 1915 by Bishop Wood. He received a MA degree from the University of Michigan and Dr. of Education from Indiana University. He also had honorary degrees from Huntington College (D.D.) and Houghton College (Dr. of Humane Letters.)
In 1911 he served the Ranson circuit, and then Adrian U. B. Church in 1912. From 1913 to 1918 he served at the Blissfield U.B. From 1918 to 1921 he was at Central U.B. in Montpelier, Ohio.
His service:
1921-1925 Bishop of West Coast U.B. churches
1925-1929 Dean of Adrian College.
1929-1932 Superintendant of Schools of Lenawee County, MI
1932-1939 President of Huntington College
1938 Professor at Winona Lake
1939-1943 Pastor of Free Methodist Church Winona Lake
1943 Professor at Grace College
1943-1948 Professor at North Baptist
1944 Professor at Houghton College
1949-1961 at Asbury Seminary
1961-1962 at Bethel College (part of year)
1961-1964 at Winona Lake
He married Alta McFate, of Waldron, Michigan, on December 25, 1909. They had 2 sons, Robert and Wendal.
Much of this information is from Harold's son, Robert.
His grandparents on his father's side were German. His mother's parents were Scotish, English and Welch. His grandmother Mason was a Methodist. His parents were members of a United Brethren Church. His father (E.C. Mason) owned a general store in Ohio, but entered the ministry when Harold was very young. E.C. became the Publishing agent for the church.
Harold was converted at age 13, under his father's preaching. Harold (at 15) left home and entered the preparatory department of Central College, and graduated from Central College in 1907 with a B.S. degree; graduated in 1913 from Central College with an A.B degree. [Central College became Huntington College and is now Huntington University]
He received his quarterly conference license in 1906, and his annual conference license in 1907 in North Ohio Conference. He taught for one year in New York, at Chesbrough Seminary. In 1913 he received Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntington and also one from Adrian College.
When elected bishop in 1921 at age 32, he was the only bishop to NOT be born on a farm. He was the second-youngest bishop ever elected (Jacob John Glossbrenner was four months younger when elected in 1845). Mason served just four years as bishop, and spent the rest of his life in academia, including seven years as president of Huntington College—arguably, saving the college.
North Ohio Conference assigned him to what was called the Ransom Circuit in rural Hillsdale County, Mich. Harold met a girl named Alta, who would become his wife. However, he resigned in defeat during that first year–it’s unclear what happened, even to son, Robert—and took a teaching job at a Free Methodist school near Rochester, New York. In that community, he experienced healing. He moved back to Michigan and married Alta on December 25, 1909.
They both taught in public schools until 1911, when Harold sensed God pulling him back into the ministry. He served the UB church in Adrian, Mich., and then the Etna Avenue congregation in Huntington, Ind. Then, in 1913, he was given a plum assignment—the UB church in Blissfield, Mich., one of the conference’s most prominent congregations. During the next five years, the church grew and completed building projects. Sons Robert and Wendell were born there. It was a good situation.
In 1918, the conference moved him to the small congregation in Montpelier, Ohio. There, again, the church prospered under his leadership, and people across the denomination noticed. In 1921, Harold Mason was elected bishop, largely on the basis of eight years as a successful pastor (he hadn’t taken the usual paths of being a conference superintendent or denominational official). He was assigned to the Pacific district. Making the rounds of his churches in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California required a journey of up to 6000 miles, most of it by train. But in year three, he moved the family to Ann Arbor, Mich. cut back his church traveling, and enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1924 with a Masters in English and Philosophy, headed west to conduct his annual conferences, and in the fall began teaching philosophy at Adrian College. When his term as bishop ended in 1925, he became Academic Dean at Adrian College. He was obviously drawn to higher education.
Mason was superintendent of schools in Blissfield, Mich., 1929-1932. In 1932 the Board of Trustees of Huntington College voted to close the doors for one year, due to lack of finances. However, someone said "If Dr. Mason would come, we could make it" He did, and they did!! When he was asked to become president of Huntington College, the school was on the verge of closing in those early days of the Depression. Mason agreed to come (at half the salary he was getting in Blissfield), and he kept the college alive for the next seven years.
In 1939, Mason left to pastor the flagship Free Methodist church in Winona Lake, IN., while also pursuing a doctorate at Indiana University. In 1943, he began five years as Professor of Christian Education at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL.) He finished his career in 1961 after 12 years as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Christian Education at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kent.).
It was an interesting life. Professionally, he gave about 20 years to the United Brethren denomination, and about 30 years to non-UB educational work. He died on June 2, 1964, in Winona Lake, IN.
He was ordained in 1915 by Bishop Wood. He received a MA degree from the University of Michigan and Dr. of Education from Indiana University. He also had honorary degrees from Huntington College (D.D.) and Houghton College (Dr. of Humane Letters.)
In 1911 he served the Ranson circuit, and then Adrian U. B. Church in 1912. From 1913 to 1918 he served at the Blissfield U.B. From 1918 to 1921 he was at Central U.B. in Montpelier, Ohio.
His service:
1921-1925 Bishop of West Coast U.B. churches
1925-1929 Dean of Adrian College.
1929-1932 Superintendant of Schools of Lenawee County, MI
1932-1939 President of Huntington College
1938 Professor at Winona Lake
1939-1943 Pastor of Free Methodist Church Winona Lake
1943 Professor at Grace College
1943-1948 Professor at North Baptist
1944 Professor at Houghton College
1949-1961 at Asbury Seminary
1961-1962 at Bethel College (part of year)
1961-1964 at Winona Lake
He married Alta McFate, of Waldron, Michigan, on December 25, 1909. They had 2 sons, Robert and Wendal.
Much of this information is from Harold's son, Robert.
Harold was converted at age 13, under his father's preaching. Harold (at 15) left home and entered the preparatory department of Central College, and graduated from Central College in 1907 with a B.S. degree; graduated in 1913 from Central College with an A.B degree. [Central College became Huntington College and is now Huntington University]
He received his quarterly conference license in 1906, and his annual conference license in 1907 in North Ohio Conference. He taught for one year in New York, at Chesbrough Seminary. In 1913 he received Bachelor of Arts degree from Huntington and also one from Adrian College.
When elected bishop in 1921 at age 32, he was the only bishop to NOT be born on a farm. He was the second-youngest bishop ever elected (Jacob John Glossbrenner was four months younger when elected in 1845). Mason served just four years as bishop, and spent the rest of his life in academia, including seven years as president of Huntington College—arguably, saving the college.
North Ohio Conference assigned him to what was called the Ransom Circuit in rural Hillsdale County, Mich. Harold met a girl named Alta, who would become his wife. However, he resigned in defeat during that first year–it’s unclear what happened, even to son, Robert—and took a teaching job at a Free Methodist school near Rochester, New York. In that community, he experienced healing. He moved back to Michigan and married Alta on December 25, 1909.
They both taught in public schools until 1911, when Harold sensed God pulling him back into the ministry. He served the UB church in Adrian, Mich., and then the Etna Avenue congregation in Huntington, Ind. Then, in 1913, he was given a plum assignment—the UB church in Blissfield, Mich., one of the conference’s most prominent congregations. During the next five years, the church grew and completed building projects. Sons Robert and Wendell were born there. It was a good situation.
In 1918, the conference moved him to the small congregation in Montpelier, Ohio. There, again, the church prospered under his leadership, and people across the denomination noticed. In 1921, Harold Mason was elected bishop, largely on the basis of eight years as a successful pastor (he hadn’t taken the usual paths of being a conference superintendent or denominational official). He was assigned to the Pacific district. Making the rounds of his churches in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and California required a journey of up to 6000 miles, most of it by train. But in year three, he moved the family to Ann Arbor, Mich. cut back his church traveling, and enrolled in graduate school at the University of Michigan. He graduated in 1924 with a Masters in English and Philosophy, headed west to conduct his annual conferences, and in the fall began teaching philosophy at Adrian College. When his term as bishop ended in 1925, he became Academic Dean at Adrian College. He was obviously drawn to higher education.
Mason was superintendent of schools in Blissfield, Mich., 1929-1932. In 1932 the Board of Trustees of Huntington College voted to close the doors for one year, due to lack of finances. However, someone said "If Dr. Mason would come, we could make it" He did, and they did!! When he was asked to become president of Huntington College, the school was on the verge of closing in those early days of the Depression. Mason agreed to come (at half the salary he was getting in Blissfield), and he kept the college alive for the next seven years.
In 1939, Mason left to pastor the flagship Free Methodist church in Winona Lake, IN., while also pursuing a doctorate at Indiana University. In 1943, he began five years as Professor of Christian Education at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL.) He finished his career in 1961 after 12 years as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Christian Education at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, Kent.).
It was an interesting life. Professionally, he gave about 20 years to the United Brethren denomination, and about 30 years to non-UB educational work. He died on June 2, 1964, in Winona Lake, IN.
He was ordained in 1915 by Bishop Wood. He received a MA degree from the University of Michigan and Dr. of Education from Indiana University. He also had honorary degrees from Huntington College (D.D.) and Houghton College (Dr. of Humane Letters.)
In 1911 he served the Ranson circuit, and then Adrian U. B. Church in 1912. From 1913 to 1918 he served at the Blissfield U.B. From 1918 to 1921 he was at Central U.B. in Montpelier, Ohio.
His service:
1921-1925 Bishop of West Coast U.B. churches
1925-1929 Dean of Adrian College.
1929-1932 Superintendant of Schools of Lenawee County, MI
1932-1939 President of Huntington College
1938 Professor at Winona Lake
1939-1943 Pastor of Free Methodist Church Winona Lake
1943 Professor at Grace College
1943-1948 Professor at North Baptist
1944 Professor at Houghton College
1949-1961 at Asbury Seminary
1961-1962 at Bethel College (part of year)
1961-1964 at Winona Lake
He married Alta McFate, of Waldron, Michigan, on December 25, 1909. They had 2 sons, Robert and Wendal.
Much of this information is from Harold's son, Robert.
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