Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 4.djvu/40

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^■IRGIXIA BIOGRAPHY

vtntion of 1776. His ability in debate, as well as his liberal spirit, was eminently dis- played in the first legislature of Virginia when he was striving for the repeal of all disabling acts and for the legalization of all modes of worship, James Madison pro- nouncing him the finest debater he had ever known. In 1777 George Mason was chosen tf- the Gontinental Congress, but declined to serve. In 1787. however, he sat in the con- vention called to frame the federal consti- tution. He took a leading part in the con- vention debates and supported the election of the president of the United States directly by the people for a term of seven years, with subsequent ineligibility. He spoke with greatest force against that clause of the Constitution which prohibited the abolition of the slave trade until 1808. declaring that sla\-ery was a source of national weakness and demoralization and that it was there- fore essential that the general government should have power to prevent its increase. Propositions to make slaves equal to free- men as a basis of representation and to re- quire a property qualification from voters were strongly op])osed by him. He con- sidered some of the features of the Con- stitution, as agreed on in the convention, so dangerous that he refused to sign it and afterward in Virginia opposed its ratifica- tion, in this aiding Patrick Henry, the two insisting on a bill of rights and about twenty alterations in the Constitution itself. Some of these amendments were subsequently odopted by Congress and are now a part of the Constitution. He was chosen one of the first United States senators from Vir- gniia. but declined the honor and retired to Gunston Hall, where he spent the remainder of his years, dying there October 7. 1792.

Dr. Richard Chichester Mason, grandson oi' George Mason and his wife. Ann (Eil- beck) Mason, was born at (junston Hall. I'airfax count} . \'irginia. and died at Alex- andria. X'irginia. in 1868, aged seventy-five years. He was for many years a physician of .Alexandria, a devoted follower of his pro- fession, but retired to li\e on his estate near Mount \'ernon when aliout forty-five years o! age, and in his later years suffered with the other citizens of that place from the ravages of war. Dr. Richard Chichester Mason married l.ucy I'olling Randolph, daughter of William Randol])h. a mem1)er of the noted \'ir"-inia faniih- first founded

in the colony on Turkey Island. (See record in this work). Dr. Mason and his wife were the parents of sixteen children, of whom four are living at this time : Pinckney, a teacher of Washington. District of Colum- l)ia ; John Stevens, a farmer of Fauquier county, \ irginia ; Eva. married a Mr. Heth, deceased, and resides in Washington, Dis- trict of Columbia, and Landcjn Randolph, of whom further.

Rev. Landon Randolph Mason, son of Dr. Richard Chichester and Lucy Boiling (Randolph) Mason, was born in Fairfax county, \ irginia, January i. 1842. He lived in this district, engaged in preparatory study, until the beginning of the war be- tween the states, when he left school to enlist in the Seventeenth Virginia Regi- ment, serving throughout the entire con- flict. During the last year of the war he was in Colonel Mosby's command, and one month before the restoration of peace was taken prisoner and was confined in Fort Warren, as a guerilla captive not subject to exchange. For three years after the close of the war he followed the sea as secretary to a high naval officer, and was then for one year a school teacher, in 1870 entering the Theological Seminary at xAlexandria. Vir- ginia. He was graduated in divinity in 1873 and soon afterward was regularly ordained a clergyman of the Episcopal church. The first eight years of his ministry were passed in Charlotte county, Virginia, where he served churches at Charlotte Court House, Keesville, and Chase City, as well as super- intending active work in missions through- out the county. For a term of nine years he was pastor of the church at Shepherds- town. Jefferson county. West Virginia, whence, after a most successful and agree- able stay, he went to Marietta, Georgia. In this latter place he remained for but six months, in 1891 accepting his present charge in this city, the Grace Church. It is now nearly a quarter of a century since Rev. Mason took his place in the religious life of Richmond, and each ])assing year has served i)ut to seat him more fu-nil\' in the lo\e and regard of his ])eople. and to heighten the iini\ersal respect in which he is held in the citv. He has de\oted himself with zealous consecration to his church and congregation, and lias taught in his works the great lesson of service t*^ such good effect that new spirit has entered the church, rousing the congre-