Henry Joseph Monck Mason
Encyclopedia
Henry Joseph Monk Mason (15 July 1778–14 April 1858) was an Irish
writer who, although not a native speaker, specialised in Irish-language activities. He was a founder of The Irish Society, dedicated to spreading the Scripture in Irish, and a campaigner for prison reform.
, County Wicklow
, the son of Lieutenant-colonel Henry Monck Mason of Kildare Street, Dublin, by his second wife, Jane, only daughter of Bartholomew Mosse
, M.D. After attending schools at Portarlington
and Dublin he entered Trinity College, Dublin
in 1793, was elected scholar in 1796, and on graduating B.A. in 1798 was awarded the gold medal. At college he was contemporary with Thomas Moore
the poet, and afterwards met him during visits to Kilkenny.
In 1800 he was called to the Irish bar, but did not seek practice. Instead he held the post of examiner to the prerogative court. In 1814 he was appointed assistant librarian of King's Inns, and became chief librarian in 1815.
In conjunction with Bishop Daly, Mason founded, in 1818, the Irish society for "promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, which still exists", and he acted as its secretary for many years, besides writing several tracts in furtherance of its objectives. The same year he assisted in organising an association for the improvement of prisons and of prison discipline in Ireland, and in 1819 he wrote a pamphlet on the objects of the association. He likewise visited the prisons with a view to reclaiming first offenders.
In 1851 Mason resigned the librarianship of King's Inns, and gave up his house in Henrietta Street, Dublin, to spend the remainder of his days at Bray
, County Wicklow. He died there on 14 April 1858, and was buried in the old cemetery of Powerscourt Demesne. In 1816 he married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Langrishe, by whom he had two sons and four daughters.
At Mason's suggestion the committee of the Irish Society founded in 1844 two Bedell scholarships and a premium in Dublin University for encouraging the study of the Irish language. He was mainly instrumental in the establishment there of a professorship of Irish. In 1812 he was elected member of the Royal Irish Academy
. In the summer session of 1817 the degrees of LL.B. and LL.D. were conferred on him by Dublin University.
He was a good musician; he composed several pretty airs, and was a fair violoncellist. His lack of tact saw him become embroiled in several disputes, for example with Owen Connellan
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
writer who, although not a native speaker, specialised in Irish-language activities. He was a founder of The Irish Society, dedicated to spreading the Scripture in Irish, and a campaigner for prison reform.
Life
He was born at PowerscourtPowerscourt
Powerscourt may refer to:*Viscount Powerscourt, title in the Irish peerage*Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow, Ireland**Powerscourt Golf Club, on the estate*Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland, near the estate...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, the son of Lieutenant-colonel Henry Monck Mason of Kildare Street, Dublin, by his second wife, Jane, only daughter of Bartholomew Mosse
Bartholomew Mosse
Bartholomew Mosse was an Irish surgeon and impresario responsible for founding the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin.-Early life:...
, M.D. After attending schools at Portarlington
Portarlington
Portarlington is the name of several places:*Portarlington, County Laois, Ireland**Portarlington railway station**Portarlington , a constituency until 1801 in Ireland**Portarlington RFC*Portarlington, Victoria, Australia...
and Dublin he entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
in 1793, was elected scholar in 1796, and on graduating B.A. in 1798 was awarded the gold medal. At college he was contemporary with Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
the poet, and afterwards met him during visits to Kilkenny.
In 1800 he was called to the Irish bar, but did not seek practice. Instead he held the post of examiner to the prerogative court. In 1814 he was appointed assistant librarian of King's Inns, and became chief librarian in 1815.
In conjunction with Bishop Daly, Mason founded, in 1818, the Irish society for "promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, which still exists", and he acted as its secretary for many years, besides writing several tracts in furtherance of its objectives. The same year he assisted in organising an association for the improvement of prisons and of prison discipline in Ireland, and in 1819 he wrote a pamphlet on the objects of the association. He likewise visited the prisons with a view to reclaiming first offenders.
In 1851 Mason resigned the librarianship of King's Inns, and gave up his house in Henrietta Street, Dublin, to spend the remainder of his days at Bray
Bray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, County Wicklow. He died there on 14 April 1858, and was buried in the old cemetery of Powerscourt Demesne. In 1816 he married Anne, daughter of Sir Robert Langrishe, by whom he had two sons and four daughters.
At Mason's suggestion the committee of the Irish Society founded in 1844 two Bedell scholarships and a premium in Dublin University for encouraging the study of the Irish language. He was mainly instrumental in the establishment there of a professorship of Irish. In 1812 he was elected member of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
. In the summer session of 1817 the degrees of LL.B. and LL.D. were conferred on him by Dublin University.
He was a good musician; he composed several pretty airs, and was a fair violoncellist. His lack of tact saw him become embroiled in several disputes, for example with Owen Connellan
Owen Connellan
Owen Connellan was an Irish scholar who translated the Annals of the Four Masters into English in 1846.-Life:He was born in County Sligo, the son of a farmer who claimed descent from Lóegaire mac Néill, High King of Ireland in the fifth century. He studied Irish literature and obtained employment...
.
Select works
- Essay on the Antiquity and Constitution of Parliaments in Ireland, Dublin, 1820 (dedicated to Henry GrattanHenry GrattanHenry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
- Irish-language version of the Book of Common Prayer issued at Dublin in 1825.
- Pamphlets written in support of the Irish Society and the Association for the Improvement of Prisons
- The Catholic Religion of St. Patrick and St. Columbkill, and the other Ancient Saints of Ireland, Dublin, 1823
- The Lord's Day: a Poem, Dublin, 1829.
- The Life of William Bedell, D.D., Lord Bishop of Kilmore, London, 1843
- Memoir of the Irish Version of the Bible, Dublin, 1854, a series of papers reprinted from the Christian Examiner.