Methodist Episcopal Church. --
Methodism in Mason dates back to the fall of 1839, * when a regular appointment was taken up and the first Methodist sermon was preached by a Brother Jackson, in the old school-house. The village then consisted of but five families ( so says the record), and was the extreme west of what was known as the "Dexter Mission." A small class was organized in 1843 - 44, either by Rev. W. E. Bigelow or Rev. D. Thomas. The members numbered eight, and R. Scarrett was appointed leader. In 1853 it was reorganized, with seven members. From 1839 to 1853 the following ministers officiated (perhaps not in the order here given): Revs. ----- Jackson, I. Bennett, E. D. Young, W. E. Bigelow, D. Thomas, T. Wakelin, W. Fox, S. Bessey, I. Donelson, J. S. Smart, A. Allen, ----- Glass, D. Curtis, S. Calkins. Beginning with 1853, the following were the pastors to 1867: 1853, E. R. Hascall and E. Brockway; 1854, T. Lyon and J. W. Kellogg; 1855, E. Klump; 1856-57, A. L. Crittenden; 1858-59, Nathan Mount; 1860, H. P. Barker; 1861-62, O. F. Chase; 1863, H. C. Peck; 1864 - 65, I. N. Tomes; 1866, F. Glass; 1867, L. M. Edmonds.
* This date should possibly be 1837. The members of the first class were Joab Page, Abigail Page, Whitney Smith, Cornelia Smith, Orcelia Page, Emeline Lowe, Nancy McRobert, Zeruah Osborn.

A parsonage was built in 1845, during the pastorate of Rev. T. Wakelin. It stood on Oak Street, near the present site of the church. It was sold in 1864 ot Nancy McRobert, and a new parsonage built in the same street near East Street. In 1865 a barn was built at the parsonage.

The old "Ingham Circuit" had its headquarters at Mason from 1845 to 1855, when Mason Circuit was formed. Ingham Circuit included Mason, Leslie, Okemos, Dansville, and perhaps Unadilla. Mason Circuit, as established, included Mason, Leslie, and Okemos. In September, 1857, Okemos Circuit was formed, and in September, 1867, Leslie Circuit was set off, with aclass of forty members, B. Mills being the first pastor of the latter, and preaching once in two weeks. This left two appointments in Mason Circuit, -- viz., Mason and Dubois' Class in Alaiedon, which latter was organized about 1840, and was afterwards connected with Dansville. The Methodists built their first house of worship at Mason in 1854-55. It was a wooden structure thirty by fifty feet, stood on the site of the present church, fronted south, and cost $2000, over half of which sum was raised by Dr. McRobert and Mr. Page. This church was struck by lightning and destroyed on the evening of July 4, 1865. The corner-stone of the present fine brick church was laid with Masonic ceremonies in April, 1867, by Rev. A. P. Mead, of Jackson. The basement was completed and dedicated March 1, 1868, by Rev. M. A Doughtery, assisted by Rev. H. F. Spencer. Much credit is due to Dr. W. W. Root for pushing this enterprise. The present value of the church property, including the parsonage, is estimated at $9000. The pastors since Rev. Mr. Edmonds have been the following: Revs. William Coplin, 1869-70; R. Pengeley, 1871-72; William Rice, 1873; F. B. Bangs, 1874-75; A. A. Knappen, 1876-77; W. Reiley, 1878-89; O. D. Watkins, April to September, 1880; and the present pastor, Rev. W. Doust, late of Charlotte, Eaton Co., appointed to this place in September, 1880.

The membership of the church in the last-named month was 216. The Sunday-school has an attendance of 125, with Charles Van Slyke as superintendent. A class was organized in the Webb neighborhood, in Aurelius, in 1873 (?). by Rev. William Rice, and has about forty-five members. It has built a frame church during the present season (1880), and is in charge of the pastor at Mason.

Baptist Church. --
The Baptist Church at Mason was organized in 1839, with the following members, six in number, -- viz., Wright Horton and Eliza Ann, his wife; Miss Yost, afterwards Mrs. Charles Gray; Mrs. Dunn and her son Samuel, and Mrs. G. W. Shafer. Of these the latter is the only one now living. The church was organized by Elder David Hendee, of Jackson County, a pioneer minister and prominent organizer. The first meetings were held in the old school-house. Among the early pastors were Revs. E. K. Grout, of Leslie; ----- Rumery, Hiram Fuller (who stayed eight years), another man named Hendee, who died and was buried here; Wilder, Putnam, Robertson, P. P. Farnam (now of St. Louis, Gratiot Co.). De Land, L. E. Spafford, and the present pastor, Rev. Daniel Baldwin. Meetings were held for some time in the Methodist church, which was really built for a Union edifice, but was dedicated by the Methodists. Before that church was burned the place of meeting was changed to the court-house, and in 1865 the present frame Baptist church was built, being dedicated in November of that year. Its original cost was about $2000, which has since been greatly increased by outlays for needed repairs. The church is now free from dept, and has a membership of about 200. The Sunday-school has an attendance of 150; L. S. Snell, Superintendent.

Presbyterian Church. --
From the manual of this church for 1873 are taken the following historical items:
" The Presbyterian Church was organized Jan 15, 1859, by a committee from Marshall Presbytery, and consisted of sever person, -- viz., Huram Bristol, Nancy Bristol, Allen Rowe, Elizabeth Rowe, Sally Ann Rowe, Mary F. A. Rhea, and Amanda Barnes. For several months Rev. Henry Root, of Bunker Hill, ministered to the church. The membership increased to eleven. Feb. 12, 1860, Rev. Hosea Kittredge began his labors as minister of this church. He resigned Jan. 15, 1867. At this time the membership had increased to the forty-six. The pulpit was vacant until July 7, 1868, when Rev. George Barlow entered upon his duties. During the fal land winter a house of worship was built.'

Mr. Barlow closed his labors here in the fall of 1879, and was succeeded on the 1st of December, in the same year, by the present pastor, Rev. Evert Vander Hart. The membership of this church, Sept. 7, 1880, was about 225. The Sunday-school has an average attendance of about 175; it superindendent is S. H. Beecher. Before its house of worship was built (1868) this church held its meetings in the court-house.

The old part of the present cemetery, containing about one and a half acres, was leased by the board of health of the township of Vevay, Sept. 19, 1844, from Charles Noble, John B. and Samuel Skinner, and E. B. Danforth, for the term of 300 years. This part is nearly filled with graves. The cemetery, as a whole, now contains about thirteen acres, several additions having been made to the original. It was platted by L. B. Woodhouse, and is laid out in a very tasteful manner. The sexton is S. P. Stroud, who came to Mason in 1855. The cemetery belongs to the city, having been purchased from the township of Vevay, and is managed by a board of trustees, consisting of George M. Huntington, I. B. Woodhouse, and S. A. Paddock.

Taken from:
"History of Ingham and Eaton Counties Michigan, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Their Prominent Men and Pioneers", by Samuel W. Durant.
Published by D. W. Ensign & Co., 1880.
Page 212 - 213