Background
Mason, Rufus Osgood was born on January 22, 1830 in Sullivan, New Hampshire, United States. Son of Rufus and Prudence (Woods) Mason.
Mason, Rufus Osgood was born on January 22, 1830 in Sullivan, New Hampshire, United States. Son of Rufus and Prudence (Woods) Mason.
He prepared for college at Thetford, Vermont and later graduated at Dartmouth College in 1854. In 1859, he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City (now a part of Columbia University).
He then entered Union Theological Seminary, 1854-1855, before moving to medicine. He became one of the most noted surgeons of his day in New York City. During The American Civil War (1861-1864) he became an assistant surgeon for The United States Navy.
From 1861 to 1864 he served on the United States Ship Santiago de Cuba.
In 1864 he took up medical practice in New York City, where he was attending physician, Northwestern dispensary, until 1869. Between the years leaving Union Theological Seminary and entering the medical profession, he became an instructor at a public school in Cleveland, Ohio.
lieutenant was there that he met, taught, inspired, and befriended "A small Barefoot Boy" named William Rockefeller (Brother of John Doctorate Rockefeller). This relationship would endure through the years, and Mason became "A Rockefeller Patron" toward the advancing of the medical sciences.
Mason was also deeply interested in metaphysical speculation and theory.
His input would help in the early pioneer development of parapsychology and psychical research. These subjects were published in many books, magazines, and newspaper articles He is accredited as "An Early Father-Pioneer of Parapsychology" and advance-supporter of the study of applied therapeutic uses of what is known today as Hypnotherapy.
His main publication was the book Telepathy and the Subliminal Mind (1897), and his work focused on case studies and popularization.
His chief contributions to the field are considered to be the latter, in the United States, particularly relating to the work of the Society for Psychical Research and the theories of Frederic William Henry Myers. Much of Mason"s research and observations in psychical research would be applied in early Education Support Professionals, Telepathy, Astral (OOBE) research, and in present-day remote Viewing.
The 50th Annual Convention of the Parapsychological Association, September 2007, acclaimed him as an early pioneer in parapsychology and psychical research. After his death the latter used her inheritance to became a leading patron of the Harlem Renaissance.
He was a contributing member of The Society for Psychical Research.
Married Marian Isabel Goodwin, July 3, 1871. Married second, Charlotte Van Der Veer Quick, April.