Abbie K. Mason (September 1861 – August 7, 1908) was a Black American suffragist. She was known as the president of the

Woman's Christian Temperance Union The Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is an international temperance organization, originating among women in the United States Prohibition movement. It was among the first organizations of women devoted to social reform with a program th ...

(WCTU) and taught the lessons of

Frederick Douglass Frederick Douglass (born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, February 1817 or 1818 – February 20, 1895) was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became ...

at the Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of

Rochester Rochester may refer to: Places Australia * Rochester, Victoria Canada * Rochester, Alberta United Kingdom *Rochester, Kent ** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area ** History of Rochester, Kent ** HM Prison ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

Biography

Abbie K. Mason was born September 1861 in New York. In 1888, she married Reverend James Edward Mason. He served as a pastor at the oldest African-American church in Rochester, New York, at Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (also known as Memorial AME Zion Church or Zion Church). Together they had four children, however only one child named Kittie survived into childhood. Douglass had used the church basement to publish his anti-slavery weekly, ''The'' ''North Star'', as well as using it for a stop on the

Underground Railroad The Underground Railroad was a network of clandestine routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early- to mid-19th century. It was used by enslaved African Americans primarily to escape into free states and Canada. T ...

. Frederick Douglass died on February 20, 1895, and Rev. James Edward Mason and Rev. Wesley A. Ely of Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church participated in the

last rites The last rites, also known as the Commendation of the Dying, are the last prayers and ministrations given to an individual of Christian faith, when possible, shortly before death. They may be administered to those awaiting execution, mortall ...

. In August 1901, Abbie K. Mason founded and was president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, their chapter had nine women and most had already been connected to the Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The meetings for the club were held in the church basement, and focused on learning about

Susan B. Anthony Susan B. Anthony (born Susan Anthony; February 15, 1820 – March 13, 1906) was an American social reformer and women's rights activist who played a pivotal role in the women's suffrage movement. Born into a Quaker family committed to s ...

, a friend of Douglass, gave her last public speech in 1906 at Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Abbie K. Mason died on August 7, 1908.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mason, Abbie K. 1861 births 1908 deaths African-American suffragists Suffragists from New York (state) Activists from Rochester, New York African-American feminists American feminists 20th-century African-American people 20th-century African-American women