Mabon, John Scott

Mabon, John Scott an eminent educator of the (Dutch) Reformed Church, was born in Scotland in 1784; came to this country with his parents in 1796; graduated with high honors at Union College (1806), and at the theological seminary in New Brunswick (1812); was tutor in Union College 1814-15; rector of the grammar school of Rutgers College 1815-25; temporary professor of Hebrew in the theological seminary at New Brunswick 1818-19. From this time until his death he taught privately, the last fourteen years at Hackensack, N.J. Mr. Malabon was an exact scholar and a profound thinker. a rigid disciplinarian, and a skillful and enthusiastic instructor. His life was a battle with ill health and adversity. There was something truly heroic in his independent spirit, ever struggling for the mastery of unusual difficulties, and for the accomplishment of his life-work. His piety was chastened by almost continual trials. His religious life was one of profound convictions and broad and deep experience. Small of stature, with an intellectual head, and a frail, bent frame, courtly in his demeanor, and retiring in disposition, he was an old-fashioned Christian gentleman, and a teacher to whom many a minister of the Gospel and men of other professions still look up with veneration and thankfulness for their thorough training and ability. He died April 27, 1849. See Sprague's Annals, volume 9; Corwin's Manual; Personal Recollections of J. S. Mabon. (W.J.R.T.)