[1] Mason was born in Pondoland, a rural area in the eastern part of the Cape Colony, but spent his early life in Durban and was sent to England to receive his schooling in Bath and Eastbourne.

[1] He later attended the University of London and in 1879 obtained the BA degree with honours in Classics and German.

He mainly practised in Pietermaritzburg and in January 1896 became a puisne judge of the Natal Supreme Court.

On several occasions he acted for Sir Michael Gallwey as chief justice of Natal.

[1] In 1922 he was knighted and from 13 March 1923 to the time of his death, he was Judge President of the Transvaal Provincial Division of the Supreme Court.