John Murray (minister)
John Murray (
1741–
1815) though sometimes recalled as founder of the
Universalist denomination in the
United States, might more fairly be described as a pioneer
minister and an inspirational figure, as his theological legacy to the later
Universalist denomination was minimal.
He was born in
Alton, Hampshire (fifteen miles northeast of
Winchester), in
England on
December 10,
1741. His father was an Anglican and his mother a
Presbyterian, both strict Calvinists, and his home life was attended by religious severity. In 1751 the family settled near
Cork,
Ireland. In 1760 Murray returned to England and joined
George Whitefield's congregation; but embracing, somewhat later, the Universalistic teachings of
James Relly he was excommunicated. In
1770 he emigrated to "loose himself in America", and preached, as a Universalist minister, his first sermon in
Lacey Township, New Jersey,
September 30,
1770, residing there with his patron and friend
Thomas Potter until 1774, itinerating from
Virginia to
New Hampshire. Today the Potter farm is the site of the Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center [
1].
In 1774 he settled at
Gloucester, Massachusetts, and established a congregation there out of a Rellyite study group. There he met his second wife, the author and catechist
Judith Sargent Murray. He was suspected of being a British spy, but in
1775 was chaplain of the Rhode Island Brigade before
Boston. He participated in the first general
Universalist Convention at
Oxford, Massachusetts, September,
1785. On
October 23,
1793, he became pastor of the Universalist society of Boston, and faithfully served it until
October 19,
1809, when paralysis stopped his work. He was a man of great courage and eloquence, and in the defense of his views endured much detestation and abuse. In regard to
Jesus, he taught that in him God became the Son; for "God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, are no more than different exhibitions of the self-same existent, omnipresent Being." He taught that all men would ultimately be saved through the sacrifice of Christ, the basis for this being the union of all men in Christ, just as they were united with
Adam, and therefore partaking of the benefits of his sacrifice. He was also a writer of hymns and a compiler of hymnals.
Murray suffered a debilitating
stroke on
October 19 1809, which compelled him to give up preaching and died in Boston, Massachusetts on
September 3,
1815.
Sources are his own
Letters and Sketches of Sermons, 3 volumes, Boston, 1812;
Autobiography, continued by his wife, (also known as
Life of Murray), Boston, 1816, centenary ed., 1870.
**
The Sargent House Museum - Judith Sargent Murray home**
Murray Grove Retreat & Conference Center - Potter FarmInitial text from Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religion
