Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-09-28
NO. 231

cations III face OF strong opposition. In
December he again visited Gloucester, and
was cordially received by his friends.
The Parish meeting house was now
closed against him, and his followers as
| sembled, at stated times, at the house OF
Winthrop Sargent, where their religious
worship was held. On this visit he fully
stated his views to Mr.. Chandler. They
met, of course, his decided opposition,
and drew from him a warning address to
his people.
Surrounded by small circle of admir-
ing friends, Mr.. Murray now concluded
to make Gloucester his home, occasional
ly visiting other places. In May, 1775,
he received and accepted an invitation to
serve as chaplain in the Rhode Island bri-
gade, and repaired to the camp at Jamai-
ca Plain. He remained in the army till
compelled by sickness to leave, when he
returned to Gloucester, and remained until
his health was restored.
His enemies affected to believe him a
political character in disguise, and, under
this prctence, proceeded against him as
yagrant. On the 9th of February, 1777,
he was cited before the Committee of Public
Safety, and subjected to an insulting ex-
animation. He was warned to leave the
and the acts of the committee were ap-
proved at the next town meeting, by q
vote of fifty -four in their favor and eight
against them But this ebulition of relig-
ious malevolence spent itself in vain. Mr..
Murray remained and his opinions rapidly
spread
On Christmas day, 1880, Mr.. Murray's
adherents first assembled for public wor-
ship in small building they had erected
for that purpose. About two years before
this time they had adopted covenant, in
which they professed themselves an inde
pendent church of Christ, and received
Mr. Murray as their minister. They re-
fused to pay the taxes assessed upon them
for the support of the parish minister, and
thereupon their property was seized and
sold ut auction. An action was. instituted
for the recovery of this property and was
brought in the name of Mr.. Murray, on
the ground that particular clause of the
constitution secured to him all money paid
by his supporters for public worship, if
they wished it to be so applied. The case
was kept in court three years, and at last
a conclusive verdict was given in Mr..
Mmray's favor.
The enemies of Mr.. Murray seizing the
advantage that might be gained by doubts
concerning his legal qualification to per-
form the marriage ceremony, entered a
complaint against him, and obtained
verdict which condemed him to pay fine
of fifty pounds. The judges of the Su-
preme Court were of opinion that he was
not ordained minister in the sense of the
law, as the forms of his ordination were
not sufficiently notorious. AS this decision
rendered him liable to prosecution for
every marriage he had solemnized, he
was advised to leave the country until the
interference of the legislature could be
obtained in his favor. He accordingly
embarked for England, and an indemnify
ing act was passed, and before the end of
the year he returned to the United States.
On Christmas day, 1888, he was again
and more formally ordained pastor of the
society he had gathered here.
Mr.. Murray remained in Gloucester
about four years after his ordination. In
1903 he was induced, by the solicitations
of his friends in Boston, to become their
settled minister. His connection with the
society there was happy one, and con-
tinued till his death, which, preceded by
six years of helplessness, took place Sept.
3, 1915. He died at the age of fseventyfour