New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-22

hoped. The ship in which be sailed. and which was
bound for Now-YOrk. when of the coast OF
kew-Jersey was Oyertaken by fog 80 dense
rs 10 prevent the seeing OF the bowsprit
by those who were ON board. and under
the impression that they wero seventy miles
from Sandy Hook, when in fact they Were but seven
they the vessel till in short time it was in
the midst of breakers. where striking BAR 1t passed
over, and was safely anchored in narrow inlet
which they afteTward learned was known as Gran
berry Inlet Here Murray disembarked, and, proceed
ing along the shore In a saddened, contempla,iye
mood. he unexpectedly found himself at small log
house. before the door OF which girl was cleaning
fish. Bethlnking himself of his own and his com
paniOns need of fresh provisions be asked to buy the
fish. and was told that IT. was not Tor
sale, but that he could obtain some at
the next house This ~ asked he pointing
TO one in the woods "Ob, no, Sir that is meeting
house; little further on You Will see the other
house, where You will find fish enough"
lie passed on, and what was his astonishment, after
being gTaciOusly welcomed and abundantiy supplied
by the rough looking old gentleman whom he found
at the house referred TO- to hear HIM say My TREND
am glad you have come have lOnged 10 see YOU
have been expecting you long time" lie asked
the strange man what he meant, and was informed
by him that, although rough IN his appearance, ana
an Ignorant man so far as knowledge OF
letters goes, he nevertheless was great lover OF
the sacred Scriptures, and was very familiar with
their text From them, he had lmDlDed rehgiOus
sentiments such no sect Of his acquaintance held
and such as no clergyman whom no had ever heard;
avowed. Being firmly persuaded in his own mind
that his belief of God and that at some tlme II
no only prepared the way, God would send him some
TO explain to him. and to his neighbors, what the
adjacent to his house the little Westinghouse which
Murray bad seen, and then prepared to wait coos
time for somebody to preach IN 1t the dGf-
trine OF love for which he had built IT.
nothing doubling but that his wish would be full:
filled. THE moment beheld your vessel on shore"
said he to Mr.. Murray, lit seemed as if voice had
audibly sounded in my ears, There Potter In that
vessel is the preacher you have been so long expect
ing" But you are deceived, said Murray
shall never preach IN tins PLACE nor anywhere else
you His truth" Murray could deny neither ques-
ton. And how dare yOu hide this TRUTH If God
has shown you His salvation, why should you not
show it TO your feOw-men But know you will
God Almighty has sent yOu for this purpose. / am
not deceiyed And so the man went on, insisting that
Murray must preach the doctrine of Gods universal
power and grace in his meetinghOusc until at last
to silence him, and somewhat moved himself withal,
despite his protestations, Murray promised that, IL
the wind should not arise before the next sunday
he would comply with his request IL III shOud arise
however, 80 that his vessel now becalmed IN the
inlet could 20 on its way. he WOuld go on wlIhlt
"The wind will never change. Sir, until you have
delivered to ny, in that Westinghouse, a message
from God" said Potter-and he was right. Sunday
came and Murray preached in POtters meeting
house, on the New-Jcrsey shore, the first dstinc-
tivey UnIyersaist sermon eyerpreached IN America,
on the 30th day of September, IN the year OF our
The wind arose soon after, and Murray departed
for NewYOrk but not until Potter had eXaeted from
him promise that he would return ana take mp nl5
abode with him, and preach the gospel OF Impartial
i'm his meeting-hOuse. Warmly attracted to his new
found friend. and being, moreover, deeply impressed
with all the circumstances of this incident his prom
Use was given with readiness WHICH surprised Mini
self According TO promise, he returned ana for sew
eTa succeeding years lie preached the doctrine oil the
final holiness and happiness Of all mankind, from the
desk of that small, unpretendlng building m
the wilderness. Thus was the course OF
Iniversalism in America first lnaugurated by
John Murray one hundred years ago tins
year The doctrine had been casually preached by
several American clergymen OF various denOmlna-
TONS before the arrival OF Murray but only coyeIty
and not ia such way TO bring themselves before
the public as avowed believers in the final and per-
feet salvation Of all .,. 49,,
him grew upon his mind Murray thought IL his duty
TO coninc his efforts to the Potter Westinghouse no
more and after staying there for two or three years
he beEa., that series OF missionary tours "hich nc
continued longer or shorter intervals through the
reminder Of his life, aud which took hin on
horseback or on foot, through all the principal
towns and cities along the coast. from phll
to Portsmouth. He followed closely the same line OF
progress which Whiteteld had pursued but very
pastor he met with much abuse a, well as much sue
cess On Friday, Nov 20 100 he preached TO a large
a series of discOurses IN the old Schools Church, IN
the same city, and TO such thrOngs OF people could
casiOns he was publicly attacked not only with
moral arguments but with stones, ana eggs, ana
asalgtda, and other weapons OF a kindred nature,
which as he observed. although solid and Utighty,
were neither rational nor convincing arguments
During the War of the Revolution, he served as
Chaplain to the Rhode Island Brigade Gen; Greene
was his personal friend and believer in the doctrine
which he preached. but many OF the olnceTs OF the
brigade were not, and they pettloned Gen. Washing
ton to have the heretical Chaplain removed but
Washingt0ns only answer was a command that John
Murray should be respected Chaplain OF the three
Rhode Island regiments. On Christmas Day, l'SO
Mr. Murray first preached III Gloucester, Mass, III
small neat house erected for his use. Other men
were now beginning to preach the same word
some OF whom had been converted TO. "a
Mr. Murray's statements. The elder Ballou shortly
after appeared and from that time to the present
Universaism has rapidly increased in numerical
strength, in the respect OF the people, and IN IN
of UnveTsasts, representing the congregations then
existing in America, met i'll convention at Winches-
ter n. H., and adopted the following public Con
feSsion of FAITH which has since stood, and now
stands as the creed of the Uniyersalist denomina-
ton:
We believe that the Holy Scriptures Of the Old and New
stsme contain eveaos Of the character Of God and Oft duty
GEr il We believe that there God whose
Se.sd 10 one LoG esai christ o one 10Y SR ,0 GSs ~so WI"
M We believe that holmes. and happiness in.sgarasy
p so "o for these things are good and profitable unto men
The Convention aimed to adopt a creed which
should express all the fs'es h Oh the fbO onSer
time leave abundant room for intellectual growth
and Christian progress in those who should sub
scribe to it; creed which should be TO them
not like a tightly fitting or loosely fitting arti-
fetal garment which must be patched or else
outgrOwn, but rather like the natural skin, which
grows as the body grows creed which should not
pace with the advancement of all knowledgeby con-
tanning within itself infinite capabllity OF self
adjustment TO embrace all knowledge within Its own
provisions. How well it has succeeded, let the pres
cnt age and future determine.
Notifications have undoubtedly already taken
place in the details of the Common Unversalist be-
lief Ii is probable says of its writers, speaking
of Mr.. Munays peculiar opinions " that no living
man woman now entertans them in their whole,
ness. But the doctrine of the Fathers universal
love, the university of Christian salvation, and the
harmony of holiness and happiness, which 20