The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-01-28

war he was much perplexed as to what
to do. After consultation with number
of tho prominent ministers in the State
in his denomination, among them several
of tho Professors of the Seminary then
in Greenville, who approved the plan, he
determined to return to the practice of
law and to continue in the ministry. The
late DR.. Boycc at the time told him that
he.had been thinking Of studying law and
going into the practice, and that if ho had
already prepared himself for it he certain
ly in the then existing condition of things
would go into the practice. Accordingly
Mr.. Murray was admitted to the Bar in
this State and began the practice Of law
in South Carolina in 1866, retaining also
the church here which he served for Just
such remuneration as they gave him,
which was at that time very little, as the
members of the Church, like every one
else, were greatly reduced in means by
the results Of the war.
In 1866 lie was elected by tho Lccisla-
ture District Judge for Anderson County,
and presided over that Court until it was
abolished by reconstruction.
He retained the Baptist Church hero
until 1877, period Of twenty-three con-
secutive years, when he resigned the pas
torate and Rev. ". D. Beverly succeeded
him. He took pastorates of county
churches and was at different times pas
tor of the Pendleton, Bolton, Lebanon,
Little River, First Creek and Lowndes-
vile Churches, and only gave up the
work Of preaching after an illness of two
years ago which left him physically un-
able to undergo the exertions of the min
istry.
Mr.. Murray was in favor of Secession
and always maintained that the action of
tho South was logical and right, and so
strongly did he maintain this belief that
he was always opposed to those men who
had been active in bringing on the war in
the North. This led him in 1872, when
the Democrats nominated Horace Greedy,
to refuse to support him on the ground
that if they had to have Republican for
President he would rather have Grant,
the soldier, than Greedy, the editor, who
had deceived and then villiied the South.
In this election, however, and at all other
times, lie vigorously opposed the Repub-
Ican ticket in this State.
Tn 1914 ha ooy,hor of tho
union and delegate from this County to
tho State tax union, which organized for
opposition to tho existing government,
and exerted his influence steadily for the
contest Of 1876, in which, of course, he
was strong supporter of Governor
Hampton and tho straightout ticket.
In 1877 he was appointed by Governor
Hampton, On the nomination of Hon.
Hugh S. Thompson, member of the
State Board of Education, and was sue
cessively re.appointed until 1890, when
Governor Tillman appointed new
Board. In 1850 ne wasselected as one of
the Democratic presidential electors for
this State, and with the other electors cast
the vote of the State for Hancock and
English.
He was the Intendant of the town of
Anderson for several terms. He practic-
ed law at first by himself, and afterwards
associated with him his son, Mr.. E. B.
Murray, in the firm Of Murray & Muir
ray, Of which he was the senior member.
Mr.. Murray was for number of years
member Of the Board of Trustees of the
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary,
and was Modera of the Saluda Baptist
Association for m ore than twenty years.
Two years ago, OH account of i'll health,
he declined reelection as Moderator,
but on being unanimously reelected he
continued to serve, az. was reelected
again last year.
Mr.. Murray was e. man of remarkable
physical power and endurance, and was
possessed of wonderful energy and work
power. AS we have said, for years he
was at the head of large female Univer-
sity, teaching, as was the rule then, two
sessions day, and conducting the Sum
day services of the Church, The weekly
praycr-meeting, and either superintend-
ing or teaching Bible Class in the Sun
day School, and in addition to this. attend
ing to The entire financial department. of
the University. After ne took the coun-
try Churches, of which we have spoken,
at one time he was practicing law and
preaching twice month to Little River
and First Creek Churches. He would
frequently go to and from these Churches
the same day, riding from thirty to fifty
miles day and preaching in all kinds Of
weather.
He possessed fine literary, classical
and scientific education, and had an any.
litical mind, which always sought to go
to the bottom of any research in which
he engaged. AS lawyer he was careful
in pleading, cautious in reaching his con-
clusions, and strong in presenting his
case. AS preacher he was eloquent,
earnest and able, and he loved the minis
try better than any work in which he
ever engaged, and it was only when his
physicians told him that he could not con.
tinue in tho service that two years ago he
retired from its work.
In 1872 lie had severe attack Of crisyp-
elias in the face which returned at fire.
quent intervals during the balance Of his
life, and was the source Of considerable
suffering and annoyance to him, but his
general health was good until December,
1889, when he was stricken with an illness
from cold which nearly cost him his life,
and after he began to recover he was
stricken with an appoplectic attack, which
seemed to take his life. It was quite re.
markable that upon his recovery from
this attack that his physical and mental
powers were left completely intact and
his mind was as clear as ever. His
strength never completely returned to
him, though he was restored to usual
health.
Mr.. Murray has been identified with
the welfare and interests of Anderson for
forty-two years, and in this sketch we
feel our utter inability to do justice to his
noble life and many noble traits of char