The Washington times., 1894-11-26
FATHER OF UNIyERSALISM.
Services at the Church of Our Father in
Honor of John Murray Conducted
Without the Pastor.


Honor of John Murray Conducted
Without the Pastor.
A memorial service in honor of John Muir
ray, founder of Universalism in America,
took the place of the regular service at the
Church of Our Father, Thirteenth and L
streets, yesterday morning. The pulpit was
handsomely adorned with ferns. palms, rub
ber plants, and pots of white and yellow
chrysanthemums. Above the pulpit was
large engraving OF Murray, framed In a mass
of ivy, ana above it was the word Murray"
in large letters of white flowers. The face Of
the pulpit had delicate tracery of dark ivy
over a red background.
DR.. A. G. Rogers, pastor of the congrega-
ton, was absent. and the cermonial was con-
Quoted by members. Miss Donna PeetreY
representing the Sunday-school. read the
hymns in clear, musical tones, Deacon Charles
Bates offered the opening prayer, Mr. George
Bushee, of the Society OF Christian Endeavor.
led the responsive reading, and Rev. W. w.
Curry delivered the address. The hymns
were all compositions OF Universalist minis
ters.
John Murray is recognized as the father
of Universal1sm in the United States because
he was the first to organize distinct Uni
Versalist church. The doctrine had been
preached before.
Murray was born on December 10. 1741, of
Alton, hampshire, England, a descendant at
the noble line OF Murrays in Scotland who
were Episcopalians His mother was of
French extraction and Roman Catholic
family. His mother and father were at first
Presbyterians, but moved to the vicinity of
Cork in Ireland, where both became converts
to Methodism. Yet when he was only two
years old he was taken to the Episcopal
Church TO be christened.
There he astonished his father and mother
by speaking his first word. 1t was a clear,
welli-spoken Amen and it came in lust at
the right place. He was brought up in a
severe Calyinism with free application of the
rod. for his father was deyout believer in
Solomon's maxim.
In Ireland he was engaged in religious work
with the Methodists, and when he was seven
teen he was entrapped into his first sermon.
lie was left in the pulpit by an older friend
and obliged to address large audience.
While still boy he determined to leave
Ireland. He first however, came under the
influence of George Whitefields preaching at
i Cork, and then first heard a great expounder
lof Calvinism. and was delighted with it.
He determined to join himself TO this con-
nection so soon as he arrived in London. But
once in that great city he was gradually
separated from religious surroundings He
fell into dancing and play-going and greatly
pleased with such allurements he quit
/ church-goiug He had at first plenty of
money but finally this gave out. He found
himself without means and in debt. He gave
! up frivolities, returned to his church connec-
tions with weeping and prayer, and turned
| his attention to making money. He paid his
| debts and became prosperous again. He met
pious young Baptist, William Neal. Their
| intimacy brought him an acquaintance with
/ the Young mans sister, They soon fell in
Isr-S F,+k
ton and changing his will, they were mar
! ried
| child was born, but when year old died
and year later the mother followed MUIR
| rays business had not been successful in this
time and be was arrested for debt and in
| danger OF being sent TO NewSate, By indus
~ and his brother-in-law' aid he recovered
his financial standing and gradually placed
! himself IN permanently easy circumstances.
About this time he first heard of James Reilly,
q man who had come to believe that Christ's
suffering was intended for the final salvation
| of ali men. At first Murray was greatly
shocked by this doctrine. We was ready to
| take part in putting Reilly to death to prevent
the spread of views which must lead 10 the
damnation of many souls. But he became in
terested in ReIly's reasoning and finally a
Calyinist friend gave him pamphlet refuting
Reilly and this converted him to Universalism.
In 1770 he came to America. At Cranberry
Inlet n. J mistaken directions brought them
upon the sands and their ship was about TO
90 to pieces. Mr.. Murray went ashore There.
al a place called Good Luck. he found a
church had been built for an unknown
preacher who was expected TO come TO it.
Thomas Potter, who owned it. said Murray
was the man he had been looking for. Muir
ray at first refused to preach. but was finally
prevailed upon and remained and preached
for several weeks at Gloucester, Mass, was
organized the first Universalist church in
America on January l, 1779, and Mr.. Muir
ray was the pastor. It was not the purpose
10 establish a new denomination. But the
authorities levied tax on their property TO
support the established church. This was re-
sisted and eminent lawyers were employed.
Mr.. Murray had never TO that time received
any pay for his preaching anywhere. but then.
to show that his was a religious society, he ac-
cepted pay and a new sect was formed. III
Oxford. Mass, in 1785. the UniversallstS held
their first conference. and at Winchester, IN
1903. they adopted a confession of faith.
Mr.. Murray was q chaplain in the Revolu-
tionary Army, but was never regularly or
dained till 1850. In 1888 he returned to Eng
land to visit his mother. He was married a
second time in America, and a son and
daughter were born to him. Only the
daughter survived. On October 10, 1909. he
was stricken with paralysis. He never fully
recovered. but lived till 1915
The address was followed by an extract from
Mr., Murray's autobiography read by Mr.. H.
Dupre ST. Clair.