The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-06
DEATH OF DIR. ]. 7. MURRAY.
A Prominent Minister of the M. P. Church
Passes Away.

Rev. DR.. J. Thomas Murray died at his
home, 100 N. Fulton avenue, Baltimore, on
Saturday morning last, after weeks illness
with pneumonia, aged nearly 20 years. The
deceased had deem prominent minister in
the Methodist Protestant Church for many
years, and was well known in Westminster
and Carroll, where he began his minister work
a half century ago.
His funeral took place on Monday after
noon from Lafayette Avenue M. p. Church.
The services were in charge of the Rev. DR..
s. B. Switzerland, an old friend of the deceas.
ed and one of the oldest ministers in the de-
nomination in Baltimore. He was assisted
by the Rev. I. o. Grouse, pastor of the
church; Rev. W. S. Hammond, d. D., pastor
of the Broadway Methodist Protestant Church,
and Rev. F. T. Little. of Starr Methodist
Protestant Church. The interment was made
in Greenmount Cemetery, where the burial
service was read by Rev. T. o. Grouse. The
pallbearers were Rev. j. NJ. Sheridan, Rev.
F. T. Little, Horce ,Burrough, William J. c.
Dulaney, Daniel Baker and DR.. j. w. Her.
ing.
sketch of DIR. Murray.
Rev. DR.. Murray was born FEBRUARY 10. 1880, at
Hagerstown, Nd. His early years were spent in
and around Hagerstown, where he received his first
schooling While still lad his parents moved to
Cumberland and there it was that DIR. Murray ex-
pressed desire TO preach the Gospel. When he
u years old he entered the itinerant ministry
of the NJ. P. Church, in the Maryland Conference,
and was appointed to the charge of the church at
Pipe Greek, Carroll county. His preaching and pas
toral work there soon gained him Il wide reputa-
ton, both of eloquenee and power in the pulpit and
of energy i'll his pastoral work. During the next
10 years of his life DR.. Murray presided over some
of the most prominent charges in the conference.
Among his charges were those of the old West Bal.
tmore Station. then at the corner OF Greene and
Lombard streets, now known as Calvery Methodist
Episcopal Church South East Baltimore Station,
Chestertown, Newark, n. j., Westminster George
town Washington and Uniontown.
His ability preacher and thinker drew at
tention to his fitness to fill the office of editor of the
church paper and accordingly, while still serving
the West Baltimore Station. he elected editor
in-chief of the Methodist Protestant His editorial
career the Methodist Protestant one of sue
cess and prosperity. He retained this position for
several years and then retired to take charge of the
East Baltimore Station He served there and ut
other churches throughout the conference until
1888. when he was chosen president Of the confer
ence. He remained as president until 1887. Then
he returned to pastoral work and preaching, but
after one year was elected agent of the Maryland
Tract Society, which position he held at the time
of his death.
Dr. Murray was active in the affairs of the church
for period of nearly so years. He took a promi-
nent part in the communion of the Methodist Prot
estant Church in 1868 which met with commits
sion of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at
Montgomery, Ala. to arrange terms of a union; he
was also in the body of representatives which for
mulated the terms of the union with the Methodist
Church. and wasafterward in the united body COM
posed of these branches of Methodism.
In the General Conference his words were always
listened 10 with respect and interest, and he had
much to do with the shaping of the events that
have transpired in the church during the half GEN.
fury of his ministry.