John Murray

John Murray 1741-1815, founder of the Universalist denomination in America, b. England. He was excommunicated by the Methodists after he had openly accepted Universalism as taught by James Relly (see Universalist Church of America ). Murray emigrated to America in 1770 where, after traveling as a Universalist preacher for four years in New Jersey, New York, and New England, he settled in Gloucester, Mass. He continued his preaching there and in nearby centers. In 1775, General Washington announced Murray's appointment as chaplain to the Rhode Island troops. He served as pastor of the newly organized Independent Church of Christ (1779) at Gloucester until he was called to the pastorate of the Universalist Society of Boston in 1793.

Murray, John (1741–1815),founder of Universalism in America, was born in England, and reared as a Calvinist and Wesleyan. He joined the congregation of Whitefield, but was excommunicated by him when he openly accepted Universalism. Emigrating to America (1770), he became an itinerant preacher of this doctrine in New Jersey, New York, and New England, although he was not ordained. He established a congregation in Gloucester, Mass. (1774), the next year was appointed chaplain of the Rhode Island regiments by Washington, and became pastor of a Universalist society in Boston (1793–1809). His Letters and Sketches of Sermons was published in three volumes (1812–13), and his autobiographical Records in 1816.

Judith Sargent [Stevens] Murray (1751–1820), his wife, wrote a series of essays, two mediocre plays, and the short prose pieces and poems collected in The Gleaner (3 vols., 1798). She added concluding chapters to his Records. She used the pseudonym Constantia.