Murray, John (2), an Irish Presbyterian minister, was born at Antrim Maj' 22, 1742. He was educated at the university in Edinburgh, and then migrated to this country (1763), and settled first as pastor in Phila- delphia in 17GG; removed to Boothbay, Me., in 1767, and remained there until 1779, when he settled as pas- tor over a congregation at Newburyport, Mass., and there he died, March 13, 1793. He was a man of pow- erful eloquence, and exerted himself zealously for the Revolutionary cause. Indeed, he acquired great ascen- dency over the people of his vicinity by his powers as a preacher and his patriotic activity. He published Three Sermons on Justification (1780), and Three Ser- mons on the Original Sin Imputed (1791). See Drake, Diet, of A mer. Biog. s. v.
Murray, Lindley, an American writer on morals and education, who flourished near the opening of this century, was born at Swatara, Lancaster County, Pa., in 1745. He was educated at an academy of the Society of Friends, and on his father's removal to New York was placed in a counting-house, from which he escaped to a school in New Jersey. He then studied law, and Avas admitted to the bar at the age of twenty-one, and commenced a good practice. During the Revolution- ary War he engaged in mercantile pursuits with such success as to accumulate a handsome fortune. His health failing, he went over to England and purchased the estate of Holdgate, near York, where he devoted himself to literary pursuits, chiefly the composition of books intended for the instruction of youth. In 1787 he published anonymously his Power of Religion on the Mind, which passed through seventeen editions. It is a selection of passages from various authors. In 1795 he issued a Grammar of the English Language, followed by English Exercises, the Key, the English Reader, In-
troduction and Sequel, and a Spelling-book. There can be no stronger indication how entirely the systematic study of the English language was, until recent years, neglected by scholars than the fact that Murray's Gram- mar was for half a century the standard text-book throughout Britain and America. Far better books are his later publications : Selections fi-om Home's Commen- tary OH the Psalms (12mo), and On the Duty and Bene- fit of a Daily Perusal of the Holy Scriptui-es (1817). JMr. Jlurray wrote an autobiography to the year 1809, which was published after his death, which occurred at his residence, near York, England, Feb. 16, 1826. The Friends thought much of Lindley Slurray, for he de- voted himself to their interests, and as a member of their body did all in his power to give influence and power to them. " The humility of his deportment, and the Christian spirit that breathed through his whole conduct, endeared him to the members of York Monthly Meeting, where he served in the station of an elder, and proved to be eminently useful. His charities, both pub- lic and private, but particidarly the latter, were exten- sive. He was deeply interested in promoting the edu- cation of the poor and the elevation of the African race." — Janney, Hist, of the Friends, iv, 55. (J. H. W.)
Murray, Nicholas, D.D., an eminent Presbyte- rian divine, was born in Armagh County, Ireland, Dec. 25, 1803. Both his parents and all his relatives were Roman Catholics, and trained up their families in that belief. His father dying while he was quite young, he lived with an aunt, and at eight years of age was sent from home to attend a village school, where his profi- ciency in the rudiments of an English education were such that in his twelfth year he was apprenticed as a merchant's clerk. In 1815 he emigrated to America, where he entered the publishing house of Harper and Brothers, New York. In 1820 he was converted, and became a member of the Old Brick Church, then under the pastoral care of the venerable Gardiner Spring, D.D. His pastor, attracted by Murray's intellectual superiority, soon suggested his studying for the ministry. This at first was not encouraged by Murray ; but in 1821 he com- menced to make preparation, though still in the employ of the Harpers, and, after due fitting for a higher course of study, entered Williams College, Mass. ; there graduated in 1826, and then accepted an agency from the American j Tract Society in Washington Co., N. Y., which arrange- ment lasted for some time. Of his services at this pe- riod. Dr. Aydelotte says : '■ He was indefatigable in ap- plication to the duties of his office, perfectly methodical, of rare prudence, always kind, and yet ever firm and faithful to his convictions and the interests of the soci- ety. . . . The labors of the board were exceedingly lightened ; indeed he left them little to do beyond ap- proving his proceedings and measures." Dr. Aydelotte also speaks of his frequent manifestations of an anti- Romish spirit. He next entered Princeton Theological Seminary, where he remained until he graduated. He was licensed in 1829, and began his labors at Norris- town, Pa. ; but afterwards accepted a commission from the Board of Domestic Missions for the valley of Wy- oming, Pa., where he labored until he was ordained and installed pastor of the united congregation of Wilkes- barre and Kingston. His remarkable pulpit talents and his high promise attracted attention, and in 1833 he was given and accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, N. J., and there he continued to perform his life-work, declining calls to New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Natchez, and rejecting offers of two theological professorships. During this time, with persistent and untiring industry, he wrote much for the press, among \vhich was a series of articles for The Xew York Observe?; over the signa- ture of " Ki?-wan," constitiiting those famous letters to bishop Hughes, the Roman Catholic prelate, noted as a polemic, which have made the name of " Kirwan," the nom -de-plume under which JMurray wrote, a house- hold word throughout the whole Protestant wc-Id, his