John Murray Makes His Stamp on American Religion
Though John Murray was raised in a strict Calvinist home, he gravitated towards the Universalist ideas (particularly the idea that all humans will receive salvation) preached by James Relly. Murray was excommunicated and following the death of his wife and infant son, left England and arrived in Good Luck, New Jersey in 1770. Upon his arrival he met farmer, Thomas Potter, who had built a chapel in the hopes of finding a preacher. Potter urged Murray to preach the coming Sunday if he was still in town, and after preaching that first sermon on September 30, 1770, Murray went on to preach Universalism throughout New England.
This year is the 250th anniversary of Universalism in America and John Murray is remembered on September 30th as its ambassador. (And yes, we even have John Murray stamps in our collections!)