George Mosley Murray
Encyclopedia
George Mosley Murray was a bishop
of the Episcopal Church
in the United States. He was born 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother's name was Emma Eareckson. She was a registered nurse
and head of pediatric nursing in the United States Steel Corporation's villages. His Father's name was Gerald Murray. Gerald Murray was an engineer at the United States Steel Corporation. In addition, Murray had a brother named Gerard. As a small child, George's parents moved him to Bessemer, Alabama
. Later, George attended the University of Alabama
. He died at age of 87 on July 14, 2006 in Fairhope, Alabama
.
in 1940 with a B.S. degree in business administration and worked for the General Electric
company in Charlotte, North Carolina
, until 1942 when he joined the Navy. George served in the military for 4 years of service. He enlisted in the Navy when World War II
started. Murray served as an instructor in the Gunnery School for a year before volunteering for seventeen months on the submarine
Pintado. He was discharged in 1946. George's term in the Navy only confirmed his desire to become a minister. He wanted to work for the Episcopal Church
. So after his discharge in 1946, Murray decided that he wanted to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary
in which graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1948.
, and shortly after, he accepted his first position in the church as the Episcopal student chaplain at the University of Alabama
. Five years later, at the age of thirty-four, he was elected the Suffragan bishop
of the Alabama Diocese
, and after his consecration at the Church of the Advent in Birmingham, became assistant to Bishop Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter
. In 1959, his election was virtually assured when he was made Bishop Coadjutor
and thus was slated to succeed Bishop Carpenter. And in 1969, he became the Ordinary
of the Diocese.
But he remained in the post only two years. When the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
was created from the southern one-third of Alabama and the Florida panhandle, he accepted the call to become its Bishop and left for Mobile
, the new see
city. Under his leadership, the new diocese has prospered; by the end of 1971, it numbered fifty-six congregations and more than 12,000 communicants.
, and the College of Preachers at Washington Cathedral invited him to participate in a special six-week refresher course as a Fellow of the College. A year later, he was made an honorary Doctor of Divinity by the University of the South and his alma mater, Virginia Theological Seminary
. In 1956, he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Alabama
. And in 1968, St. Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama
, made him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
clergymen who wrote "A Call For Unity
".
During the Civil Rights Movement Murray and his first wife, Elizabeth Malcolm Murray, decided that they both wanted to be active in the calling for greater equality and human rights. They did however get a lot of criticism from all sides. They were criticized for being too involved or not involved enough. While serving as Bishop Coadjutor, Murray was one of eight Birmingham clergymen who co-authored an April 12, 1963 open letter on racial tensions entitled "A Call for Unity
". This letter was why Reverend Martin Luther King wrote in his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail
".
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
in the United States. He was born 1919 in Baltimore, Maryland. His mother's name was Emma Eareckson. She was a registered nurse
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
and head of pediatric nursing in the United States Steel Corporation's villages. His Father's name was Gerald Murray. Gerald Murray was an engineer at the United States Steel Corporation. In addition, Murray had a brother named Gerard. As a small child, George's parents moved him to Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer, Alabama
Bessemer is a city outside of Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States eight miles west of Hoover. The population was 29,672 at the 2000 Census, but by the 2009 U.S...
. Later, George attended the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. He died at age of 87 on July 14, 2006 in Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope, Alabama
Fairhope is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, on a sloping plateau, along the cliffs and shoreline of Mobile Bay. The 2010 census lists the population of the city as 16,176....
.
Education
George Mosley Murray graduated from the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
in 1940 with a B.S. degree in business administration and worked for the General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
company in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, until 1942 when he joined the Navy. George served in the military for 4 years of service. He enlisted in the Navy when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
started. Murray served as an instructor in the Gunnery School for a year before volunteering for seventeen months on the submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
Pintado. He was discharged in 1946. George's term in the Navy only confirmed his desire to become a minister. He wanted to work for the Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. So after his discharge in 1946, Murray decided that he wanted to attend the Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
in which graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1948.
Work
After his graduation, he was ordained in Alabama by the Bishop of the Diocese, Bishop C.C.J. CarpenterCharles Colcock Jones Carpenter
Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter D.D., LL.D was consecrated Bishop of the Alabama Episcopal Diocese on June 24, 1938 and served until 1968. He was one of the eight clergymen who sent a letter titled "A Call for Unity" to Martin Luther King Jr...
, and shortly after, he accepted his first position in the church as the Episcopal student chaplain at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. Five years later, at the age of thirty-four, he was elected the Suffragan bishop
Suffragan bishop
A suffragan bishop is a bishop subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop. He or she may be assigned to an area which does not have a cathedral of its own.-Anglican Communion:...
of the Alabama Diocese
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama
The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama is located in Province IV of The Episcopal Church and serves the State of Alabama with the exception of the extreme southern region, including Mobile, which forms part of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast....
, and after his consecration at the Church of the Advent in Birmingham, became assistant to Bishop Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter
Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter
Charles Colcock Jones Carpenter D.D., LL.D was consecrated Bishop of the Alabama Episcopal Diocese on June 24, 1938 and served until 1968. He was one of the eight clergymen who sent a letter titled "A Call for Unity" to Martin Luther King Jr...
. In 1959, his election was virtually assured when he was made Bishop Coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
and thus was slated to succeed Bishop Carpenter. And in 1969, he became the Ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the Diocese.
But he remained in the post only two years. When the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, part of Province 4. The diocese was created in 1970 from portions of the adjoining dioceses of Alabama and Florida....
was created from the southern one-third of Alabama and the Florida panhandle, he accepted the call to become its Bishop and left for Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, the new see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
city. Under his leadership, the new diocese has prospered; by the end of 1971, it numbered fifty-six congregations and more than 12,000 communicants.
Awards
Bishop Murray received a number of notable honors since he was elevated to the episcopate. In 1953, the year he was made Suffragan Bishop, the University of Alabama gave him its Algernon Sydney Sullivan AwardAlgernon Sydney Sullivan Award
In 1925, the New York Southern Society began presenting the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award for excellence of character and service to humanity in honor of prominent New York lawyer, Algernon Sydney Sullivan. The first award was presented at Peabody College in Nashville, now part of Vanderbilt...
, and the College of Preachers at Washington Cathedral invited him to participate in a special six-week refresher course as a Fellow of the College. A year later, he was made an honorary Doctor of Divinity by the University of the South and his alma mater, Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary
Virginia Theological Seminary , formally called the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, is the largest accredited Episcopal seminary in the United States. Founded in 1818, VTS is situated on an campus in Alexandria, Virginia, just a few miles from downtown Washington, DC. VTS...
. In 1956, he was given an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
. And in 1968, St. Bernard College in Cullman, Alabama
Cullman, Alabama
Cullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
, made him an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Personal life
Bishop Murray was married to Margaret Macqueen. They resided in Fairhope, Alabama. Murray had three children with his first wife, Elizabeth Malcolm Murray. Their names are George Malcolm Murray, William Gerard Murray, and Sarahy Duncan Murray. He also has three grandchildren: Sean Douglas Murray, Erin Elizabeth Murray, and Andrew Stuart Murray.Legacy
George M. Murray was the youngest of the eight AlabamaAlabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
clergymen who wrote "A Call For Unity
A Call For Unity
"A Call for Unity" was a letter written on April 12, 1963 by eight white clergymen local to Birmingham, Alabama and published in a local newspaper...
".
During the Civil Rights Movement Murray and his first wife, Elizabeth Malcolm Murray, decided that they both wanted to be active in the calling for greater equality and human rights. They did however get a lot of criticism from all sides. They were criticized for being too involved or not involved enough. While serving as Bishop Coadjutor, Murray was one of eight Birmingham clergymen who co-authored an April 12, 1963 open letter on racial tensions entitled "A Call for Unity
A Call For Unity
"A Call for Unity" was a letter written on April 12, 1963 by eight white clergymen local to Birmingham, Alabama and published in a local newspaper...
". This letter was why Reverend Martin Luther King wrote in his famous "Letter from Birmingham Jail
Letter from Birmingham Jail
The Letter from Birmingham Jail or Letter from Birmingham City Jail, also known as The Negro Is Your Brother, is an open letter written on April 16, 1963, by Martin Luther King, Jr., an American civil rights leader...
".