Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them December 11, 1954 Issue

Lindley Murray, 1745-1826

[Mentioned in Retrospection and Introspection, p. 10]

Lindley Murray's life was divided almost equally between the United States and England. He was educated in the States, and through a variety of employment acquired an insight into human affairs; in England he wrote his books which became standard educational works in both countries.

His family were Quakers; his father a successful merchant who hoped that his son would enter commercial life; but the routine and restrictions of this kind of life irked him. Above all else he longed for a literary career. Finally he was allowed to study law, and John Jay was a fellow pupil. After four years Murray was licensed to practice law and soon built up a good practice which the American Revolution interrupted. In 1779 he set up as a merchant and was able to retire in 1783.

For reasons of health he went to England the following year and settled in Holdgate, near York. His first published work was " The Power of Religion on the Mind." The next was his English Grammar, a compilation of lectures he had given to teachers on the method of imparting a knowledge of the English language. There were some critics of the Grammar; but its popularity was not affected, and it went through many editions.

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