In the mid-1700s, the land that is now Murray Grove, in Good
Luck,
New Jersey, was being farmed by Thomas Potter, member of a locally
prominent
family. Though unlettered, Potter was a successful and deeply religious
man.
Probably a Quaker Baptist, he had caught wind of a radical new
theological
current called universalism: the idea, against strict Calvinist
predestination, that all human beings will ultimately attain salvation.
Based
on his understanding of scripture as read to him, he worked out his
own
strong beliefs. He sought out those with knowledge, and with similar
views,
including visiting ministers, inviting them to his home to discuss
current
issues.
About 1760 - his wife Mary having grown tired of hosting such
discussions in her house - Potter built a meeting-house for the express
purpose of housing a preacher of the universalist gospel. But, for ten
years,
he never found one. However, he persevered in his faith that one would
be
provided him, in the face of his neighbors’ skepticism.
At the same time, in England and Ireland, a young man with an
intense
interest in religion and a natural talent for public speaking was
reaching a
life crisis. Having first converted from conventional Anglicanism to
Methodism, John Murray had then been convinced by universalist
doctrines he
read of and heard in London. Losing his position in the Methodist
church as a
result - and soon thereafter losing both his infant son and his beloved
wife
to illness - he was barely rescued from debtor's prison. Downcast and
distressed, he was determined to give up religion altogether and make a
new
life for himself in America.
Murray booked passage on the brig "Hand in Hand", bound for New
York.
Diverted first to Philadelphia, they were on their way back up the
Jersey
coast when they swept over a sandbar in a fog just off Cranberry Inlet
(which
no longer exists) into Barnegat Bay. The captain off-loaded some of the cargo onto a smaller local vessel, which he asked Murray to oversee. The brig, now lighter and the wind having shifted, was able to return to the open ocean; but the wind changed again and the smaller boat was unable to follow. The “Hand in Hand” then proceeded on to New York, leaving Murray, the boat, the sailors and the cargo behind, trapped in the bay. They came ashore and, when Murray went in search of provisions, he was directed to the Potter home
Thomas Potter, having seen the vessel stranded, met him with:
"I have
longed to see you. I have been expecting you a long time!" When Potter
learned of Murray's background, he was convinced that this was the
preacher
of universalism for whom he had been waiting, sent to him by
providence.
Murray protested that preaching was now in his past, that he wanted
nothing
more to do with it. Besides, he had to leave as soon as the wind
allowed his
boat out of the bay. Potter responded, "The wind will never change,
sir,
until you have delivered to us, in that meeting-house, a message from
God."
Finally, they agreed that, if the boat were still stuck in the
bay
the following Sunday, Murray would preach in Potter's meetinghouse. If
it
were freed before then, he would depart with it. The ship was still
there on
Sunday. Murray did in fact preach a sermon on universalism to Potter
and his
family and neighbors, on September 30, 1770. As soon as he was
finished, a
sailor ran up to inform him that the wind had turned, the ship was
free, and
they could now leave for New York.
Murray departed, but soon returned to Good Luck and his friend
Potter. Freshly inspired, he stayed in this area for several years,
traveling
around to the nearby towns and villages, preaching universalism to
enthusiastic listeners. He eventually left again, making his way to New
England, earning ever greater popularity. He found a permanent home in
Gloucester, creating and ministering to the Universalist church there –
the
first in this country - and later in Boston. He was instrumental in the
organization of Universalism as a denomination in 1793.
At Potter's death, probably during the Revolutionary War, his
will
left the meetinghouse and the acre of land on which it sat to Murray.
Murray
was unable to claim it
before
his own death in 1815. It passed into the hands of a local Methodist
congregation. The original building was taken down, and the current
chapel
was built on the site, in 1841.
Visit the Heritage Room at Murray Grove for a closer look.
The Murray Grove Story
The Thomas Potter Story
