Murray Family History

At 18, Andrew Murray Sr. answers his calling for theology and attends Aberdeen University where he completed his studies in 1820. He devotes his life to ministry.

Murray Sr. is the first to volunteer to go to South Africa to minister under the Dutch-speaking people. He bids his seriously ill mother farewell, who he knew he would never see again, and travels to Holland to study Dutch for 10 months.

He boards the Arethusa in London on the 27th February and finally sets sail for Africa on Monday, March 4th. After a three month journey, Andrew Murray Sr. arrives in Cape Town on the 1st of July, when he is sent to Graaff-Reinet. His main task is to work mainly amongst the farmers who have no access to pastoral guidance, or access to religious services. “What urged me to leave my country, was simply to be part of the preaching of Jesus Christ and His death upon the cross to my fellow men and inhabitants of this far end of the world.

Andrew meets the lovely Maria Susanna Stegmann, at his first Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in Cape Town. A normal working day turned to true love.

After two years of correspondence through letters the distance proves too great and Andrew returns to Cape Town to marry Maria. They celebrate their love with 16 children, of which 11 reaches adulthood. Andrew and Maria settles in the parsonage in Graaff-Reinet in the Reinet-house with a large fruit orchid and a grapevine which is still growing. Andrew hosts influential visitors such as Dr David Livingstone and Dr Robert Moffat. Andrew is known for his intense prayer sessions for revival every Friday night.

On May 9th, Andrew Jnr is born after his brother, John.

While still boys, John and Andrew are sent to Scotland for their education. They spend the next 7 years in Scotland.

John & Andrew finish their studies and receive Masters degrees at Marischal College. Like their father, Andrew (Jnr) and John decide to dedicate their lives to the ministry in the Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa. John and Andrew (Jnr) leave for Utrecht in Holland to take their Divinity course. They become members of Secor Dabar, a student society who studied the Word. They refrain from strong drink, smoking and other worldly devises. Because of this they only drank Dutch chocolate and are dubbed “Chocolate Club” by their fellow students – who ridicule them for being poise. “… I am sure, will be your delight when I tell you that I can communicate to you far gladder tidings, over which angels have rejoiced, that your son has been born again … At present I can say that I am confident that as a sinner I have cast myself on Christ…” Andrew (Jnr) writes to his parents to tell them that he is born again, a conversion involving a complete surrender to Christ.

The Band Eltheto (Your Kingdom Come) is formed under John and Andrew’s influence and love for music. They campaign twice a week to raise an interest in foreign and local mission work, such as Sunday Schools for the poor and Bible classes for working men. Publishes a monthly mission magazine in Dutch

The Hague Committee breaks precedent of only ordaining 22-year olds by ordaining both John and the 20-year old Andrew. John and Andrew (Jnr) arrive in Cape Town in November, where they preach in the Town Church.

Since Andrew (jnr) was not yet 22 as required by the Cape Colony, he is sent to Bloemfontein. Andrew (jnr) is the first minister to evangelise the Voortrekkers in a territory of 50 000 square meters serving 12000 scattered farmers and pioneers. He can not yet be a minister, so he is made a bishop. Andrew (Snr) travels with Andrew (Jnr) from Graaff Reinet to parishes in Bloemfontein. Andrew (Jnr) Is inducted in Bloemfontein where he gives his inaugural sermon. Andrew (Jnr) has growing problems with his health, but he decides to heed the call from the Trekboers living further north. During December 1849 he crossed the Vaal River in an ox wagon. He held 37 services on 6 farms, baptising 567 children. He meets the Reformed church for the first time and on Christmas day preaches on the farm of Gert Kruger. In the Magaliesberg district, he stays with the Voortrekker leader, Andries Pretorius. Andries Pretorius asks Andrew (jnr) to minister in the Transvaal fulltime, but felt Andrew should stay in Bloemfontein.

Andrew (Jnr) experiences the presence of God in Bloemfontein. He spends much time travelling on horse back or ox wagon over all kinds of roads and weather to the various outlying parishes and outposts. Most rivers had to be crossed by fording – often having to wait for flooding to reside. Andrew travels to a meeting through a wild-dog invested plain. When he alights from his horse after fording a river, the horse suddenly caught the scent of dogs approaching and ran off. Andrew calmly took his pack on his shoulders and began walking about fifteen miles to the nearest house. On seeing him approach, the surprised farmer could not believe that Andrew had escaped the fierce wild dogs and arrived alive. “How did you do it?” he asks, whereupon Andrew answers, “I knew I was in the path of duty, so I prayed to God to keep me and walked straight on. The wild dogs snapped at me but did not touch me” Andrew (Jnr) journeys into the Transvaal and becomes deeply aware of the need for locally trained ministers to fill the enormous need for spiritual care in Natal, and across the Orange and Vaal rivers. He is at times overwhelmed by the people’s lack of knowledge of Jesus as Saviour. 1100 Transvaal burgers signs and sends a petition to the Synod to request Andrew (Jnr) as their minister. However, Andrew feels he can only go if someone else could be found to replace him. It proves impossible, and Andrew stays in Bloemfontein.

Burdened for the people, Andrew (Jnr) undertakes a third journey across the Vaal, which is cut short because of political unrest between the pioneers and the local inhabitants in the area as well as tension between the Boers and the British in Bloemfontein.

Back in Bloemfontein Andrew (Jnr) is involved in the negotiations with the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius and the British government. Andrew (Jnr) is present during the signing of the Zandrivier Convention, which gives the Boers north of the Vaal River the right to govern themselves. They take a fourth journey into Transvaal, in the company of old friend Rev Jan H Neethling. Andrew is Accompanied by veldkornet Paul Kruger – who would become the president of Transvaal.

Andrew Jnr travels to Britain to represent The Orange River Sovereignty. He extended his journey to Scotland hoping to find more ministers for South Africa, but “… the lameness or weakness in my back, legs, and arms, with sort of nervous trembling in my hands”, became worse while in Scotland – he could not even write a note. Andrew is held in high esteem by the people in Bloemfontein and is warmly welcomed back after recuperating for a year and a half in the Netherlands.

Back in South Africa, Andrew (Jnr) spends some time in Cape Town where he saw a girl, Emma Rutherford. It was love at first sight and poor Andrew couldn’t contain his feelings any longer, so he did what any man would and asked for Emma’s hand. Unfortunately she wanted to be wooed first and expressed shock and total unpreparedness for such a sudden turn of events. They embark on a correspondence – Andrew asked her forgiveness for his brazenness and quite soon Emma’s attitude toward Andrew blossomed. Andrew bravely asks her to marry him a second time, and she says yes!

Andrew and Emma tied the knot on July 2nd in the DR Church in Wynberg. They travel to Bloemfontein and like any woman Emma had to take her belongings. They hit the road in a large tent-covered wagon with Emma’s piano, furniture and Miss Henly, the house keeper. They take a detour to Graaff Reinet – where Emma meets her in laws whom she immediately feels comfortable with. Emma is a woman ahead of her time and thinks of herself as a companion rather than a housekeeper and takes and active interest in everything Andrew does. They read theological works together, worked in the garden and he discussed his sermon ideas with her. Their marriage had an unavoidable element of romance as she read and sang to him to help him relax. Emma was the one who encouraged Andrew to start writing books. When possible, she traveled with him and accompanied him on home visits to outlaying farms. She proved that women do not only belong in the kitchen and later became the congregation’s bookkeeper. Andrew (Jnr) participates in the founding of Grey College. The corner stone is laid on 13 Oct by President JN Boshof and in 1859 the building is officially opened. Andrew (Jnr) acts as first rector of Grey College, and both him and Emma are involved with the daily care of the boys – even having some living with them in the parsonage. Emma organises a successful Tea Feast for her Sunday school, something which has never been done in Bloemfontein.

Andrew & Emma’s first child – a girl Emma Maria is born. Andrew (Jnr) attends Synod for the first time – and becomes a member of Missions Commission.

Andrew publishes his first book: Jezus, de Kindervriend – described as “twelve Sunday evening talks about the life of Christ”. He dedicated it to his mother, from whose lips he first heard the message of Jesus, the Friend of children. Birth of Andrew & Emma’s second daughter. Theology Seminary in Stellenbosch opens – John Murray is the first professor. For the first time students can complete their theological studies in South Africa.

Andrew & Emma are called to and settled in Worcester.

Revival (that Andrew Snr prayed for) started in Montagu and Worcester. Prior to the revival, God had been preparing the way: In Worcester a group of revival intercessors, had over many years worn a footpath to a hilltop overlooking the village where they prayed for their people. Andrew’s arrival during the first conference organised by the Theological Seminary of Stellenbosch. During the conference Andrew rendered a passionate plea for more ministers. The need for ministers for the pulpit, for missionaries and Christian teachers was critical, with twenty-six ministerial vacancies in the DRC. The outbreak of rival in Worcester – Rev JC de Vries, who was present during the first experience in Worcester, wrote that, after the congregation sang a hymn proposed by a young coloured girl, the girl prayed a moving prayer. “… While she was praying, we heard, as it were, a sound in the distance, which came nearer and nearer until the hall seemed to be shaken; and with one or two exceptions, the whole meeting began to pray, the majority in ordinary voices, but some in whispers. Nevertheless, the noise made by the concourse was deafening. A feeling which I cannot describe took possession of me…” . Andrew was leading the English service elsewhere, but when he entered the hall, he tried to call the people to silence. Seeing that he could not quiet the people, he prepared to depart, saying: “God is a God of order, and here everything is in disorder”. Prayer meetings were held every evening after that, following the same pattern. Andrew (Jnr) lead the service on the Saturday evening. Once again het tried to quiet. The people, until a visiting clergyman told him that he had witnessed something similar in America – the Spirit of God at work. Andrew relented, realising that this was what he had yearned and prayed for. Andrew (Snr), who prayed for revival for 36 years, thanked God that he was allowed to be present and speak at these meetings. The September edition of De Wekker declared: “The whole of society has been changed, yes, turned literally upside down!”. Church buildings needed to be enlarged to cater for the influx of new converts. Side wings were built onto existing churches.

Revival then swept through Paarl. For the first time under the “Pinkserbiduren” started and became a tradition in Paarl. On the 18th of April Revival erupted in Graaff Reinet. Andrew Murray (Snr) who prayed for thirty-eight years for this to occur, was over joyed. A prayer meeting that began after a communion service on Sunday evening became so powerfully aware of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit that the meeting lasted non-stop until Tuesday midday before the congregation went home! Andrew (Jnr) writes in the Kerkbode about the need to have Pinksterbidure, ten days of prayer meetings during Pentecost. Andrew (jnr) and Mr Stofberg, a farmer who has decided to sell his farm and devote himself to mission work as a layman, and a group of five others who volunteered to help establish a mission settlement. However, even after negotiations by Paul Kruger and Andrew Murray, the local chiefs do not want to accept them and they stay for two years in Rustenburg to learn the Dutch and native language until they could start a mission settlement . First Missionaries are sent to Saulspoort in Northwester Transvaal (working with the Bakgatla) and to Kranspoort in Zoutpansberg.

Andrew (Jnr) is Moderator of the Cape Synod for the first time. He takes on the defence of the Church in the Kotze/Burgers case and impresses the oppositions legal team with an eloquent, tactful and strong defence.

Andrew (Jnr) is called to Cape Town. During his first years, he has to plea the Church’s cause in a complicated court case (against Kotze and Burgers). He and his family travelled to England for the hearing.

Andrew Murray (snr) dies a legacy while Andrew is still in England.

He returns to Cape Town and throws himself into the work. For those in the congregation who were English, he had a second service on Sunday evenings. He visited the poor, fearlessly going to see the sick during the severe small-pox epidemic. He established a branch of the Young Men’s Association to train others to take an interest in this work. His deep concern for the young, lead him to have young boys stay with him for months and sometimes years often influencing them for life by their personal kindness and Emma’s sweet and motherliness, planting reverence, affection and gratitude.

Andrew (Jnr) is called to and inducted in Wellington.

Andrew (Jnr) takes the initiative to start a school for girls.

Official opening of the Hugenoten Seminary on 19th Jan , a school for girls in Wellington. By 1917 he opened branch Seminaries in Paarl, Bethlehem, Free State and Grey Town.

Andrew (Jnr) is Moderator for the Synod for the second time.

Andrew (jnr) travels to Europe and America – Emma goes with him and they visit Mount Holyoke. Andrew (jnr) opens the Sending Institute in Wellington for mission training for young men.

Andrew (Jnr) undertakes the first evangelisation tour to Colesburg. Vrouwen Zending Bond founded – Emma Murray is the first president.

Andrew’s throat trouble leads to two years of doctor’s care and silence. He starts to conceptualise notes with the idea to publish a daily almanac for Bible reading.

Andrew (Jnr) visits Europe and stays in Bethshan Healing Institute, where he stays for three weeks to experience the healing of his throat and his voice returns. Death of his brother prof John Murray. Publishes his first English book: Abide in Christ and Geljik Jezus.

Andrew (Jnr) helps establish Bible and Prayer Union with the aim to motivate and equip members to read the Bible daily. He also initiates an calendar booklet (devotionals) of daily themes, texts and a lesson, called Uit de Beek. The first time Murray focuses on is “prayer”. Moderator of the Synod for the third time

Second evangelisation tour to Free State and Transvaal. He publishes 3 books: Jezus de Geneesheer der kranken; Het nieuwe leven; De school des gebeds.

1st March marks the death of Andrew & Emma’s younger son, Howson Rutherfoord Murray.

Andrew (jnr) takes a third evangelisation tour to southern districts. He is elected Moderator for the fourth time. Predikanten Zending Vereeniging is founded with Andrew (Jnr) as president – he works with the Vrouwen Zending Bond to fund the training and sending of missionworkers – also single women – to various locations in Africa, such as Nyassaland and Mahonaland.

Andrew (jnr) takes a fourth Evangelising tour to Natal, Transvaal, Orange Freestate.

Andrew establishes the Cape General Mission, an interchurch organization with Spencer Walton, as director.

Andrew founded Women’s Christian Temperance Union in Wellington with Emma Murray serving on the steering committee. Because Andrew supports her in this, some of the local wine farmers are upset and try to burn down the parish. Missionaries to “inland stations Mochudi in Bechuanaland Mabieskraal in the Waterberg. First missionaries to “external stations”: Mvera in Nyassaland Morgenster in Mashonaland/Matabeleland. Andrew founded the Women’s Mission Organisation, with Emma Murray as the first president.

Maria (Stegmann) Murray in dies in Graaff Reinet.

Sixth evangelistic tour to Namaqualand. Andrew is Moderator of the Synod for the fifth time.

Seventh evangelistic tour to the north-eastern districts. Murrays assists in first mission work in Swaziland (under the auspices of the Cape General Mission).

Andrew offers to move out of the parsonage when the Wellington Church council decides to call a second minister. He buys a piece of land on the property of Hugenoten School and built a comfortable home, named Clairvaux, after the mystic Bernard van Clairvaux. Rev JR Albertijn called as second minister, to Wellington. Before he accepted the call, he approached Andrew (Jnr) and shared his fear that he might not be able to work with Murray. On which Andrew replied: “If you cannot cooperate with me, I will cooperate with you“.

Cape General Mission reorganized into South African General Mission. Andrew (Jnr) resides as Moderator at the Synod for the sixth time.

Evangelisation tour to Europe and America. Andrew gave his only personal testimony in an article in The Christian Magazine of given at a Keswick Convention: “Though all around thought me to be one of the most earnest of men, my life was one of deep dissatisfaction. I struggled and prayed as best as I could … talking to a missionary … he said `{`to me`}`: ‘Brother, remember that when God puts a desire in your heart, He will fulfil it.’ That helped me; I thought of it a hundred times. I want to say the same to you who are plunging about and struggling in the quagmire of helplessness and doubt. The desire that God puts into your heart He will fulfil“.

Andrew (jnr) attends the ministers Conference in Stellenbosch.

Andrew (jnr) opens the De Meisjes Industrial School which later became Andrew Murray Children’s Home and is known today as Huis Andrew Murray, Wellington. Andrew is awarded a DD Degree bestowed by Aberdeen University.

Andrew (jnr) lays the foundation stone of Hugenot Memorial Building, Cape Town. The Anglo Boer War starts.

Andrew (jnr) initiates and helps found Het Boeren Zending School, Worcester, for prisoners of war who want to become missionaries. Andrew (jnr) appoints his nephew, Rev AF Louw as first principal.

Andrew attends his last Synod.

An aged Andrew preaches the annual sermon at the Christian Endeavour Convention in Cape Town with such vigour and power that those present were astounded. He undertakes the 9th evangelist tour to Transvaal.

Emma (Rutherfoord) Murray passes away. Andrew (Jnr) founds the Zuid Afrikaansche Hulp Vereeniging with the aim to aide missionaries in Soedan. He acts as president.

Andrew receives Litt D degree from the University of Kaap de Goede Hoop.

Andrew (jnr) founds the Mannen Zending Bond in Wellington and then joins the nationwide “Mission Crusade” participating in conferences in Wellington, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein. The aim of the crusade was to raise an awareness and money for missions and to start new Mannen Zending Bond branches.

Andrew focuses in his writing on prayer, publishing books, numerous pamphlets and pocket books on the topic. He believes that only a life of serious and constant praying would result in the experience of power and fruitfulness.

Attends the World Mission Conference in Edinburg.

Statistics for the DRC Missions initiated by Murray are published

Mission work in North Rhodesia 1910
Stations 5; out posts 70; children in schools 8,500; People in catechism classes 700;
mission workers 15

Nyassaland 1910
Stations 13; mission workers 58

Portuguese East Africa 1910
Stations 1; Workers 3

Southern Rhodesia/Mashonaland
Stations 10; Mission workers 24

Bechuanaland 1910
Stations 2; out posts 5 Mission Workers 3 or 4

Andrew Jnr publishes “The State of the Church”.

Andrew Jnr attends Ministers Conference in Stellenbosch. He tries to unite the Dutch Reformed, the Hervormde Church, and the Reformed Church but is saddened by the failure of the unification.

Andrew Jnr unveils the statue of the first professors – John Murray and Nicolaas Hofmeyr – of the Theological Seminary, Stellenbosch. The unveiling of the Women’s Monument in Bloemfontein, commemorating the suffering and death of thousands of women and children in the various camps during the Anglo Boer War.

Andrew Jnr writes significant articles regarding the DRC’s stance in World War I.

Andrew dies in his home Clairvaux, Wellington on 18 January.