James R. Murray

James Ramsey Murray was born at Ballard Yale, Andover, Mass., March 17, 1841, died in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 10, 1905. He was the son of Walter and Christine Morrison Murray of Koxburgh, Scotland, who came to America in 1840. The lad’s early education w^as received in the public school, and later he began a business career with the Tyer Rubber Company. The late Mr. Tyer always expressed a strong interest in the ability of this youth. Next we find James taking music lessons and his talent was so pronounced that his friends advised him to devote his life to the musical profession. The Musical Institute at North Eeading, Mass., 1856-1859, with Lowell Mason, G. F. Koot, W. B. Bradbury and G. J. Webb, as teachers, laid the solid foundation which his powers required, and he made most excellent progress. All his teachers loved him, but the lifelong tie that bound him to Dr. Boot was the strongest friendship.

In 1862, Mr. Murray enlisted as a musician in the Civil War. His first song, ” Daisy Deane,” which proved to be the most successful of his early songs, was composed in camp in Yirginia in 1863. The words of this were by his comrade and cousin, Thos. F. Winthrop. This song is known all over the world, and the Salvation Army uses an arrangement of it as one of their war cry songs.

At the close of the war Mr. Murray returned home, and taught the piano in his home town and other towns, but soon gave up teaching to accept a position with Root & Cady, Chicago, 111., as editor of The So7ig Messenger^ and assistant in the writing and publishing department. He remained with that company until the great fire in 1871, when he returned to Andover, and resumed his work of teaching music.

In 1868 he married Miss Isabel Maria Taylor, whom he had known from childhood. This gifted and finely trained woman with her excellent judgment supplementing his own invariably in the issue of all his compositions, and with a sense of the beautiful greater than his joy in music, made for him a home that was an ideal environment for his work. His are the happy songs of love of home and kindred, and the hope and faith these inspired have lifted the hearts of the homeless for the long years the two worked as one. Mr. Murray continued his musical work in Andover for ten years. He taught music in the public schools, was leader of choir and choral society, and an active temperance worker of the right kind.

In 1881 he was called to Cincinnati, Ohio, by the John Church Company to edit The Ifusical Visitor and to take charge of the publishing department. His taste and skill were recognized wherever American music was known.

Among the most popular of his gospel song books are : ” Pure Diamonds,” ” Royal Gems,” ” The Prize,” and “Murray’s Sacred Songs.” The following will recall some of his best loved sacred songs : ” At Last,” ” Calm on the Listening Ear of Night,” ” I Shall be Satisfied,” ” There Shall No Evil Befall Thee,” ” Thine, O Lord, is the Greatness,” ” The Way was Mine,” ” How Beautiful Upon the Mountains ” and ” Angels from the Realms of Glory.” His life and songs were helpful to many way-worn travellers.

The last great labor Mr. Murray was engaged on for the John Church Company at the time of his breakdown and subsequent death was the seeing through the press five volumes of Wagner’s music dramas, with full score, original German text and a smooth and excellent English translation.

”Put out the lights;
He will not need them more.
His work is done ; his feet have gained
The fairer, purer shore.”