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Murray's sense of fun was keen； his ideal was lofty； of envy； of an
injured sense of being neglected； he does not show one trace。 To
make fun of their masters and pastors； tutors； professors； is the
general and not necessarily unkind tendency of pupils。 Murray
rarely mentions any of the professors in St。 Andrews except in terms
of praise； which is often enthusiastic。 Now； as he was by no means
a prize student； or pattern young man for a story…book； this
generosity is a high proof of an admirable nature。 If he chances to
speak to his mother about a bore； and he did not suffer bores
gladly； he not only does not name the person； but gives no hint by
which he might be identified。 He had much to embitter him； for he
had a keen consciousness of ‘the something within him；' of the
powers which never found full expression； and he saw others
advancing and prospering while he seemed to be standing still； or
losing ground in all ways。 But no word of bitterness ever escapes
him in the correspondence which I have seen。 In one case he has to
speak of a disagreeable and disappointing interview with a man from
whom he had been led to expect sympathy and encouragement。 He told
me about this affair in conversation； ‘There were tears in my eyes
as I turned from the house；' he said； and he was not effusive。 In a
letter to Mrs。 Murray he describes this unlucky interview；a
discouragement caused by a manner which was strange to Murray；
rather than by real unkindness；and he describes it with a
delicacy； with a reserve； with a toleration； beyond all praise。
These are traits of a character which was greater and more rare than
his literary talent： a character quite developed； while his talent
was only beginning to unfold itself； and to justify his belief in
his powers。
Robert Murray was the eldest child of John and Emmeline Murray： the
father a Scot； the mother of American birth。 He was born at
Roxbury； in Massachusetts； on December 26th； 1863。 It may be fancy；
but； in his shy reserve； his almost farouche independence； one seems
to recognise the Scot； while in his cast of literary talent； in his
natural ‘culture；' we observe the son of a refined American lady。
To his mother he could always write about the books which were
interesting him； with full reliance on her sympathy； though indeed；
he does not often say very much about literature。
Till 1869 he lived in various parts of New England； his father being
a Unitarian minister。 ‘He was a remarkably cheerful and
affectionate child； and seldom seemed to find anything to trouble
him。' In 1869 his father carried him to England； Mrs。 Murray and a
child remaining in America。 For more than a year the boy lived with
kinsfolk near Kelso； the beautiful old town on the Tweed where Scott
passed some of his childish days。 In 1871 the family were reunited
at York； where he was fond of attending the services in the
Cathedral。 Mr。 Murray then took charge of the small Unitarian
chapel of Blackfriars； at Canterbury。 Thus Murray's early youth was
passed in the mingled influences of Unitarianism at home； and of
Cathedral services at York； and in the church where Becket suffered
martyrdom。 A not unnatural result was a somewhat eclectic and
unconstrained religion。 He thought but little of the differences of
creed； believing that all good men held； in essentials； much the
same faith。 His view of essentials was generous； as he admitted。
He occasionally spoke of himself as ‘sceptical；' that is； in
contrast with those whose faith was more definite； more dogmatic；
more securely based on ‘articles。' To illustrate Murray's religious
attitude； at least as it was in 1887； one may quote from a letter of
that year （April 17）。
‘There was a University sermon； and I thought I would go and hear
it。 So I donned my old cap and gown and felt quite proud of them。
The preacher was Bishop Wordsworth。 He goes in for the union of the
Presbyterian and Episcopalian Churches； and is glad to preach in a
Presbyterian Church； as he did this morning。 How the aforesaid
Union is to be brought about； I'm sure I don't know； for I am pretty
certain that the Episcopalians won't give up their bishops； and the
Presbyterians won't have them on any account。 However； that's
neither here nor thereat least it does not affect the fact that
Wordsworth is a first…rate man； and a fine preacher。 I dare say you
know he is a nephew or grand…nephew of the Poet。 He is a most
venerable old man； and worth looking at； merely for his exterior。
He is so feeble with age that he can with difficulty climb the three
short steps that lead into the pulpit； but； once in the pulpit； it
is another thing。 There is no feebleness when he begins to preach。
He is one of the last voices of the old orthodox school； and I wish
there were hundreds like him。 If ever a man believed in his
message； Wordsworth does。 And though I cannot follow him in his
veneration for the Thirty…nine Articles； the way in which he does
makes me half wish I could。 。 。 。 It was full of wisdom and the
beauty of holiness； which even I； poor sceptic and outcast； could
recognise and appreciate。 After all； he didn't get it from the
Articles； but from his own human heart； which； he told us； was
deceitful and desperately wicked。
‘Confound it； how stupid we all are！ Episcopalians； Presbyterians；
Unitarians； Agnostics； the whole lot of us。 We all believe the same
things； to a great extent； but we must keep wrangling about the data
from which we infer these beliefs 。 。 。 I believe a great deal that
he does； but I certainly don't act up to my belief as he does to
his。'
The belief ‘up to' which Murray lived was； if it may be judged by
its fruits； that of a Christian man。 But； in this age； we do find
the most exemplary Christian conduct in some who have discarded
dogma and resigned hope。 Probably Murray would not the less have
regarded these persons as Christians。 If we must make a choice； it
is better to have love and charity without belief； than belief of
the most intense kind； accompanied by such love and charity as John
Knox bore to all who differed from him about a mass or a chasuble； a
priest or a presbyter。 This letter； illustrative of the effect of
cathedral services on a young Unitarian； is taken out of its proper
chronological place。
From Canterbury Mr。 Murray went to Ilminster in Somerset。 Here
Robert attended the Grammar School； in 1879 he went to the Grammar
School of Crewkerne。 In 1881 he entered at the University of St。
Andrews； with a scholarship won as an external student of Manchester
New College。 This he resigned not long after； as he had abandoned
the idea of becoming a Unitarian minister。
No longer a schoolboy； he was now a Bejant （bec jaune？）； to use the
old Scotch term for ‘freshman。' He liked the picturesque word； and
opposed the introduction of ‘freshman。' Indeed he liked all things
old； and； as a senior man； was a