Emma Murray : an investigation into her person as well as her contributions to mission and education in South Africa - a historical-biographical study

Date
2019-04
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is written with the goal of providing an overview of Emma Murray’s life as well as the organizations and institutions with which she was involved. This study is being performed as a means to “uncover” the largely ignored figure of the woman who was partner to Andrew Murray, one of the most influential theologians in South African history. In the interest of accomplishing this, an initial chapter is presented which provides the reader with details regarding women’s mission work within South Africa during the mid-to-late-nineteenth century so as to provide a context in which Emma’s life and work may be placed. Following this, the examination of Emma’s influence is begun. This is accomplished by means of the construction of a narrative of Emma’s life, beginning with her youth in the Cape and then moving onwards to the early days of her marriage to Andrew Murray, as well as their time in Bloemfontein. The thesis then examines the couple’s time spent in Worcester, Cape Town and, finally, Wellington. It was during their time in, Wellington that the majority of Emma’s work took place and, thus, the investigation regarding this period goes into great detail. It is within this chapter that the Huguenot Seminary and College, the Vrouensendingbond, the Women’s Temperance Union, as well as the Kinderkrans are inspected and Emma’s influence within them is presented. Following this examination of Emma’s influence within organizations with which she had direct involvement, her other major area of influence is examined: her role as a mother and the impact which her parenting had on her children and the paths which they took in life. This chapter examines Emma’s daughters, and one of her sons, in an attempt to extract the influence which a figure such as Emma would have on other woman, and the work which they would go on to do as a result of this. The final chapter examines all preceding information in the thesis from a critical stand point and addresses some of the major issues which could perhaps be taken up with the research as well as the manner in which it is presented.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif word geskryf met die doel om 'n oorsig te gee van Emma Murray se lewe asook die organisasies en instansies waarby sy betrokke was. Hierdie studie word gedoen as 'n poging om die grotendeels onbekende figuur van die vrou, wat eggenoot en medewerker was van Andrew Murray, een van die invloedrykste teoloë in die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis, bekend te stel. Ten einde dit te doen word 'n aanvanklike hoofstuk aangebied wat die leser inlig oor vroue se sendingwerk binne Suid-Afrika gedurende die middel tot laat negentiende eeu, om sodoende 'n konteks te skep waarin Emma se lewe en werk geplaas kan word. Hierna volgdie ondersoek na Emma se invloed. Dit word gedoen deur middel van die bou van 'n verhaal oor Emma se lewe, beginnende met haar jeug in die Kaap en dan verskuif dit na die vroeë dae van haar huwelik met Andrew Murray, asook hul tyd in Bloemfontein. Die tesis ondersoek dan die paartjie se tyd in Worcester, Kaapstad en uiteindelik Wellington. Dit was in Wellington dat die meerderheid van Emma se werk plaasgevind het en dit word in groot detail in hierdie hoofstuk bespreek . Dit is in hierdie hoofstuk dat die Hugenote-kweekskool en kollege, die Vrouensendingbond, die vroue-sefbeheersingsunie sowel as die Kinderkrans ondersoek word en Emma se invloed binne dit alles word aan die orde gestel. Na aanleiding van hierdie ondersoek van Emma se invloed in organisasies waarmee sy direkte betrokkenheid gehad het, word haar ander belangrike stroom van invloed ondersoek: haar rol as moeder en die impak wat haar ouerskap op haar kinders gehad het en die paaie wat hulle in die lewe geneem het. Hierdie hoofstuk ondersoek Emma se dogters en een van haar seuns in 'n poging om die invloed wat 'n figuur soos Emma op ander vroue sou hê, en die werk wat hulle hieraan sou doen, te ontgin. Die finale hoofstuk ondersoek al die voorafgaande inligting in die proefskrif vanuit 'n kritieke invalshoek en behandel enkele van die hoofkwessies wat moontlik aan die navorsing gevra kan word, asook ʼn bespreking van die wyse waarop dit aangebied word.
Description
Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2019.
Keywords
Murray, Emma, 1835-1905, Missions -- South Africa, Education -- South Africa, UCTD
Citation