Winthrop Murray

Winthrop Murray was one of the founding members of the Arcanum and personal secretary to its first Grand Chancellor, Benjamen Holmscroft.

Murray was one of the occultists summoned by Holmscroft on November 24, 1885 to discuss the failings of organizations such as the Hermetic Order of the Rising Day. Murray, an Egyptologist with an interest in ritual magic, agreed that these orders were not serious about their research. He agreed to join the nascent Arcanum and serve as its secretary. He was dubious about the idea of initiating women into the society, but otherwise served faithfully.

Towards the end of his life, Murray became reluctant to leave Holmscroft Manor, and his role transitioned to that of Holmscroft's private secretary. He was one of the only people to even see the reclusive Holmscroft after his last public appearance in 1911. He and Grand Chancellor Clifford Parker witnessed Holmscroft's death in 1914, and Murray himself passed away some four months later. While he was known as a prolific diarist, few of his personal writings survive to the present day, and what remains is largely concerned with Arcanum history.