Murray Thomson
"Thanks, Richard, for your research on J.S.Woodsworth, Charles Gordon (pen named "Ralph Connor") and the Social Gospel movement. I knew Charles' son, King Gordon, very well.  We co-founded the Group of 78 and I spoke at his remembrance service. King was a strong UN supporter, having represented it in the Middle East and Africa as its Information Officer. I was distressed to learn that King's father and J.S.Woodsworth shared the myth of the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon culture, and that immigrants were stereotyped as 'Strangers in our Midst.'  I had no idea that Charles Gordon and my hero J.S.Woodsworth had such views.  Good research – though sad."

Murray Thomson was born in China to United Church of Canada missionaries.  After graduating in 1947 he worked in the adult education division of Saskatchewan's CCF government.  As a pacifist and member of the Society of Friends (Quakers), Murray worked in Thailand and India (1956-1962) and for CUSO (1970-1974).  He was the Peace Education Secretary for Canadian Friends Service Committee (1962-1969).  Over the decades, Murray helped found groups such as the Quaker Peace Education Centre - Grindstone Island (1963), Project Ploughshares (1976), Peace Brigades International (1981), Peacefund Canada (1985), and Canadian Friends of Burma (1991).